News from Deva Stadium November 2017

27 November 2017
TV HORROR SHOW FROM BLUES
Chester were soundly beaten in froont of the TV cameras on Saturday losing 4-0 at home to play-off chasing Dagenham & Redbridge. The two sides fought out a goalless opening half but the Blues defence capitulated after the break as the Daggers took advantage of some sloppy defending. Corey Whitely had already missed a penalty for the visitors before Sam Ling headed the opening goal on 56 minutes. Twenty minutes later Luke Howell doubled the lead from close range. On 79 minutes Michael Cheek ran through, rounded Alex Lynch to add a third and the same player wrapped up the scoring in the final minute.

This was Chester’s biggest home defeat for over three years and leaves the Blues in the bottom four. There is no game next weekend as scheduled opponents AFC Fylde are in FA Cup action.

23 November 2017
BLUES HELD BY TEN MAN ORIENT
Chester came away from Brisbane Road with a point after an eventful match at Leyton Orient. Once again boss Marcus Bignot had a selection headache with injuries forcing out Ryan Astles and Jordan Archer, with Paul Turnbull also suspended.

The home side took the lead on six minutes through a Macauley Bonne header, but goals from James Akintunde and Ross Hannah turned the game round for the Blues.

Chester were a then awarded a penalty of the stroke of half time following a foul on Nyal Bell that saw defender Jamie Sendles-White sent-off. Hannah stepped up to take the spot kick but his weak effort was saved by Sam Sargeant in the O’s goal.

Despite being a man down Orient had the better of the second period and equalised on the hour mark with a long range effort from Jobi McAnuff. Both sides had chances late on to grab three vital points to move away from the relegation zone but were unable to take them.

Both Myles Anderson and Jerome Slew made their debuts for the Blues from the bench in the second half.

Chester remain in the bottom four following the draw. The Blues are next in action on Saturday with a televised home match against Dagenham & Redbridge. The game has an early kick-off time of 12.30.

A crash on the motorway on Tuesday night meant the team had to endure a ten hour journey home not arriving back in Chester until 08.30 on Wednesday, the players were duly given the day off to recover.

Ahead of the Dagenham game manager Bignot told the Chester Leader: “We’ve now got a chance to turn two decent points on the road into great points, that’s key to the hunger and desire of this group for Saturday.”

“I think people and supporters can now see the challenges facing this football club both on and off the pitch and it takes a certain type of player with a strong personality to come through two tough away trips like that.”

“Of course, some fans may be wondering why I wasn’t more disappointed on Tuesday night, but given the number of injuries, suspensions we’re dealing with, the reality is that was a good point and my players have been a credit to their club.

“What a week it would be now if we could go and top that off with three points against Dagenham.”

• League table after Orient game

22 November 2017
STRIKER SIGNS
Chester have signed 19-year-old forward Jerome Slew from Goole AFC. Slew began his career at Sheffield United and could feature at the match at Leyton Orient on Tuesday night.

20 November 2017
BLUES BATTLE FOR BROMLEY POINT
Ross Hannah was on the scoresheet as Chester battled to a 1-1 draw on the 3G pitch at play-off chasing Bromley on Saturday. The Blues took the lead at a rain-soaked Hayes Lane ground on 14 minutes as Hannah picked up a through ball from Lucas Dawson before turning a defender and shooting past David Gregory in the home goal. The joy was short lived however as Bromley equalised within a minute. Luke Wanadio saw an effort saved by Alex lynch but the ball fell to Louis Dennis who slid it home from six yards for the instant reply.

Both sides had chances to win the game after the break. Hannah hit the post and Nyal Bell pulled a shot wide when both were through on goal. At the other end Chester twice cleared efforts off the line as Paul Turnbull and Ross Hannah were on hand to clear the danger.

14 November 2017
MIDFIELDER JOINS ON LOAN
Chester have signed 21-year-old Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ryan Rainey on a short term loan. Rainey has played at both under-18 and under-23 level for Wolves.

13 November 2017
CHAPELL OUT ON LOAN
Jordan Chapell has joined Stalybridge Celtic on loan until January 2018. The winger has made nine appearances for Chester this season and joins up with former manager at Bower Fold Steve Burr.

9 November 2017
DERBY DESPAIR FOR BLUES
Despite plenty of second half possession and hitting the woodwork twice, Chester were unable to break down a stubborn Wrexham defence on Wednesday night. A crowd of just over 4,000 saw the Blues start brightly but saw Reece Hall-Johnson hobble off with a hamstring injury after 25 minutes. The Blues were denied a penalty as Lathaniel Rowe-Turner’s header was clearly handled by former player Chris Holroyd but referee Thomas Bramall waved play on. The only goal of the game came a minute before half-time when Shaun Pearson headed home past Alex Lynch from a free-kick.

Chester had plenty of the ball after the break and saw Lucas Dawson hit the post with a low drive and James Akintunde hit the cross bar with another long range effort and with seven minutes to go substitute Harry White headed Andy Halls’ cross over from ten yards with his first touch of the match. Ryan Astles also came close in the dying minutes but couldn’t get enough power on his shot following a Paul Turnbull through ball.

Captain Astles, who needed stitches in a foot injury at half-time, told the Chester Chronicle: “We didn’t deserve to get beat, but on the other hand we didn’t test their keeper. One set piece has won the game. We had chances but didn’t test the keeper. I don’t think they have had a shot, really. The only shot they had was the goal. It’s hurt us all and we are all gutted because we know we shouldn’t have got beat and at least took a point. But it’s hard to say things after the game. There’s no way we should have got beat. We’re all gutted in there.”

Chester are next in action on Saturday 18 November when they travel to play Bromley on their artificial pitch, kick-off 15.00hrs. This is followed on Tuesday by another long trip to visit Leyton Orient (19.45).

5 November 2017
SECOND HALF FIGHT BACK BRINGS POINT
Chester came from 2-0 down to grab a point with a fine comeback at Eastleigh on Saturday. Manager Marcus Bignot had to reshuffle the side following injuries to Paul Turnbull and John McCombe. The Blues had fell behind in the second minute from Ben Williamson who drove the ball through a crowd of players after the Blues defence had failed to clear a cross. Ross Hannah almost equalised 60 seconds later but his effort was cleared off the line. On the stroke of half time Kingsley James side footed the ball wide from close range following a fin left wing cross from Lathanial Rowe-Turner.

The Spitfires doubled their lead on 51 minutes with Gary McSheffrey glancing home a header at the near post. Nine minutes later Chester were back in the game as James pulled a cross back for James Akintunde to score high into the roof of the net. Chester were pushing for the equaliser as the game entered the final stages. Lucas Dawson shot just over the bar from the edge of the area and Ryan Astles saw a header scrambled away. Two minutes from time Dawson swung over a left wing corner and Astles rose to head past goalkeeper Ross Flitney into the bottom corner and secure the valuable point.

Saturday’s match was the only one played in the league. Chester remain in the bottom three but have now caught Barrow in 21st spot and are one point from safety. Manager Bignot praised his players fighting spirit after the game: “I’ve got to say a massive ‘thank you’ to the the players’ characters. To be 2-0 down, and the timings of the goals as well, and what we’ve experienced the past couple of games, it really pulled on their mental strength to come from two goals down to get a point. But as anybody who watched that game would say, we deserved the three points.”

The Blues are next in action on Wednesday night when they host neighbours Wrexham in an all-ticket televised match, kick-off 19.45hrs. Match tickets are still available to buy online from the club website here.

• Table after Eastleigh draw

3 November 2017
GOALKEEPER SIGNS
Chester have signed former Solihull Moors goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan. The 36-year-old shot stopper played for Moors against Chester last month and had made 12 appearances for them this season. Vaughan won the National League player of the month award in August after scoring for Solihull Moors against Torquay United from his own penalty area.

YOUTH TEAM OUT OF THE CUP
The Youth Team were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup 3-1 at Hartlepool United last night, the Chester goal came from Cain Noble. The young Blues had reached the first round stage following wins at AFC Fylde and Altrincham.

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