News from Deva Stadium October 2018

31 October 2018
HOME DOUBLE LIFTS BLUES
Back to back home victories over Alfreton Town and Ashton United have seen Chester rise into the play-off places. Saturday’s game against Alfreton had everything with two penalties, two red cards and a last gasp Gary Roberts winner.

The Blues got off to a flying start with Roberts converting from the penalty spot in the opening five minutes following a foul on Craig Mahon. It wasn’t long though before Town’s new signing Reece Styche took advantage of a static Blues defence to race through and score past Grant Shenton. The visitors took the lead on 20 minutes with Bobby Johnson scoring from a direct free kick past a static Shenton.

The visitors were reduced to ten men with James Clifton shown a red card for a foul on Gary Stopforth. Stopforth was clattered again minutes later by Nathan Hotte who was perhaps lucky to receive only a yellow from referee Benjamin Speedie.

Twenty minutes into the second period Chester brought on Mani Dieseruvwe for his debut and moments later the Blues were level as the on-loan striker won the ball before finding Mooney who in turn fed Roberts who sent an unstoppable 25-yard half volley into the roof of the net.

Seven minutes from time Steve Howson was harshly sent off following a clash with ex-Blue Craig Hobson. Shenton pulled off a great save to deny Bateson before the Blues were awarded a dramatic penalty in the 94th minute following a trip on Dieseruvwe. Roberts saw his spot-kick saved by Ramsbottom only for Roberts to knock in the rebound and complete his hat-trick and the 3-2 victory.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

The victory over Ashton United proved a more comfortable affair. Once again Chester got their noses in front early with a tap-in from Anthony Dudley on two minutes following good work down the left by Craig Mahon. It was 2-0 on 32 minutes with Steve Howson bundling the ball over following a corner.

The visitors offered no threat on the Blues goal in the opening 45 minutes but came more into the match in the second period following a couple of substitutions and both Matt Chadwick and Sam Sheridan went close for the Robins. Chester added a third goal on the hour mark when Dudley scored with an overhead kick from a Dan Mooney corner. Mahon headed Chester’s fourth goal following a a fine right wing cross from Mooney. Ashton scored a consolation in added time through Bradley Jackson.

• League table after Ashton match

25 October 2018
LOAN STRIKER
Chester have take on 23-year-old Salford City striker Mani Dieseruvwe on a one month loan. He played under managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley for the Ammies last season and his parent club will be paying all his wages while he plays at Chester.

22 October 2018
NEW NUNEATON DATE
Chester have rearranged the home match against Nuneaton Borough for Tuesday 6 November, kick-off 19.45hrs.

YOUTH MATCH
The home FA Cup First Round Youth Match against Barnsley will take place on Thursday 1 November, kick-off 19.30hrs. Admission prices are £5.00 for adults and £2.00 for concessions and children.

MOONEY LOAN EXTENDED
Dan Mooney has had his loan from Fleetwood Town extended to the end of the season. The winger has scored five goals in 11 appearances for the Blues so far this season.

17 October 2018
YOUTH CUP PROGRESS
The Youth Team progressed to the first round of the FA Youth Cup with an impressive 4-2 deserved victory at Hartlepool United on Tuesday night.

The young Blues took the lead through a Cain Noble penalty and further goals from Louis Hayes, Stuart Crilly and Lloyd Marsh-Hughes put the Blues through to a home tie with Barnsley which must be played before 3 November, and could be played in front of a bumper crowd.

Academy coach Calum McIntyre told the Chester Chronicle: “It was the best one yet in the FA Youth Cup. We talk about what we spend at youth level in comparison, these (Hartlepool) still have Football League status at youth level. Understand what that means. They are several levels above us, just like Wrexham were, just like Bolton were and just like Fleetwood were. At what point do we get a real level of respect for what we’ve achieved? It is the best one because it is away from home.”

“We’d never beaten a Football League side away from home. Since I took over this is the 21st FA Youth Cup tie and we have won 16 of those ties in 90 minutes, drawn three of them and gone on to lose in extra time and lost only two in 90 minutes. We took Chesterfield to penalties and Oldham to extra time.”

“Nobody will give us a chance against Barnsley. Please come and get behind us and support the lads. If we put a donation bucket out then please put a couple of pounds in it or whatever you can. We are doing something here on nothing.”

INJURY BLOW FOR HUGHES
Matty Hughes looks set to be sidelined for the rest of the season after his injury at home to Hereford was diagnosed as a torn anterior cruciate ligament following an MRI scan.

Hughes said: “I turned and just felt it pop and I knew that something wasn’t right but I was expecting it to be something minor. But there was swelling and I went for an MRI and the results got sent back to the club and they told me it was really bad news and that I’ve torn my ACL. It looks like I’m going to need surgery and that means six months before I can even start thinking about kicking a ball again.”

8 October 2018
BLUES DUMPED OUT OF THE CUP
Chester were knocked out of the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage on Saturday when they lost 4-3 at Dunston UTS, the lowest ranked side left in the competition. The Blues also had Danny Livesey sent off with the score at 2-2. The Blues had fallen behind as early as the second minute through Liam Brooks and after creating several chances finally drew level on 35 minutes through a smart Deane Smalley header. A goal of real quality from Dan Mooney on the stroke of half-time gave Chester an interval lead.

As at the start Dunston started the second period on the front foot and soon leveled through a Mark Fitzpatrick penalty following a foul by Scott Burton. Livesey was then given his marching orders for a foul on Fitzpatrick.

Andrew Grant-Soulsby headed the hosts into the lead before Mooney again got on the scoresheet to level matters, firing home from the edge of the box, in an end-to-end game.

The winning goal came from Fitzpatrick who raced clear of the Blues defence to score past Grant Shenton from out wide to put the home side through to the next round and a home tie with neighbours Gateshead as well as the 315,000 prize money.

Joint manager Anthony Johnson said: “Fair play to them but some of the individual performances and sloppy play with which we gave the ball to them was really terrible.”

“But I don’t want to take anything away from them and the way they attacked us from minute one which was fantastic and a breath of fresh air.”

“It’s an amazing achievement, fairytale stuff, and I know how their manager will be feeling now and how the club are gong to be feeling over the next few days with the cup draw. We’re walking away with our tail between our legs and it’s not good enough from us.”

5 October 2018
YOUTH CUP SUCCESS
Chester overcame local rivals Wrexham 3-2 in the FA Youth Cup to earn themselves a trip to Hartlepool United in the third qualifying round on 16 October. The Chester scorers were Danny Edwards and Tom Ruffer (son of former player Carl) who scored with two headers from corners in the final 15 minutes to secure the memorable victory in front of a crowd of 631.

Youth team manager Calum McIntyre was full of praise for his youngsters: “Obviously we are delighted, I think it was a tough test. You look at where Wrexham are and the level of football they play, I don't think many on the outside would have given us a chance.”

“But I thought we were excellent in both boxes and worthy of victory. I am delighted for my players and you seen what it means to them at the end.”

BLUES MOVE FIFTH
Chester’s 3-0 defeat of hereford on Tuesday night saw them move into fifth position in the league and extend their unbeaten run to eight matches. Matty Hughes gave the Blues the lead on 16 minutes and goals from John Pritchard (72) and Deane Smalley (87) wrapped the points up.

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