Today sees another deadline day for the Blues as for the second time of asking they must settle their football debts or face possible expulsion from the Football Conference. The original deadline date of 16 November was extended to allow the Football League more time to seek legal advice on the club’s position. Wrexham, Vauxhall Motors and the Professional Footballers Association are all owed money by the club and there appears to be no sign of those debts being settled. A statement on the Football Conference website can be expected later today regarding the outcome of today’s meeting.

With frustrations running high off the pitch following the transfer of club ownership from Stephen Vaughan to his son Stephen Jnr, two peaceful pitch invasions took place at Saturday’s home game with Eastbourne Borough. The first early in the game involved around 20 people, the second just after City had taken a 3-2 lead, by just a handful of people, proved too much for the police who advised the referee to abandon the game which he duly did.

Manager Jim Harvey (pictured) commented: “To lose the match because of an abandonment was really disappointing for us. The players and I are all confused about what has happened because generally speaking you just go out and play your game and come off the pitch with a result and understand what has happened.”

City’s squad is shrinking fast with the news that striker Gregg Blundell has joined Barrow on loan until January, with the option of making the more permanent after that. Blundell has scored three goals in 10+8 appearances for the Blues this season, his second spell with the club. Picture © Evening Leader

Manager Jim Harvey has stated that both Neil Ashton (pictured) and Michael Lea will miss tonight’s match against second placed Stevenage Borough with groin injuries. The Hertfordshire outfit will be looking to complete the double over City following their 1-0 win at Deva Stadium on 19 September. An ankle injury to Rhys Meynell means he is also a doubt for the trip to The Lamex Stadium. Borough may be without top scorer Charlie Griffin through illness, and Jon Ashton who is recovering from injury. Since the victory at Chester Stevenage have lost just once in 13 matches. • Conference table Picture © Evening Leader

Chester have been given a home tie against Blue Square North side Fleetwood Town in the first round of the FA Trophy. Town reached this stage following a 2-0 win over Northwich Victoria in the Third Qualifying Round on Saturday. The game is scheduled to take place at Deva Stadium on Saturday 12 December.

A goal after just four minutes from Sam Coulter was enough to give the youth team a 1-0 win over rivals Wrexham on Saturday. The team dominated throughout the 90 minutes and deserved their victory. • Youth team fixtures | Match pictures Picture of Joe Freeman © Vicky Coulter

Jim Harvey’s wafer thin squad are in action tomorrow when they play near neighbours Altrincham at Deva Stadium, kick-off 15:00hrs.

Harvey lost two influential loan players this week, Michael Coulson and Johnny Flynn but may be able to call on the services of Neil Ashton and Michael Lea tomorrow, both have started training again this week following injury though their chances must be rated at 50/50.

Harvey will be looking to tighten up the defence after conceding six goals in their last two matches. He said: “We gave cheap goals away against York City and Tamworth and we need to concentrate for the full 90 minutes of a match, and the players have been left with this thought in no uncertain terms.”

“I have had some encouraging news on the injury front. Neil Ashton and Michael Lea who have both been suffering with groin injuries, have improved this week, and both have outside chances of being fit for Saturday’s game.”

Altrincham have signed 6ft 4in striker John McAliskey from Witton Albion after he impressed in a Cheshire Cup match. The Cheshire side will be without Chris Denham through a leg injury. The Robins have not won in their last five matches and lost a two goal lead at home to Forest Green Rovers last weekend. They currently lie in 11th place with 25 points and have won four and drawn two of their nine games away from home this season.

The sides last met on the August Bank Holiday when a Ben Wilkinson goal gave City a 1-1 draw at Moss Lane.

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The Football Conference have issued a statement regarding today’s deadline extension they have given the club to repay its football creditors, this comes after the Football League requested more time to seek legal advice.

The Conference statement issued on Saturday reads:

“In relation to matters appertaining to Chester City FC and their obligations to meet requirments to pay football creditors, due to be met no later than today, Monday, 16th November 2009.

On Thursday, 12th November, 2009, notification was received from the Board of the Football League that they required further time to enable them to seek and take legal advice on the award and distribution of possible payments to Chester City FC from monies held by the Football League Ltd.

As a consequence of this request, the Football Conference has agreed, that in the interests of the competition as a whole, to extend the date of compliance to Monday, 30th November 2009 for Chester City FC to fully comply with the financial payments ordered against them.

A goal from Gethin Maxwell (left) earned the youth team a 1-1 draw against Port Vale at Deva Stadium on Saturday. • Youth team fixtures | Match pictures Picture © Vicky Coulter

Chester travel to Tamworth tomorrow looking to avenge the 2-1 home defeat by the Staffordshire side back in September. Jim Harvey will once again be without the services of on-loan defender Jonathan Flynn who is on duty with the Northern Ireland U21 side, Anthony Barry could then make a start after coming on and scoring at York City in midweek.

Tamworth are on a poor run of six straight defeats that has seen them drop to 15th in the Conference with 22 points. They have dipped into the loan transfer market this week and have striker Iyesden Christie and Wrexham winger Simon Brown both making their debut.

The Blues have visited Tamworth on only one previous occasion. That was back in December 2003 when a rampant City won 5-1 thanks to goals from Carl Ruffer, Alex Smith and a hat-trick from Daryl Clare.

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Goals from Lloyd Ellams and Connell Rawlinson gave Chester a first round 2-1 win at Stalybridge Celtic in the Cheshire Senior Cup last night. With a first X1 match at York the night before four of the youth team: Joe Freeman, Ben Whitcomb, Sam Coulter and Jack Rea stepped up a level for the tie. The Blues are now at home to Northwich Victoria in the quarter-final scheduled to be played on 15 December. The other three ties are Cammell Laird v Nantwich Town, Witton Albion v Runcorn Linnets and Woodley Sports v Vauxhall Motors. Chester last won this competition in 1931/32. Chester City: Andrew Murphy, Joe Freeman, Ben Whitcomb, Glenn Rule, Connell Rawlinson, James Owen, Sam Coulter (Walker 70), Jack Rea, Lloyd Ellams, Ben Jones (Davidson 75), Ben Wilkinson. Subs not used: O’Connell, Mills-Evans. More match pictures Picture of Connell Rawlinson scoring for City © Vicky Coulter

Chester were beaten 3-2 by York City last night as their unbeaten three match run came to an end. A hat-trick from striker Richard Brodie saw the Minstermen rush into a 3-0 lead just after half-time.They created several more chances to extend that lead before the Blues pegged back goals through Anthony Barry and in the final minute Shaun Kelly.

Manager jim Harvey cited poor defending as the reason for the defeat. He said: “We defended poorly throughout the heart of our defence against York and the starts in each half were really poor. There’s certainly things I’ve learned from the game and hopefully I can point the team in the right direction for Tamworth.”

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Club owner Steve Vaughan has been disqualified from being a company director for 11 years following his involvement in an alleged VAT fraud at Widnes Vikings rugby league club.

The disqualification takes effect on 25 November when Vaughan will be banned from acting as a company director, or in any way controlling a company, until November 24, 2020. If he breaches the undertaking he may be prosecuted.

The news of the ban came through in a press release from the Insolvency Service, it states:

“Mr Vaughan has signed a Disqualification Undertaking, after enquiries by the Insolvency Service’s Public Interest Unit into his conduct while a director of the Club. Widnes Rugby League Football Club Limited entered into administration in October 2007 with liabilities of more than £1.6million.”

“The signed undertaking contained details of alleged ‘carousel fraud’ carried out by Mr Vaughan, designed to prop up the finances of the rugby league club, which was technically insolvent at the time.”

“Mr Vaughan arranged for the club to ‘purchase’ three consignments of clothing from a UK company, and on the same day ‘sold’ the clothing to a company based in Spain. The transactions appeared to be part of a linked series of purchases between the UK and Europe. Mr Vaughan then attempted to reclaim VAT for the club, however HMRC refused the repayment of the club’s VAT claim on these transactions.”

Chester followed up their impressive home win against AFC Wimbledon with another 3-1 victory at Grays Athletic on Saturday. Two goals from Nick Chadwick and a third from

The lead was short lived though as Grays dangerman Fola Onibuje headed home after the City defence had failed to clear a corner. Both sides created and missed chances before City scored a crucial second on the stroke of half-time. Coulson chased a through ball to the edge of the box, and although Edwards looked to have it covered, he let the ball slip from his hands to Coulson who coolly rounded him before squaring for Chadwick to score from close range. Edwards made up for his mistake moments later with a superb low save to deny the impressive Coulson again.

Grays started the second half well forcing a trio of corners, and they put City under pressure for long periods. John Danby made a fine fingertip save to deny Onibuje and Jamie Slabber blasted the ball high wide and out of the ground when well placed. City’s defence held firm though and Chadwick wrapped up the points with a third goal 12 minutes from time with another close range effort from Coulson’s cross.

A delighted manager Jim Harvey (pictured) was pleased with the City performance, he said: “It was always going to be a difficult and a different type of game at Grays, and there were a few questions for my squad, such as could they go and compete and dig in and show a different side to their game. But they did come up with the result and I’ve got to be very pleased about that.”

“Everything we expected against Grays came our way. I thought we dealt with them very well and on top of that we produced some good football going forward.”

“Our forwards were a handful for Grays, and Chaddy (Nick Chadwick) got us two goals. Bees (Mark Beesley) could have had two, and Gregg (Blundell) could have scored near the end after coming on as a substitute. And James Owen missed a great chance, so there were plenty of opportunities, but having conceded their goal from a set piece it was important that we didn’t crumble.”

“I felt we stuck to our task and after 90 minutes I was delighted with the way we had played.”

City and Grays Athletic meet for the first time tomorrow as the Blues travel to Essex looking for a third league win on the bounce at the New Recreation Ground. Manager Jim Harvey may have to do without both Anthony Barry and Michael Lea through injury, both are rated as extremely doubtful, however Shaun Kelly has trained all week and could be in line for a recall.

City have lost only once on their travels this season, at Oxford United, though they have drawn six of the other seven outings.

Harvey is looking to the side to continue the fine form that saw them beat AFC Wimbledon 3-1 at Deva Stadium last Saturday. He said: “Grays is a six-pointer and it would be nice to think we will be going down there with a little bit more confidence following the Wimbledon win and go there expecting to get a result.”

“Although the results have been good away from home, we haven’t scored many goals. If we can keep that dogged resilience and keep getting draws that would be great, but it would be even better if we can get a few away wins because then we really would be back in business as I’m sure the home form will improve because of our style of play.”

The youth team were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup at the first round stage last night when they were beaten 4-0 at home by Morecambe. The team are next in League action on 14 November when they host Port Vale. • Youth team fixtures | More match pictures Picture of Ben Whitcomb © Vicky Coulter

Paul Baker buys his shirt on Saturday from Robert and David Evans.

An AFC Wimbledon supporter backs City Fans United by buying a Harry t-shirt. Pictures by Sue Choularton.

The Youth Team are in action tonight when they entertain Morecambe in the first round the the FA Youth Cup. The match is being played at Deva Stadium with a 19:00hrs kick-off. Admission is £3.00 for adults and £1.00 for senior citizens and juniors. On Saturday the boys were beaten 3-1 at Burnley, Sam Coulter scored the consolation goal for the young Blues. As a result City drop to 14th place, two above tonight‘s opponents who were beaten 6-0 by leaders Preston North End at the weekend. • Youth team fixtures | More match pictures | Table Picture © Vicky Coulter

Chester turned in their best home performance of the season on Saturday to beat AFC Wimbledon 3-1. Early goal from Nick Chadwick and an own goal by Steven Gregory gave City a two goal cushion in the opening 15 minutes. The visitors fought back though and halved that lead in first half injury time through Jon Main.

It was The Dons who started the second period on top, but the City back line soaked up the pressure ably supported by John Danby who produced a string of fine saves in the City goal. Clark Keltie hit a piledriver against the bar before substitute Gregg Blundell wrapped up the points with a killer third goal 13 minutes from time.

Manager Jim Harvey said: “I thought we deserved to win. Wimbledon were always going to be one of the hardest games for us this season, and that is how it turned out.”

“The performance showed a lot of character after the disappointment of the cup defeat against Barrow. I asked the players for a reaction and they gave me that. We needed to get into our stride quickly, and that is what we did.”

“The boys have gone out there and played extremely well. We could have been a couple up before we scored. And we could have had another couple at the end.