Hereford: Yates, Thomas, Greenslade,
O'Sullivan (Wharton 62), Cullinane-Liburd, Gowling, Lloyd,
Owen-Evans, Finn (Smith 84), Roberts (Richards 69), Symons.
Subs not used: Dielna, Horsell. Chester: Shenton, Moran, Howson, Thomson
(Waters 16), Grand, Green, Roberts, Mooney (Deane Smalley
59), Mahon (Marsh-Hughes 79), Jackson, Dudley. Subs not
used: Dawson, Noble. Referee: David McNamara.
Chester
rounded off 2018 with their injury-hit side making a disappointing
visit to Hereford and a result that dropped them to fifth
in the league table.
It
had been a much-anticipated day out, with a feeling
that the Blues must be due a win on their travels and
many of the travelling 354 fans making the most of the
excellent local hostelries that Hereford has to offer.
Long-standing fans would have noticed
a few changes in the city centre since the two teams
last met in the city five years ago, with a smart new
shopping centre in place of the former cattle market
site. But the excellent Wye Valley Barrels pub across
the city centre hasn’t changed and the pre-match
beer was as good as ever!
Both clubs have gone in different
directions since that 2013-14 season, when Chester kept
their spot in the Conference with the former Hereford
United’s sad demise, so it was good to renew old
acquaintances.
But sadly for Chester, the trip down
memory lane didn’t end up with a repetition of
the hard-earned point they achieved in 2013. Even taking
account of the weakened nature of the team, it was not
a good performance.
While it was great to see George Green
making his first start since signing for the club, it
was desperately disappointing to see Matty Thomson go
off after just 10 minutes when he just seemed to fall
awkwardly and went off in agony with a problem with
his left leg. Fellow academy graduate Matty Waters replaced
him, but Thomson was a significant loss to the game.
It was no surprise that the Bulls
went ahead at around 30 minutes when a good pass to
Danny Greenslade saw him strike the ball well past Chester
goalkeeper Grant Shenton. At the other end, Hereford’s
goalkeeper Matt Yates saved well from Craig Mahon –
probably Chester’s best chance of the game.
The second half wasn’t much
of an improvement, and all-round it was not a showpiece
game of football. To cap it all off, Mike Symons –
the player announced as Hereford’s man-of-the-match
– had been taunted for his size by the Chester
fans and had the turning circle of a Hereford bull.
But, despite his lumbering nature, he found himself
in the right place to get the ball across the line from
close range after his team won a corner in the 70th
minute.
Chester did step up the pressure in
the final spell of the match, but it was too little,
too late. Sadly they never looked liked repeating the
2-2 scoreline from the club’s last visit to Edgar
Street, and they ended 2018 on a lacklustre note.
Chester
were forced into changes
before the match with injuries to Akwasi Asante and Gary
Stopforth ruling the duo out to be replaced by Gary Roberts
and Dan Mooney.
It was former Blue Ryan Astles who had the opening chance
of the game heading wide from a corner, before Jason Gilchrist
headed over a golden opportunity from six yards out as
the Chester defence looked rattled.
Five minutes before the break the Sandgrounders took a
deserved lead as Dion Charles broke down the right before
crossing for David Morgan who shot past the advancing
Grant Shenton.
On the stroke of half time Southport added a second as
Reagan Ogle’s long throw caused havoc in the Blues
defence and Bauress was on hand to score from the edge
of the box.
Shenton produced a fine save to deny Charles as the home
side started the second half well. Chester though began
to create a few chances themselves with Anthony Dudley
looping in a header that was saved by Dan Hanford in the
home goal and Cain Noble saw an effort flash just wide
as a thick fog started to roll in across the pitch.
George Green made his much anticipated debut coming on
for Noble before Bradley Jackson saw a great effort cleared
off the line by Dean Winnard.
The points were wrapped up in the final minute as Morgan
shot past Shenton from the edge of the box to complete
a miserable Boxing Day for Chester.
League
table
Rate
Chester’s performance
Saturday
22 December Chester
2 AFC Telford United 1 Conference National North
Attendance: 2,079 Half Time: 1-1
Booked: Dawson, Moran.
Chester
came from behind to claim three hard earned points with
goals from Akwasi Asante and Anthony Dudley.
In a pulsating first half the Blues had the ball in the
net on ten minutes with Asante heading in an Adam Dawson
free kick only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
Dudley headed wide and Asante saw an effort saved by Andrew
Wycherley before Telford took the lead against the run
of play. A free kick from Steph Morley was met by the
head of Amari Morgan-Smith who scored past Grant Shenton.
Chester responded and drew level almost immediately with
man-of-the-moment Asante latching on to a Dudley through
ball to steer a shot past Wycherley.
Six minutes after the break Chester took the lead with
Anthony Dudley seeing a first effort blocked before scoring
the rebound. Telford through they’d equalised soon
after with the ball being bundled into the net only for
the effort to be ruled out for a push on Shenton.
Asante limped off to be replaced by Dan Mooney before
the Bucks were reduced to ten men with Shane Sutton seeing
red after a last-man foul on Dudley.
Bradley Jackson came on for as assured debut before the
final effort of the game fell to Telford’s Brendan
Daniels whose near post corner was scrambled away as Chester
held out for three more vital home points.
Chester
created several great chances but had to settle for a
point from Stockport County. It was an open start to the
match that saw Matty Warburton drag a shot wide for County
in the opening minutes.
At the other end Chester almost took the lead on eight
minutes, great work from Anthony Dawson set up Akwasi
Asante whose cross shot hit the far post and bounced out.
The Blues were forced into a change midway through the
half with Dan Livesey limping off to be replaced by Deane
Smalley.
Warburton hit the post for Stockport moments after the
change before the Blues made the breakthrough on 32 minutes.
A great turn and shot from Asante forced a fine save from
Ben Hinchcliffe in the home goal. Craig Mahon swung over
the resulting corner and Asante was on hand at the back
post to tap home the opening goal.
A minute before the break the home side drew level. Scott
Duxbury swung in a free kick that had Smalley on the arm
with referee Adam Herczeg pointing to the spot. Sam Walker
gave Grant Shenton no chance with the resulting penalty
kick.
The second half proved a scrappy affair, Anthony Dudley
forced a fingertip save from Hinchcliffe on 65 minutes
before Asante saw a great header from a Simon Grand cross
gathered by the overworked ‘keeper.
Duxbury header over and Warburton saw a shot blocked in
a hectic closing ten minutes that also saw the Blues appeals
for a penalty waived away after a clumsy challenge on
Asante in the area.
A
perfect hat-trick on his debut for loan striker Akwasi
Asante brings Chester three much needed points that takes
the Blues up to third place.
Chester started strong with defender Steve Howson heading
over a Dan Mooney free kick as early as the fifth minute.
Quakers ‘keeper Jonathan Maddison had to make a
smart save to deny Anthony Dudley who had raced through
onto a one-on-one before shooting from a narrow angle.
It was all Chester, Mooney saw a long range effort curl
just wide and Maddison produced another fine save to deny
Craig Mahon as Chester looked to turn their dominance
into goals.
That goal came
on 27 minutes as Asante marked his debut with a fine
header from a left wing Mahon cross that gave Maddison
no chance.
Chester soon found themselves down to ten men as Mooney,
who had already found himself in the referee’s
notebook was shown a second yellow card for a foul on
Jordan Nicholson.
The Blues doubled their lead
on 49 minutes, Craig Mahon won the ball in midfield
and played Asante through on goal, he superbly turned
the last defender before scoring past the onrushing
Keeper.
Asante saw a header cleared off the line before Darlo
pulled a goal back as Jordan Nicholson hit a stunning
25-yarder that gave Grant Shenton no chance.
Darlington sensed the chance of an equaliser and dominated
possession for the next period however this was to be
Asante’s day and the young striker completed his
hat-trick on 69 minutes curling a shot past Maddison
following fine approach play from Anthony Dudley to
wrap up the three points for Chester.
AWAY TIE FOR REPLAY WINNERS Should Chester win their replay, they have been handed an away tie in the Fourth Round Qualifying of the FA Cup at Scarborough Athletic.