News from Deva Stadium December 2015

31 December 2015
MIDFIELDER SIGNS ON LOAN
Chester have signed 22-year-old ex-Burnley midfielder Steven Hewitt until the end of the season. He was released by the Clarets in mid December. Meanwhile defender Alex Whitmore has returned to Burnley and is believed to be heading out on loan to Gateshead.

30 December 2015
POOR FIRST HALF COSTS BLUES

Chester finished the year with a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Macclesfield Town on Monday. The Silkmen deserved the three points that were gained thanks to two goals in six first half minutes, an own goal sliced into his own net from Ian Sharps, and a controversial penalty for a push following a corner scored by Kristian Dennis.

Chester rallied in the second period after the introduction of Craig Mahon but were unable to to test Shwan Jalal in the Macc goal. Ryan Lloyd should have done better than side-foot wide from six yards out while Danny Hattersley shot high over the bar after the ball had broken quickly to him at the edge of the box following a long Ryan Higgins right side throw-in.

Manager Steve Burr said afterwards: “I’m very disappointed with that especially with the break that we had and maybe that didn’t help us but that was just unacceptable in the first-half.”

“The two goals we’ve conceded are very sloppy. The penalty decision maybe that’s a talking point in itself and the first one could have gone anywhere but it’s flown straight over Jon Worsnop.”

“Macc were quicker to the ball in the first-half and knocking it about better. Our passing wasn’t great in the first-half at all. We played it out of some tight areas and then when we got into Macc’s half we gave the ball away too cheaply and then we were back defending so it was very frustrating.”

The Blues are back in home action on Saturday with the visit of Altrincham. The away fixture at Moss Lane on Boxing Day was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. The two sides last met in October with the Robins winning the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round encounter 1-0.

• League Table

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

21 December 2015
BACK TO WINNING WAYS

A hat-trick from in-form striker Ross Hannah helped Chester to a 4-1 victory over Torquay United on Saturday, Ryan Higgins capped a fine display adding the fourth goal. Following on from the FA Trophy victory last week it was Chester’s first league win since 10 November and lifts them to 14th in the league table.

The Blues will be looking to build on those back-to-back wins over the festive period when they have three games in a short space of time: Altrincham (A), Macclesfield Town (H) and the return home game with Altrincham.

Looking ahead to these matches manager Steve Burr told the Chester Chronicle: “We’ve not had the best of luck against Altrincham since I’ve been here and getting knocked out of the FA Cup hurt us badly but this win puts us into good mode for going into those games and they’re games that I feel we have got to look at winning.”

“You come up against some teams in this division where, and we’re always trying to win, realistically it’s difficult but Saturday was a game we felt we could win and we’d done a lot of homework on Torquay and areas we feel we could get at them and I felt we did that. The Macc game and the games against Alty are games where we want to look to get more points on the board.”

• League Table | League Fixtures

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

LOAN EXTENDED
Midfielder George Thomson has had his loan at FC United of Manchester extended by another month. Thomson has scores three goals in his first month on loan and with Luke George returning from injury has been allowed to extend his spell with the Conference North side.

Tom Peers has joined Hednesford Town for a second loan spell at Keys Park. Peers has just completed a one month loan spell at Salford City.

16 December 2015
KIDS OFFER FOR SATURDAY
This Saturday children are invited to watch the home league match against Torquay United for FREE in the south stand accompanied by an adult. The initiative by the Chester FC Community Trust is aimed at encouraging families, local schools, local clubs and community groups to come along to the game (kick-0ff 15.00hrs). One Adult per three children will also receive a free ticket for the fixture. Additional adults can receive entry at the reduced rate of £10.00. To receive the free allocation of tickets simply email community@chesterfc.com with the names of the children attending, their home addresses with postcode, and the name of their school/local team/community group attended.

14 December 2015
HOME DRAW FOR BLUES
Chester have been drawn at home to Hungerford Town of the Southern League in the second round of the FA Trophy. The match will take place on Saturday 16 January. Two goals from Ross Hannah gave the Blues a 2-0 victory at AFC Telford United in the first round on Saturday. Hungerford reached the second round following a 2-1 victory at Corinthian Casuals at the weekend.

4 December 2015
KAY QUITS CHESTER

The club have announced that Michael Kay has left Chester. The 26-year-old defender made 75+10 appearances and scored two goals for Chester after signing from Tranmere Rovers in July 2013.

Manager Steve Burr told the Chester Leader: “Michael, along with John Rooney and Craig Mahon, are the only lads who are still here from the previous Manager, and I must say Michael is a top professional and has been great to work with.”

“He always gives everything he’s got for us. Michael has told us he’s decided to take a break and he’s looking at other avenues in his life to proceed with and we respect that. He knows he’s always welcome back here at the football club and I’ve wished him well with wherever things take him.”

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

BLUES STALL AT CHRISTMAS MARKET
The club will have a merchandise stall at the Chester Christmas market from tomorrow. The market is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday up until Christmas.

DYSON RETURNS TO EVERTON
On-loan forward Calum Dyson has returned to Everton after making 2+2 appearances in his stay at Chester.

3 December 2015
TRANMERE MATCH SWITCH
The home game against Tranmere Rovers has been moved and will now take place on Sunday 28 February with a kick-off of 12.00hrs. The match is also all-ticket for those without season tickets.

HENEGHAN SUSPENDED
Defender Ben Heneghan picked up his fifth yellow card of the season at Gateshead on Saturday and has received a one match suspension which will take place this Saturday for the away trip to league leaders Cheltenham Town.

2 December 2015
CHAIRMAN MILLINGTON STEPS DOWN

Chester chairman Grenville Millington has stepped down from his position on the board with immediate effect due to full time work commitments. The shock news comes just a few days after the club Annual General Meeting. He took on the role of chairman following last years AGM in October 2014 replacing Tony Durkin.

Jim Keegan will now take on the role of chairman for the interim period, there is a meeting of the new board on 16 December when a new chairman is expected to be appointed.

Millington of course has a long association with the club that saw him make 354 appearances in goal for the club in two spells. He was also a founder member of the Former Players Association and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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