Chester pressed from the start with Seddon bringing a save out of Chris Cheetham in the Dabbers goal in the opening five minutes. Craig Mahon, who was looking lively down the wing, crossed for Lindfield only for the striker to see his header go wide.

Mahon himself saw a shot cleared off the line by Earl Davis before Chester broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute as Lindfield met a Kevin McIntyre cross to score from close range. Three minutes later Chester doubled their lead as Horan steered a Lindfield ball past Chris Cheetham.

Seddon opened his Chester account by added a third on 42 minutes driving the ball past Cheetham into the top corner to complete an impressive first half.

Manager Neil Young introduced seven substitutes in the opening minutes after the break including an appearance for Adam Judge in goal, but seemed to lose some momentum.

The visitors pulled a goal back 20 minutes from time as Russell Courtney scored after Judge had partially cleared Adam Carden’s cross.

Goals in the last five minutes from Ben Mills and Michael Kay give Chester a deserved 2-1 victory against a Manchester City Academy team.

Chester had an early chance as Lewis Turner took a Craig Mahon pass before shooting over from outside the box. The Blues played some nice controlled football in the opening half and Jamie Reid was unlucky to see one effort cannon off the bar following good build up play with Gareth Seddon.

Chester struck the bar again later in the half with a Craig Mahon cross being knocked down by Kevin McIntyre for the incoming Danny Harrison to head against the woodwork.

Manchester City had their chances too and Lee Pugh was well placed to head a Emyr Huws effort off the line after Chester had failed to clear a corner.

Just after the hour mark the visitors took the lead with a great finish from Louis Hutton who flicked the ball from his left foot to his right one before he volleyed past Martin Fearon from 15 yards out.

Four minutes from time Chester drew level as the threatening Mahon crossed, the City ’keeper Johansen missed the ball and Ben Mills was on hand to score from close range.

Chester could sense a winning goal and it came as the game moved into injury time. Jason Jarrett crossed, the ball was knocked down by George Horan for Kay to poke the ball home.


Picture � Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

• Match pictures

It was an even opening period to the game with Craig Mahon testing Trotters ‘keeper Jay Lynch into a comfortable save in the opening five minutes while moments later Jason Jarrett saw a free kick scrambled away for a corner.

The visitors responded with John Danby scrambling a Davies effort clear and then the Blues shot-stopper saved from Chris Lester while Oscar Threlkeld sent his effort over the bar and out of the ground when well placed.

As the half came to an end, Bolton almost capitalised on a rare mistake by Danby who missed Lester’s cross only to see Davies put the loose ball into the side netting following a deflection.

Great defending from Chester prevented Chris Lester and Sanmi Odelusi from opening the scoring as Bolton pressed after the restart. Chester made five changes to the side on 52 minutes and began to look more lively in attack.

A dangerous run and cross from Michael Kay evaded everyone in the box while George Horan saw a headed hit the post from close range just after the hour mark following good work from a corner by Craig Lindfield and Paul Linwood.

Jamie Reid, making his home debut, linked up well with Marc Williams but Lynch was on hand to collect the dangerous cross. Reid also did well creating space to fire a shot over the bar when put under pressure.

Fifteen minutes from time Alex Titchiner found himself with time and space inside the box but saw his shot well blocked by Matt Mills who headed clear.

Both sides went close in the closing stages with Titchiner twice failing to bring a save from Lynch and Odelusi shooting wide for the visitors at the other end.


Picture � Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

• Match pictures

A second half goal from Danny Harrison brought Chester a deserved draw in a hard fought friendly against Cheshire neighbours Crewe Alexandra.

Chester started brightly with Craig Linfield taking on a Craig Mahon pass and forcing a save from Steve Phillips in the opening five minutes. Linfield was in the action again soon later glancing the crossbar with a well taken free kick.

Alex were quick on the counter-attack and took the lead on 16 minutes. John Danby was adjudged to have fouled Ryan Colclough in the area and referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot, Harry Davis converted the spot kick.

Gareth Seddon saw a 20-yarder go wide as Chester attempted to get on level terms. Harry Davis headed wide for Crewe when well placed before Harrison and Ashley Williams both saw efforts blocked by the Crewe defence.

Manager Neil Young made changes soon after the break bringing on Marc Williams and Ben Mills and Williams was soon in the action seeing his header from a Lindfield corner saves by replacement Alex ‘keeper Ben Garratt.

CHester equalised in the 65th minute as Harrison was on hand to score from close range after Garratt had parried a Marc Williams header.

George Horan deflected a shot onto his own post as Crewe looked to regain the lead. The visitors created two more chances of note late in the game as they finished the stronger side, but the Blues held on for a deserved draw.


Picture � Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

• Match pictures

A Nathan Arnold goal 15 minutes from time brings a home defeat for Chester against a Mansfield Town X1. With the visitors delayed on the motorway the match kicked off 15 mnutes later bu that didn't stop the Stags, playing their fourth pre-season match, form dominating the opening periods with Arnold firing an early shot just over the bar as Chester struggled.

Ben Mills replaced Gareth Seddon who was struggleing with a hamstring injury midway through the first period. Chester failed to test visiting ‘keeper Deakin throughout the night as The Stags proved too quick and strong for the Blues. They scored the only goal of the game 15 minutes from time as Arnold took a Keiran Murtagh pass to score past John Danby.

Chester’s pre-season campaign got underway with a comfortable 3-0 victory at West Cheshire League side Heswall. A decent crowd of around 300 saw Neil Young’s new look side take the lead midway through the first half with an own goal as a home defender turned a Craig Lindfield cross into his own net.

The goal sparked the Blues into action and both Marc Williams and Ashley Williams hit the woodwork and Ben Mills put an effort wide as Chester pressed. Mills made amends on 32 minutes heading home a fine Lindfield cross to double the advantage.

Chester increased their scoring ten minutes after the break with new signing Craig Mahon scoring with a well taken shot across the home ‘keeper.

Chester made a series of changes at half-time and included two trialists, Alex Brees and Jonny Spittle.


Picture � Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

• Match pictures