News from Deva Stadium October 2011

Midfielder Bradley Barnes has had his contract cancelled by mutual consent. Barnes scored the first home league goal for the club when they reformed last summer and went on to make 37+9 appearanted scoring on 9 occasions. He has recently had a loan spell at Conference North side Colwyn Bay.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

26 October 2011
BLUES FACE STAFFORD
Chester will face Stafford Rangers in the next round of the FA Trophy after Rangers overcame NewcastleTown 5-2 in their first qualifying round replay last night.

24 October 2011
FA TROPHY DRAW
Chester have been drawn at home to either Newcastle Town or Stafford Rangers in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy on Saturday 5 November. The replay between the two sides takes place at Stafford Rangers tomorrow night following a 1-1 draw at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.

THINK PINK FOR THE BLUES!

The football club will stage their second Think Pink Day on Saturday for the visit of Frickley Athletic. Last year the club raised £3,500 and they are hoping to surpass that total this time round.

The event is staged to help raise awareness and funds for the Breast Cancer Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The players will be wearing a specially made pink shirt for the occasion which will be auctioned after the game to boost the funds.

Two hundred limited edition pink t-shirts priced at just £5 are also currently on sale (though please ring the club to check stock availability).

Chester boss Young told the Chester Chronicle: “It’s a cause very close to my heart as I’ve got a family member with breast cancer. I hope there’s an excellent turnout and that people stay behind for the auction at the end of the game. I know money is tight at the moment, but I really hope people dig deep and give what they can. I’ll try to make sure we get our bit done on the pitch so we make it a great day.”

YOUTH SUCCESS

The Youth Team recorded a resounding 6-0 home victory over Nantwich Town yesterday to move third in the table, though they have played more games that the other teams around them. The goals came from Sean Miller (pictured) with four, and Carl Pleavin with two goals.

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Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

23 October 2011
TROPHY PROGRESS FOR BLUES
Chester moved into Monday’s second qualifying round draw of the FA Trophy after a 2-1 home defeat of Ashton United on Saturday. A goal after only two minutes through Iain Howard set Chester on their way but the Blues had to wait another hour before extending their lead through substitute Michael Wilde. Chester were guilty of missing several chances to wrap up the tie before the visitors pulled a goal back through a Peter Wright penalty 20 minutes from time, this followed a foul by Howard who will consider himself fortunate, as last man, not to receive a red card.

Striker Chris Simm was able to make an appearance from the bench wearing a protective cast on his broken wrist. The prize money for beating Ashton United on Saturday was £2,200. The second qualifying round tie will take place on Saturday 5 November. The prize money for that round is £3,000.

21 October 2011
CUP DRAW
Chester have been given an away tie at Hednesford Town on Tuesday 15 November in the third round of the Evo-Stik League Challenge Cup, named The Doodson Cup. Extra tme and penalties will be used on the night to settle the tie if required.

19 October 2011
REDUCED ADMISSION
Admission prices for Saturday’s FA Trophy First Round Qualifier match against Ashton United are as follows: adults £8.00, Concessions £5.00 and Under 16s £1.00.

HOME INJURY RULES OUT SIMM
Striker Chris Simm, who has been on tremendous form this season, has broken a wrist in a home accident and may be sidelined for some time. An x-ray on Thursday will reveal whether the player has broken both wrists after the indident that saw him slip on decking outside his house. The player may be able to play with an approved cast on the wrist.

17 October 2011
HERO HORAN SEALS LATE WIN

Captain George Horan’s late winner at Gigg Lane on Saturday gave Chester a dramatic victory in a pulsating match that was a credit to the league. A match full of passion with an electric atmosphere swung Chester’s way in the opening minutes as Chris Simm rose unmarked to give the Blues a dream start. However two goals, including a stunning free-kick from Carlos Roca saw the pendulum swing back to FC United to ran-off at half-time with a 2-1 advantage.

Chester came out and stepped up a gear, they created several chances of note but found ‘keeper James Spencer in top form. The Blues were aided by a sending off of Adam Jones for two yellow cards in as many minutes midway through the second period. Chester continued to create, and miss, chances before Simm got on the scoesheet to equalise with 12 minutes remaining as he tapped home a loose ball after Spencer had partially saved Horan's header from a Wes Baynes cross.

Substitute Jamie Rainford missed a golden chance to give the Blues the lead before Matty Wolfenden missed an even better opportunity for the home side in the dying minutes.

With four minutes added time about to be signaled Chester were awarded a free kick. The ball was fed wide to Baynes whose cross deep into the FC United box was met by several players, the ball fell to Horan who turned to pull the ball into the bottom corner of the net and set up wilde celebrations for the 1100 Chester fans behind the goal.

Chester boss Young told the Chester Chronicle: “It was a great spectacle for the sport and for the league. I’m standing here happy because we’ve won, but even if we would have lost 2-1 I still couldn’t have asked any more of my team apart from their finishing. They showed battling qualities to keep going in a very difficult arena in which their supporters – like our own – were fantastic. The atmosphere was incredible and I think our fans enjoyed it because for the first time away from home it was in a stadium that they were used to.”

The victory kept Chester in touch with leaders Northwich Victoria who remain three points clear following their 2-0 win at Matlock Town on Saturday.

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Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

FIXTURE CHANGE
On police advice the away fixture at Bradford Park Avenue has been moved back 48hrs and will now take place on Wednesday 2 November, kick-off 19.45hrs. Should Bradford require an FA Cup replay that week the match will have to be resheduled for a third time.

13 October 2011
WINNING STREAK COMES TO AN END

The magnificent eight match winning run was brought to an end at Silverlands on Wednesday night as Chester were held 1-1 by Buxton. The home side’s equaliser ten minutes after the break was the first goal Chester had conceded in 781 minutes of football.

The draw proved to be a fair result, indeed the home side could have opened the scoring from the penalty spot six minutes before the break but Steve Ridley dragged his shot wide of the post. Moments later Michael Powell (pictured) headed the Blues into the lead as he glanced a Wes Baynes free-kick past Scott Hartley in the home goal.

Former Chester player Mark Reed missed a great opportunity to give the home side the lead in the second period, indeed two or three efforts flashed just wide of John Danby’s goal as the home side pressed. Chester best effort saw Hartley pull off a great point blank save to deny Iain Howard after a quick break involving substitutes Jamie Rainford and Chris Simm.

The draw was enough to see Chester move second, three points behind leaders Northwich Victoria. The Blues are next in action when they travel to play FC United of Manchester on Saturday which should see a big crowd at Gigg Lane to see the two fan-owned clubs clash for the third time this season. Chester beat their opponents in pre-season to lift the Supporters Direct Cup and also again in August when goals from Matty McGinn and Matty McNeil gave the Blues a 2-1 victory.

• Latest table | Top 10 Clean Sheet Records | Match highlights (Buxton FC You Tube channel)

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

10 October 2011
WILDE THE HERO AS BLUES EXTEND RUN

A goal two minutes from time from substitute Michael Wilde ensured that Chester kept pace with leaders Northwich Victoria and moved to within a place, and a point, of their mid-Cheshire rivals. It had been a frustrating afternoon for Chester who found a Chasetown defence difficult to break down. Twice they had the ball in the net only to see their efforts ruled out by referee Ian Siddall. But two minutes from time Wilde rose to meet an inch perfect Liam Brownhill cross to send the Chester fans wild themselves as the Blues notched their eighth successive victory without conceding a goal.

Chester will be looking to move top on Wednesday when they travel to Buxton, leader Northwich play at Burscough on the same night.

Manager Neil Young said: “Thankfully Wildey has come on and scored a good header, but I don’t know what was up with the goal we scored five or 10 minutes earlier. The referee was right there but you’ve got a linesman who’s making a decision from 40 yards away. I suppose you’ve got to give them the benefit of doubt for the offside goal we scored in the first half, although Chris said it wasn’t. We had to take that one, but that one at the end is another matter. But all in all it was another pleasing performance and clean sheet. Winning these type of games 1-0 is what it’s all about.”

• Latest table | Match pictures

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

8 October 2011
EXILES PREDICTION COMPETITION
There are only a few days left now to enter for this year’s competition, the closing date is 11 October.

The first prize will be £100, values of the second and third, prizes will be dependent on the number of entries received and will be decided by the organisers and published in our newsletter, and on the web.In addition, the highest placed Exile will receive a player’s shirt from last season, and the Exile who collects and submits the most forms will receive a framed signed programme from last season’s home game against Witton Albion. Please ensure the Exiles member’s name who submited the form is added in the box towards the bottom of the form.

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5 October 2011
DISABLED SUPPORTERS MEETING
There is a meeting at the club this Friday at 19:00hrs to highlight and discuss areas around the ground that could be enhanced and improved for disabled supporters. The club is encouraging disabled fans to come to the meeting and discuss ideas and suggestions to improve the facilities. The bar will be open beforehand and the Montenegro v England 2012 Euro qualifier will be screened afterwards.

FORMER PLAYERS QUIZ NIGHT
The Former Players Association, who now boast 125 members, are holding a fun chat and quiz night at the Stadium on Friday 14 October. There will also be an auction where several items of unique memorabilia will be up for sale with all proceeds going to the organisation. The evening, that will be attended by Eddie Bishop, Bill Dearden, Gary Talbot and Gren Millington amongst others, will be hosted by Charlie Lambert and tickets are available from the club priced £10.00 each. Doors open at 19.30 for a 20.00hrs start.

Grenville Millington, chairman of the FPA, said: “We’re looking forward to a wonderful night which will raise valuable funds for our association. We want to be able to help ex-Chester players who might benefit from a bit of assistance in one form or another.”

3 October 2011
FIXTURE CHANGES
With Chester’s scheduled league opponents on Saturday 15 October Bradford Park Avenue still involved in the FA Cup the game with them has been postponed. The Evo-Stik league have now brought forward the away match at FC United of Manchester (who play at Bury FC) from January 2012 to fill the blank Saturday. The match at Bradford Park Avenue has been rearranged for Monday 31 October.

• Fixture list

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