It was a night for breaking records at Chester on Wednesday night. The crowd of 3,310 that saw the Blues beat promotion rivals Chorley 3-0 was the biggest home crowd since the club reformed last summer beating the previous record the the final home game of last season, against Bamber Bridge, by three! Three second half goals from Alex Brown, Matt McNeil and Wes Baynes sealed a superb deserved victory that lifted Chester to their highest ever league placing, second in the Northern Premier League table, just one point behind leaders Northwich Victoria. A seventh successive clean sheet also helped produce a new record as John Danby (pictured) broke Grenville Millington’s record of 590 minutes from 1974/75. The Blues have now gone 636 minutes without conceding a goal, a fantastic achievement. • Latest table Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

Another impressive performance from Chester secured their sixth successive win on Saturday as they came away from Stafford Rangers with a 3-0 victory. Two goals from Michael Powell (pictured) following Iain Howard’s opening strike lifted the Blues to third place in the table. Once again Chester got at their opponents with a quick-tempo start and were two goals up in the opening 20 minutes. Rangers were reduced to ten men just before the break with Luke George receiving a red card for a stamp on Chris Simm.

It’s now also 545 minutes since Chester conceded a goal, the fourth at Nantwich, during which time they’ve scored an impressive 20 at the other end.

There will be a bumper crowd on Wednesday night as second placed Chorley visit. The Lancashire side are one point ahead of Chester and a further three behind leaders Northwich Victoria. Manager Neil Young has called on the Chester support to turn out in force for the match. He said: “The game doesn’t need any more hype, but what I would say is let’s try and get as many Chester fans there as we can. We want the fans to get behind the team and show the league just how big a club Chester FC are. It’s as big a game as there’s going to be, so I hope the fans get down there, get behind the lads and enjoy what should be a good game.”

• Latest table

The club have parted company with defender Greg Stones (pictured), one of Neil Young’s first signings when the club reformed last summer. Stones played in a number of positions during the championship season and in total made 42+7 appearances for the Blues scoring one goal. It’s also been announced that midfielder Bradley Barnes has also been made available for transfer. Like Stones, Barnes has been told there’s no guarantee of a place in the team this season. Barnes has scored nine goals in 37+9 appearances. Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

Southport defender Matt McGinn is set to sign for Chester tomorrow after both clubs have come to an agreement and the player has agreed personal terms. McGinn scored an impressive six goals in seven matches during his loan spell with the club and is expected to go straight back into the squad that travel to for their next league match at Stafford Rangers on Saturday. He will not be eligible for the Cheshire Senior Cup match at Hyde on Tuesday night though. Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

After failing to command a regular starting spot, striker Mark Reed has returned to Buxton after signing for the Blues from the Derbyshire side in the summer. With Matty McNeil and Chris Simm on fine form this season chances to break into the team have been restricted to just five appearances as substitute. With the imminent return of Michael Wilde and also Jamie Rainford vying for a place in the side he decided a move would be the best way to guarantee more regular football. Manager Neil Young praised the returning striker: “Mark’s attitude has been first class and it’s refreshing to hear a lad say he needs to leave as he just wants to play football. Buxton have been monitoring almost daily Mark’s situation and have been very keen to sign their record goalscorer back. We wish Mark and his new young family well and he goes with our best wishes.” Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

Chester manager Neil Young will be holding talks with Southport in an effort to secure the services of left back Matt McGinn who completed his seven match loan period last night. McGinn scored his sixth goal for the club, his fifth penalty!, as the Blues ran out comfortable 4-0 winners over Kendal Town. Young told the Chester Chester Chronicle: “We’d like to try and bring Matty in as he’s done very well for us. I’ve always said I’d wait until his loan came to an end before I talked to Southport and the player, to allow Matty to concentrate firmly on his football. I’d like to do that over the weekend to see where we’re at and see if the lad wants to stay.” “If that’s the case we will need to speak with Southport – because ultimately he is their player – and see what can be done. Then we have to agree personal terms and make sure it all fits in within our budget.” Chester’s latest victory came on the back of a blistering start against Kendal. Christian Smith rose in the first minute to head the Blues into the lead from an inswinging near post corner and McGinn added his penalty, following a handball, just three minutes later. Matty McNeil added a third just after the half hour following a great McGinn cross to give Chester a three-goal half-time advantage in front of a crowd of 2,029. Ian Howard wrapped things up in stoppage time with the fourth goal from close range that moved the Blues up to fourth spot in the league, just two points behind leaders Bradford Park Avenue who visit Chester in mid-October. The Blues have no fixture this weekend. it’s FA Cup time, and are back in action on Tuesday night when they travel across the county to play Hyde United in the First Round of the Cheshire Senior Cup. Hyde are currently top of the Conference North. • Latest table Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

Chester kept a third successive clean sheet on Saturday with a well earned 3-0 victory at Worksop Town. All the goals came in the second period courtesy an own goal, a Matty McGinn penalty and a stoppage time striker from substitute Wes Baynes. As a result, and with the other top sides also winning, the Blues remain fourth in the division but will have a chance to close the gap when they entertain seventh placed Kendal Town on Wednesday night. Manager Neil Young will be without influential skipper George Horan who is suspended for the match but knows he has enough strength in depth to cover.

Following victory at Worksop Young said: “Worksop could easily have been a Nantwich Town scenario. It was a lovely pitch, we went into the game on the back of a good victory and we had a few tired legs. But as I’ve said to the lads on many occasions, I’ve never had any doubts over their ability to win football matches as that’s why they’re at this club.”

Victory at a rain-soaked Ashton United last night lifted Chester to fourth place in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division. In-form striker Chris Simm (left) was on the mark once again opening the scoring for the Blues after just 20 seconds following a slip by a defender. That was Simm’s third goal in two matches following a string of impressive performances from the former Southport front man.

John Danby made a couple of crucial saves before on-loan defender Matty McGinn doubled the advantage with a penalty seven minutes before half-time. The visitors created several chances after the break and only United ‘keeper Terry Smith denied Simm a second as Chester held out for victory.

Manager Neil Young told the Chester Chronicle; “It was a very professional performance and I was particularly pleased to keep a second straight clean sheet. John Danby’s had to make a couple of saves early on, but on chances I thought we definitely deserved to win. I’m very happy with the lads as this is a very difficult place to come. They’ve worked ever so hard in swirling winds and teeming rain.”

Chester turned on the style to demolish North Ferriby United just five days after the disappointing defeat at Cheshire neighbours Nantwich Town on the Bank Holiday Monday.

Chris Simm and Iain Howard were dropped for the match at Weaver Stadium after turning up just an hour before kick-off and both responded well yesterday running the Villagers’ defence ragged to score the opening three goals between them either side of the break.

Manager Neil Young was rightly full of praise for striker Chris Simm, who won the man-of-the-match award yesterday and has turned in quality performances for the last three home games. Young told the Chester Chronicle: “We’ve worked very hard on Chris to get him doing what has got him goals all his career – and that’s playing on the last man and running the channels.”

“He’s took it on board and I think his performances recently have been as good as any player since I have been here. I’m made-up for him as he’s taken a lot of constructive criticism off me to get him playing the way he is playing. His work-rate and effort has been second to none.”