Chester lost their final pre-season friendly 4-1 at the hands of AFC Telford United on Saturday. Midfielder Anthony Barry scored the consolation goal from the penalty spot seven minutes from time.

The Blues went a goal behind on 27 minutes with goalkeeper Chris Sanna hesitated allowing Gavin Cowan to head home Martyn Naylor’s right wing free-kick.

Eleven minutes after the interval the home side doubled their advantage, Carl Rodgers scoring after City had failed to clear another set piece.

Sanna was at fault again for the third goal losing a cross and then holding back Terry Fearns to concede a penalty that was duly despatched.

A foul on Andy Mitchell presented the Blues with a penalty of their own and Anthony Barry made no mistake from the spot kick.

The Bucks completed the scoring just before full-time with Liam Blakeman’s shot beating Sanna after taking a slight deflection.

Prior to the match manager Simon Davies said: “I will use this match to give those players who didn’t get too many minutes on the field against Swansea, the chance to get a full game under their belts.”

“Paul Linwood, Anthony Barry and James Vaughan missed out on Thursday because of niggling injuries. If the game against Swansea had been a league match they would have played, but I left them out as a precautionary measure.”

Chester fell behind after only six minutes through Darren Pratley. The visitors doubled their lead through substitute Stefan Morrison to give the Swans a 2-0 lead at the break. Two goals from Jay Harris on 77 and 84 minutes brought Chester level only for the Swans to score the winner five minutes from time.

Two late goals through defensive errors robbed City of a draw they deserved after an encouraging performance against their League one opponents Carlisle United. The visitors took the lead on 37 minutes after a fine finish from Scott Dobie.

The Blues wasted little time in scoring the equaliser two minutes later with Kevin Ellison first winning a free-kick just outside the edge of the box and then blasting it home.

City had had the better of the opening half with French trialist Damien Mozika making his long awaited first appearance and impressing after a fine show. Another new signing, Anthony Barry, also put in good performance.

The Blues were hoping to take another look at Trevor Benjamin but the former Hereford United striker missed the game with an eye injury.

• Match pictures

Pre-season friendly
Attendance: 473 Half Time 1-2
Booked: -.

Chester City (first half): Danby, Rule, Kelly, Butler, Roberts, S.Vaughan, Dinning, Mannix, Ellison, Partridge, Benjamin.
Chester City (second half): Sanna, Wilson, Roberts, Linwood, Barry, Mitchell, Mannix, McManus, Lowe, Benjamin (Kelly), Murphy.
Referee: Mike Dean.

A penalty from Tony Dinning and a first-ever goal from Stephen Vaughan brought City a 2-1 at Rivacre Park this afternoon. City gave a trial to Trevor Benjamin and a foul on the striker by Lee Owens after 19 minutes led to Tony Dinning giving City the lead from the penalty spot. The Blues doubled their advantage five minutes later as Stephen Vaughan shot past Rigby following a knock-down from Kevin Ellison.

The home side reduced the deficit just before the interval with Tom Rooney converting another spot-kick. That proved to be the end of the scoring with City once again making a number of changes at the interval.

On striker Trevor Benjamin CIty manager Simon Davies said: “He got us the penalty and he’s played the same throughout his career and he showed that for us on Saturday. I thought he was just lacking a bit of pre-season practice. We were hoping to keep him on for 90 minutes, but he just fell a little bit short of that, but that’s no great concern and we'll have another look at him tomorrow night.”

Once again though the manager bemoaned a lack of goals despite the numerous chances created. He continued: “We could have scored seven or eight goals, so we’re creating the chances, but we do need to be putting them away. It’s not a concern, but it’s the same old story with that I’m afraid, but we’ll keep working at it and hopefully that will progress.”

Pre-season friendly
Attendance: 505 Half Time 0-1
Booked: -.

Southport: McMillan, Lever, Gray, Davis, Connolly, Doolan, Price, Robinson, Daly, Kilheeney, Moogan.
Chester City (first half): Sanna, J.Vaughan, Wilson, Dinning, Linwood, Partridge, Roberts, Mitchell, Lowe, Rule, Conal Rowlinson.
Chester City (second half): Danby, Rule, Butler, Platt, Wilson, Mannix, S.Vaughan, Hughes, McManus, Ellison, Rutherford.
Referee: Peter Wright.

Chester’s pre-season got underway with a 2-2 draw at Haig Avenue. The Sandgrounders missed a first half penalty before Laurence Wilson opened the scoring from close range after keeper McMillan could only parry a Kevin Roberts shot.

Simon Davies made nine changes at the interval and Paul McManus gave City a 2-0 lead on 63 minutes following a fine through ball from Paul Rutherford. City were eventually pegged back through goals from Tony Gray and Michael Powell.

The Blues gave a trial to ex-Stoke City goalkeeper Chirs Sanna.

Manager Simon Davies out 20 of the squad through their paces last night and was quite happy with the performance if not the defending. He said: “It was good to see young Macca (McManus) getting his goal and playing so well. I thought he was our man of the match the way he covered ground and created opportunities.”

“With our fitness coach, Julian Owen, on board, we’re trying to introduce some players, including Paul McManus and Paul Rutherford, to the weight training side of sessions.”

“The weights aren’t heavy and the work isn't being done to make the lads look good for the beach! I thought Southport gave us a good work out and, from my point of view, I feel as if I found out a lot about the lads involved. Pre-season matches can provide good or bad football, but I was more concerned about giving the players some match practice because that is what pre-season is all about.”