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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
Picture
© Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)
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.
Picture
© Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)
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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