Chester looked set for back-to-back victories on Tuesday before a last minute goal from Ben Tollitt earned AFC Fylde a point at Deva Stadium. The Blues, unchanged from the victory at AFC Telford, had taken the lead on 53 minutes with a tremendous strike from George Glendon, firing home from a Darren Stephenson cross. The visitors were reduced to ten men with the dismissal of David Perkins for a punch on James Hardy, but drew level through Nick Haughton.

With ten minutes remaining Stephenson put Chester in front, his shot from the edge of the box squirmed under Bobby Jones in the Fylde goal and crept over the line by the left post.

But with seconds remaining, Chester failed to clear a Fylde attack allowing Tollitt to score from long range low into the bottom corner.

Despite the late setback, this was an encouraging performance from Chester in an entertaining game that saw Steve Watson and Steve McNulty take charge of their first home game.


Picture © Rick Matthews

Steve Watson’s reign at Chester got off to a winning start with the Blues securing a 3-1 victory at AFC Telford United on Boxing Day, exactly a year since their last away win, ironically on the same ground.

The Blues got off to a perfect start with the recalled James Hardy opening the scoring on 13 minutes. Anthony Dudley doubled the lead from the penalty spot on 73 minutes before Darren Stephenson added a third five minutes later. Carl Baker scored a fine consolation goal for the home side in the dying seconds.


Picture © Rick Matthews

• League table after this match | Match pictures

As a defender/midfielder, Watson had a playing career from 1990-2009 that saw him feature for Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday.

The 47 year old has since managed at Gateshead and York City where he was named Manager of the Month in October.

Watson had previously been linked with the Chester job back in 2916 when he was coaching at Macclesfield Town.

He took part in his first training session on Thursday ahead of the next fixture at AFC Telford United on Boxing Day. In an interview with the Chester Chronicle he mentioned that he had stood amongst the Chester fans at the recent defeat at Spennymoor Town.

Interim manager Danny Livesey told the club website: “It took us a little bit to get to grips with their shape, that is probably a little bit of inexperience on my part in the first half. Then in the second half we changed it a little bit and I thought we were miles better.”

“When you get to 2-2 you think we will at least hold on. But we were pushing as well and you think there is only one team that is going to win this.”

“But then when they have got Glen Taylor. Put it in the box and you don’t even need any quality. They have put two balls in the box and he has got on the end and flicked it in. That is a learning curve for the back four as a whole.”

“The ball is coming in too easily and then he has been doing it for years. He is the best at what he does. It is just disappointing. Matty Williams is in there. He has just said he is disappointed with the way the goals have gone in. It’s a learning curve for him and he will be better for that.”

Chester are without a game at the weekend with most clubs still involved in FA Trophy action. The Blues will travel to AFC Telford United on Boxing Day, kick-off 15.00hrs.

The day after beating Chester, Spennymoor announced that former Blues managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley had taken on the managerial positions there.

Picture © Rick Matthews

There are very few players that have managed to balance a career both as a first class cricketer and a footballer, but Peter Greenwood, who has sadly passed at the grand age of 97, was one of this rare breed. Peter made 62 Football League appearances for Chester between 1948 and 1952 but spent the summer months as a professional with Lancashire Cricket Club. • Obituary

James Horsfield couldn’t have have picked a better time to score his first Blues goal, blasting the ball home in the fifth minute of stoppage time to grab all three points against Leamington at an extremely cold and wet Deva Stadium.

Chester had earlier take the lead on 32 minutes with Paddy Lacey scoring from close range after goalkeeper James Weaver had collided with one of his own defenders attempting to catch a George Glendon free kick. The injury to Weaver saw a 25 minute delay with the players departing the pitch as he received treatment.

He was taken to hospital and released later in the evening before posting the message: ‘I’m doing fine, I’d just like to thank all the medical staff at the ground and the subsequent help I received at Countess of Chester hospital. I look forward to getting back when it’s safe to do so.’

Following the restart Leamington drew level on the stroke of half-time with a free kick from Steph Morley. The visitors had the better of the second half, with the wind behind them, though the Chester defence held firm and Horsfield’s late strike, that took a slight deflection brought interim manager Danny Livesey his first three points.


Picture © Rick Matthews

• League table after this match | Match pictures