Match reports from November 2024

Saturday 16 November
Gainsborough Trinity 1 Chester 0
FA Trophy Round Two
Attendance: 753 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Peers.
Sent-off: Bainbridge.

Gainsborough Trinity: Wharton, Tuntulwana, Jackson, B.Johnson, Lancaster, Cogill, Stacey (Butroid 75), Helliwel, Clarke (McMenemy 90+5), Howe, Preston. Subs not used: Conway, Hornshaw, K.Johnson.
Chester: Harrison, Hunter, Burke, Pollock, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Murray (Turner 85), Weeks, Hugill (Caton 62), Peers, Willoughby (Hancox 74). Subs not used: Rawlinson, Glendon.
Referee: Liam Smith.

A goal three minutes from time knocks the Blues out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle.

Saturday 9 November
Needham Market 0 Chester 1
National League North
Attendance: 652 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Bainbridge, Hugill.

Needham Market: Garnham, Dye, Smith, Hammond, D.Morphew, Ingram, Allen, McGrath (Callum 90+3), Mills (Lay 85), Hunter, Lambe (Chambers 67). Subs not used: Fraser, K.Morphew.
Chester: Harrison, Burke, Weeks, Rawlinson, Peers, Caton (Murray 75), Woodthorpe, Hugill, Hancox (Willoughby 46), Bainbridge, Roberts. Subs not used: Glendon, Polllock, Daly.
Referee: Josh Crofts.

It took a goal from Harrison Burke four minutes from time to finally break the deadlock as Chester won this first meeting between the two sides at Bloomfields.

Declan Weeks returned to the starting X1 and the midfielder was soon in the action slipping a pinpoint through ball for Tom Peers only for the striker to shoot high over the crossbar, failing to trouble Marcus Garnham in the home goal.

As at Darlington in midweek, there were very few chances of note in the opening half with perhaps the best of them falling to Adam Mills but the home striker’s effort was well saved by Elyh Harrison.

The second half saw little goalmouth action at either end until a dramatic last five minutes saw the Blues take the lead as Weeks swung in a left wing corner and Burke rose head and shoulders over everyone to bury a header past Garnham to the delight of the travelling Blues fans behind the goal.

Moments later Garnham saw red after pushing over substitute Kurt Willoughby in the penalty area. The Marketmen brought on a substitute goalkeeper Danny Cullum who then with his first touch saved Willoughby’s resulting penalty kick.

It was to prove to be the final action of the game as the Blues late show saw them move up to ninth place. They take a break from the league next Saturday with a visit to Gainsborough Trinity in the second round of the FA Trophy.

Tuesday 5 November
Darlington 1 Chester 0
National League North
Attendance: 1,260 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Hugill, Burke.

Darlington: Jameson, Barrow, Lees, Forbes, Hatfield, Maskell, Main (Kelly 74), Flint, McGowan, Griffiths, Al-Shabeeb (Salkeld 80). Subs not used: Cornish, Rivers, Leesley.
Chester: Harrison, Burke, Rawlinson, Peers, Caton (Willoughby 65), Woodthorpe, Hugill, Pollock (Hunter 67), Hancox (Turner 78), Bainbridge, Daly (Murray 67). Sub not used: Roberts.
Referee: Declan Brown.

Following on from the fine victory over Hereford at the weekend Chester named an unchanged starting X1 for the visit to Blackwell Meadows to face Steve Watsons Darlington side in the first of four successive away matches.

There was little to show between the teams for the opening period in a match where goalmouth chances were very few and far between, with a Jack Bainbridge effort going wide early on. At the other end Elyh Harrison was untroubled in the Blues goal but for a save to deny Will Hatfield.

Chester’s best efforts were coming from set pieces with Reece Daly going close to opening the scoring from a free-kick on 32 minutes. Just before the break Mitch Hancox saw a long range effort saved by Peter Jameson diving at full stretch to push the ball out for corner.

Darlo started the second half brightly with a header from Main straight into Harrison’s hands. On 49 minutes Cedric Main opened the scoring as the Blues defence failed to clear a Kallum Griffiths cross from the right, the ball fell to Main who turned and shot under Harrison from eight yards.

Manager Calum McIntyre rang the changes making four substitutions midway through the second period as the Blues looked to get back into he game. Will Hugill’s mazy run saw the midfielder skip round several players but he was off balance when shooting and skied his left foot effort over the bar with Chester’s only real chance of note.

So in the end a disappointing result for Chester who, after a fairly even first half, couldn’t match that effort after the break. They will be looking to improve on Saturday when the travel to Needham Market for a first meeting between the two sides.

• Latest table |

Saturday 2 November
Chester 3 Hereford 0
National League North
Attendance: 2,398 Half Time: 1-0
Booked: Peers, Rawlinson, Bainbridge.

Chester: Harrison, Burke, Pollock, Rawlinson, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Hancox, Hugill, Daly (Murray 74), Peers (Turner 90+3), Caton (Willoughby 83) Subs not used: Hunter, Roberts.
Hereford: Chapman, Hudson, Preston (D’Ath 64), Howkins, Bartley, Campbell, Babos (Deacon 72), Teixeira (Matwasa 64), Ceesay, Williams (Cowley 60), Rose (Tilt 79).
Referee: Gareth Thomas.

After a poor performance and defeat at Curzon Ashton last week all eyes were on the team sheet today. There were no Weeks or Glendon in the side or on the bench today but new loan signing Hugill started as did Reece Daly, recalled from his loan spell at Witton. Mitch Hancox also started in midfield.

Blues made a lightning start as Peers found Hugill on the right and the Burnley man’s superb cross from the by-line was met equally majestically by Caton’s header to give Chester the lead with less than a minute on the clock. It was the new beginning all had been craving. Hereford backed by a large and raucous travelling support then proceeded to dominate possession for a while. They tried constantly to breach City’s defence down the wings switching play to either side and to their touchline hugging wingers Rose and Ceesay. But the Blues kept a disciplined shape and defended well. Despite conceding a number of corners few clear-cut opportunities appeared for the Bulls.

As the half wore on Chester made more forward impression. Peers saw a shot deflected towards goal but Aaron Chapman managed to deal with it. Then on the stroke of half time City almost added a second when Peers’ lofted pass found Caton. Chapman partially saved the shot but the ball continued towards goal before a retreating defender scooped it off the line. From the resulting corner Pollock tried to force the ball home after another save from Peers by the Hereford ‘keeper but was blocked.

A second goal would have been vital at that point but the game continued in the balance after the break. Babos’s free kick had Harrison scrambling but was off target. Then, on the hour mark, the Blues combined down the left to great effect. A determined battle for the ball ended with Hancox’s clever turn and pass freeing Woothorpe down the wing. His first time cross was met exquisitely by Peers for a strong contender for goal of the season.

The Blues were on the front foot now and when Bainbridge held off a challenge to tee up Burke on the right, his cross was met by Caton for his second and Chester’s third goal of the match. The transformation in fortunes had been palpable. Hereford had arrived in good form with a strong following, while the Blues still licked their wounded pride from last weekend. But now City were rampant and the Bull’s bubble, along with their black and white balloons, was burst.

Aaron Chapman, formerly of this parish ten years ago, sportingly applauded the Harry Mac end at the final whistle and Hereford supporters appreciated their team’s efforts at the end despite the result. After a difficult week for Blues’ players, staff and supporters, all went home feeling a bit better. Tuesday’s visit to Darlington will test the strength of this City revival.

Colin Mansley

Webmaster

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