Remarkably, this was the first time that Chester had begun a league season with a home fixture since 2018. Peterborough Sports have provided stubborn opposition in the past and today was no exception. Under the joint management of Luke Steel and Michael Gash they finished comfortably in mid-table last season and the current owner made noises about challenging at the top end of the table this time.

Blues took the field in their new predominantly blue strip whilst the visitors’ orange and black was matched by the junior team of the week from Broughton who formed the guard of honour. As Calum McIntyre had hinted, City were without Tom Peers who was injured in last Saturday’s friendly. Offrande Zanzala took the centre forward role flanked by Fin Roberts and Connor Woods.

A strong breeze blowing from east to west made ball control difficult to begin with – though its strength eased as the game went on. The first fifteen minutes saw lots of head tennis and midfield combat for the ball as both sides struggled to find their stride. Zanzala was effective at flicking the ball forward and, when he had the ball at his feet was not afraid to run directly at the Turbines’ defence. He was instrumental in giving City the lead when he picked up Fin Shrimpton’s pass, beat his man and then set up Fin Roberts to sidefoot the ball home.

City led thanks to a well-worked goal but two minutes later found the advantage wiped out as Peterborough scored the scruffiest of equalisers. The defence failed to deal with an awkwardly bouncing ball into the box and Dyer scuffed a shot into the ground which bounced and spun in off the post. A couple of Chester players claimed the striker had handled the ball on the way down – but their pleas were not upheld by the referee.

Zanzala saw his snap shot saved by Crook before another run towards goal was abruptly halted when Fryatt up-ended him, The Turbines’ defender was the first to be cautioned for the challenge which saw City’s forward have to leave the field after extensive treatment. He was replaced by Dylan Mottley Henry. Within five minutes of coming on the City sub nodded home Fin Shrimpton’s cross to give Chester the lead again. Once more it followed a flowing move involving Woods and Roberts too.

For a second time, though, Chester were guilty of switching off soon after taking the lead. They struggled to hold on to the ball in a series of tackles and were caught at sixes and sevens when Jarvis played a one two and found space to cross for Dyer, with Kelly-Evans in his slipstream, to sweep home a second equaliser. It was galling for the Blues who had worked hard to get their noses in front. Incredibly they might have snatched a third goal in first half stoppage time after a swift break saw Woodthorpe sprinting clear but he was unable to lift the ball over the advancing Crook.

On fifty three minutes the lively Mottley-Henry was fouled as he protected the ball on the right touchline. Weeks swung in the resultant free kick. Mottley-Henry wriggled free of the pack and found himself in glorious isolation to volley the ball in for Chester’s third.

Both sides pressed for more goals. Mottley Henry came closest of all as he ran the channels without tiring and rifled a shot against the foot of the post. A hat-trick would have crowned his man of the match performance as substitute but it was not to be. Scott Burgess replaced an injured Fin Roberts and went close himself with a trio of shots – all of them just wide of post and bar. The Turbines pushed forward too. Benjamin saved well from Jarvis and Gash nodded a corner wide when well placed at the far post. Bainbridge’s influence grew as the game went on and proved an effective shield in front of the back four.

Calum McIntyre though it was a typically chaotic opening match as both sides looked to gel into a pattern. Room for improvement then, but more importantly the result gives City a winning start to the season – their first in five years.

Colin Mansley


Picture © Rick Matthews