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MATCH REPORTS 2018/19

Pre-Season | August | September | October | November | December | January | February | March | April
SEPTEMBER
Guiseley (A) | Bradford (Park Avenue) (H) | FC United of Manchester (H) | Boston United (A) | Kidderminster Harriers (H) | City of Liverpool (FAC2Q H) | Chorley (A)
Saturday 29 September
Chorley 0 Chester 0
Conference National North
Attendance: 2,028 (391 Chester) Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Howson.

Chorley: Urwin, Challoner, Blakeman, Teague, Leather, Meppen-Walter, Wilson, O’Keefe, Carver, Almond (Cottrell 17), Newby. Subs not used: Eccles, Whitham, Anson, Fletcher.
Chester: Shenton, Moran, Howson, Livesey, Grand, Stopforth, Burton, Mooney (Deane Smalley 77), Hughes, Mahon, Murray (Jordan 64). Subs not used: Noble, Thomson, Pritchard.
Referee: Andrew Kitchen.

This was a well earned draw at the league leaders for the Blues who could easily have come away with all three points.


Chester, with several players sidelined through injury, kept the home side at bay and it wasn't until the 22nd minute when they had their first effort as Josh O’Keefe’s header from a corner was cleared off the line by the Blues defence.

As the half wore on Chester, with Craig Mahon pulling the strings in midfield, began to get a foothold in the game. Mahon saw an effort from the edge of the box fizz over the bar.

Seven minutes into the second period the Blues almost grabbed the lead. A foul on Matty Hughes saw the Blues awarded a free kick on the edge of the box that fell to Jon Moran who headed over from six yards.

Twelve minutes from time substitute Deane Smalley brought out a great save from Matt Unwin in the Magpies goal, who tipped his close range effort round the post. Smalley was in the action again minutes later sending a looping header over Unwin and just over the bar.

That was to be the last real action as Chester held out and end Chorley’s 100% home record this season.


Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

League table | More pictures

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Saturday 22 September
Chester 4 City of Liverpool 0
FA Cup Second Qualifying Round
Attendance: 1,806 (422 City of Liverpool) Half Time: 2-0
Booked: Noble.

Chester: Shenton, Moran (Thomson 73), Livesey, Howson, Grand, Stopforth, Roberts (Noble 30), Pritchard, Murray, Mahon, Hughes (Marsh-Hughes 73). Subs not used: King, Crilly, Jones, Cottrell.
City of Liverpool: Ashcroft, Denson, Dalton, Williams, Foy, McGrath, Clair, Holt, Hazlehurst (Pepper 77), McDonald (Forbes), Peterson (Cairns 57). Subs not used: Hajdari, Wilkinson, Robinson, Sandsbury-Maddox.
Referee: Adam Herczeg.

Two goals late in the first half from John Pritchard set the Blues up for a victory that was sealed after the break by Iwan Murray and Cain Noble.

The visitors, from the North West Counties League Premier Division, started brightly though it was the Blues with the first chance that saw Steve Howson head just over from a corner.

Chester were forced into a change midway through the opening period with Cain Noble replacing the injured Gary Roberts, who limped off. Noble was straight into the action seeing a shot tipped over by Ben Ashcroft in the Purps goal.

Two minutes before half time Chester took the lead with Pritchard running through onto Jon Moran's through ball before slotting the ball past the advancing Ashcroft.

And with the opening period about to end, Pritchard went on a mazy run through the Purps defence before chipping a shot over the onrushing Ashcroft to double the lead with the last action of the half.

Chester continued the pressure after the break with Noble wasting a great chance from ten yards, but Chester were to seal the victory in the 71st minute as Murray was allowed to turin in the area and fire a shot under Ashcroft for his first senior goal.

Noble wrapped the game up in the final minute latching onto a lose ball following a Craig Mahon effort to drive the ball low past Ashcroft into the corner of the net.


Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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Tuesday 18 September
Chester 3 Kidderminster Harriers 1
Conference National North
Attendance: 1,512 Half Time: 1-0
Booked: Pritchard.

Chester: Shenton, Moran, Livesey, Howson, Grand, Stopforth, Murray (Pritchard 77), Roberts, Mooney (Jordan 57), Dudley (Hughes 46), Mahon. Subs not used: King, Waters.
Kidderminster Harriers: Hall, O'Connor, Horsfall, Digie (Richards 63), Vaughan, Weeks, Williams, Daniels, Taylor, Ironside (Bradley 46), Chambers. Subs not used: Baxendale, Austin, Johnson.
Referee: Michael Barlow.

Two goals from Matty Hughes and an Anthony Dudley penalty saw Chester end Kidderminster’s unbeaten start to the season as Iwan Murray marked his full debut with a man of the match performance.


Chester were forced into a late change with captain Scott Burton pulling up injured in the pre-match warm-up, substitute Murray making his debut as the replacement

On a rain soaked pitch Chester pushed from the start and Simon Grand was unlucky to see a 30-yard volley fly just past the post in the second minute. Just four minutes later though the Blues got an early breakthrough as a challenge by Joel Taylor on Murray saw referee
Michael Barlow pont to the penalty spot, Dudley stepped up to convert the spot-kick past Brandon Hall.

Harriers had a couple of half chances with Billy Daniels firing wide from a good position but Chester, with the tricky winger Murray causing problems, were unlucky to see another angled Dudley effort miss the far post by inches.

The last chance of the half fell to the visitors seven minutes before the break as Ashley Chambers’ effort on goal was blocked well by Danny Livesey.

Chester doubled their lead six minutes into the second period as Matty Hughes prodded the ball home from Dan Mooney’s in swinging corner.

Hughes almost added a third on 70 minutes as he forced Hall into a smart save. Two minutes later Harriers pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after Livesey was adjudged to have handled in the area, Ed Williams sent Shenton the wrong way from the spot.

Nine minutes from time Hughes sealed the three points riding a challenge from defender James O’Connor before shooting high into the net above Hall.


Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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Saturday 15 September
Boston United 0 Chester 2
Conference National North
Attendance: 1,188 (100 Chester) Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Grand, Moran.

Boston United: Willis, Davies, Jackson, Thanoj, Middleton, Qualter, Wright, Abbott, Rose (Ceesay 69), Walker, Arnold (Margetts 79). Subs not used: Wafula, Marriott, Harris.
Chester: Shenton, Howson, Livesey, Dominic Smalley (Moran 46), Grand, Roberts, Burton (Hughes 35), Stopforth, Mahon, Mooney (Jordan 88), Dudley. Subs not used: Murray, Pritchard.
Referee: Danny Livesey.

Chester made two changes from the side held at home on Tuesday with gary Roberts returning from suspension to midfield and Danny Livesey back into the defence.

The hosts had the better of the opening period with Nathan Arnold looking dangerous, and Nicky Walker twice going close, first forcing a save from Grant Shenton then shooting into the side netting.

Dan Mooney saw a long range effort saved by George Willis in the Pilgrims goal as Chester looked to get into the game. A knock to Dominic Smalley meant a forced change at half-time with Jon Moran coming on as substitute.

Six minutes after the restart Chester took the lead as Steve Howson met Mooney's corner to head home past Willis. The goal spurred Chester, Craig Mahon headed over a Moran cross before the Blues doubled their advantage on 59 minutes.

Mahon picked up a loose ball in the centre of the pitch and threaded a pass through to Mooney who took it in his stride and coolly scored past Willis.

Walker soon had the ball in the net for Boston but his effort was ruled offside. The Blues had a penalty appeal turned away as a mahon effort appeared to hit the arm of a home player.

Chester withstood a lot of pressure in the final 15 minutes but held on for another clean sheet and three vital points from sixth placed Boston.


Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

League table | More pictures

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Tuesday 11 September
Chester 0 FC United of Manchester 0
Conference National North
Attendance: 2,045 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Dudley.

Chester: Shenton, Dominic Smalley, Grand, Howson, Burton, Moran, Mooney (Jordan 71), Stopforth, Dudley, Hughes, Mahon (Pritchard 71). Subs not used: Roberts, Livesey, Thomson.
FC United of Manchester: Carnell, Tattum, Thompson, Baird, Priestley, O’Halloran, Jones, Kay, Mansell (Dickinson 68), Willoughby, Donohue (Crawford 90). Subs not used: Banister, Litchfield, Logan.
Referee: Steve Copeland.

Chester missed the opportunity to climb the table as they were held at home by bottom of the league side FC United of Manchester on a frustrating night.


The Blues started brightly. Jon Moran heading over a Dan Mooney corner after five minutes before Anthony Dudley forced a fine save from David Carnell as he sent in an angled shot on target.

Kurt Willoughby had the first chance for the visitors, the pacy front man firing a shot inches wide of Grant Shenton’s goal following a quick breakaway.

The Blues were finding it difficult to break through a well organised United defence, with Dudley having the only real chance ten minutes before the break but he scuffed his shot straight into the hands of Carnell.

The visitors started the second half on the front foot with Billy Priestley heading wide from a corner. Mooney saw a shot flash wide and there were loud appeals for a penalty as Craig Mahon was tackled by Priestley in the box but referee Steve Copeland waved play-on.

Six minutes from time Matty Hughes dragged a shot wide following a Dudley through ball and moments later John Pritchard saw an effort go high over the bar as the Blues had to settle for a point and a clean sheet.


Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

League table | More pictures

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Saturday 8 September
Chester 5 Bradford (Park Avenue) 3
Conference National North
Attendance: 1,693 Half Time: 3-2
Booked: Moran.

Chester: Shenton, Dominic Smalley, Grand, Burton, Moran, Howson, Mooney (Deane Smalley 80), Stopforth, Dudley, Hughes (Pritchard 75), Mahon (Jordan 80). Subs not used. Thomson, Noble.
Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Lowe, Wroe, Killock, Havern, McKenna (Knight 72), Branson, Beesley, Johnson, Clee (Spencer 62). Subs not used: Bosell, Dawson, Nowakowski.
Referee: Aaron Jackson.

A goal from Craig Mahon, and two apiece for Dan Mooney and Anthony Dudley, saw Chester win an entertaining match with Bradford (Park Avenue).


It took just three minutes for the visitors to open the scoring as Ben McKenna connected with Jake Beesley’s cross to slide the ball past Grant Shenton in the home goal. Within three minutes the Blues were level as Dan Mooney was on hand to score from close range after good approach work from Anthony Dudley.

Steven Drench made a fine save to deny Craig Mahon as Chester pressed for a second goal. That goal came on 12 minutes from a break away as Mahon fed Simon Grand and his accurate cross was headed home by Dudley to put the home side ahead.

Gary Stopforth saw an effort loop onto the top of the net before Chester added a third goal on 33 minutes with a fine solo effort from Mahon.

Slack defending in the Blues defence gifted Oli Johnson a great chance but the Avenue player blazed his shot over the bar, however Beesley did find the net to reduce the arrears as the game approached half-time to end an amazing five goal opening period.

Bradford started the second half the brighter and equalised on 52 minutes as Johnson converted from close range after Shenton had partially saved from a corner.

Matty Hughes saw a curling effort hit the crossbar before Chester restored their lead on 74 minutes, a through ball from Mahon found Mooney who advanced to score under Drench.

The three points were wrapped up in the 89th minute when Dudley swept home a penalty following a foul on substitute Luke Jordan.

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Saturday 1 September
Guiseley 1 Chester 1
Conference National North
Attendance: 806 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Grand, Smalley, Stopforth.

Guiseley: Green, Moyo, Heaton, Purver, Garner, Halls, Felix, James, Liburd, Odejayi (Clayton 66), Dyche. Subs not used: Hatfield, Smith, Hussain.
Chester: Shenton, Dominic Smalley, Howson, Moran, Grand, Stopforth, Burton (Noble 57), Mahon (Miller 83), Mooney (Marsh-Hughes 66), Dudley, Hughes. Subs not used: King, Thomson.
Referee: Barry Lamb.

Chester left it late but Jon Moran's header in added time rescued a point for the Blues who looked to be heading for a late defeat at Nethernoor.

Danny Livesey, Matty Waters and John Pritchard all missed the game through injury and managers Anthony Johnson and bernard Morley brought in
Steve Howson, Dan Mooney and Moran as replacements against a Guiseley side managed by ex-Blues boss Marcus Bignot.

Chester started well with Moran shooting over from a Gary Stopforth cross in the early stages. There was a scare at the other end as Rowan Liburd found himself free on the edge of the six yard box but Grant Shenton managed to save his weak effort.

Mooney forced a save low down by Joe Green as Chester pushed for the opening goal, Matty Hughes and Anthony Dudley also forced saves from Green and Dudley saw another curling effort drift just wide before half-time.

It was the home side that started the second period stronger with Kayode Odejayi heading a free-kick at Shenton in the opening stages.

Moran almost opened the scoring on 70 minutes as his header from a Craig mahon cross flashed just over the bar. Liburd was again left in space inside the penalty area but wasted a great opportunity for the hosts heading weakly at Shenton.

Two minutes from time the home side struck as a free kick from former Blue Andy Halls was headed home at the far post by Scott Garner.

But Chester weren't finished and as the game entered stoppage time a long ball into the box was met by Moran who sent a looping header over Green into the net.

With moments remaining Simon Grand was on hand to clear off the line from Kaine Felix who had rounded Shenton to preserve the vital point for the Blues.


Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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