“My progress at Chester wasn’t helped by the injury I picked up at the end of last season during my loan spell at Altrincham, but I told the gaffer that I would work hard to get myself fit and prove my worth. Since the summer I have not really made an impact and, although I thought I played well against Forest Green Rovers, I haven’t been ripping up any trees like the gaffer wanted.”

Chester were knocked out of the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying stage on Saturday when they suffered a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Gateshead in front of 1,659 fans. The only goal of the game, a well taken effort by Heed defender James Curtis, came 16 minutes from time. The Blues created a few half chances and new on-loan signing Ross Killock almost capped a solid home debut with a late equaliser only to see his well taken far post downward header saved on the line by Adam Bartlett. Defender Danny Higginbotham played as a forward in the dying minutes as Chester looked to take the tie to a replay but the visitors held firm for the prize money and their reward of a first round match at League Two table toppers Oxford United. Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

Young told the Chester leader: “It was a shocking performance and the first thing I’d like to do is apologise to all our supporters who travelled down to Braintree to see the load of rubbish that I have had to watch. It was an embarrassment to be fair and I told the players after the match that I can try and be as transparent as I want, but we’re 16 games in now and we’ve still got the same defensive frailties as we had at Salisbury.”

“When teams play direct to big forwards and win second balls and play in the final third we always struggle. We’re now top of the discipline league and that is not good enough and our league position doesn’t look good - that's not a good mix so I've got to do something about it. I didn’t think Paul Linwood should have been sent off - and although we were shocking I didn’t think the referee was much better because it was too much about himself. But Pughy’s was a disgraceful tackle and he will be dealt with.”

Jamie Reed scored his first goal for the club last night as his header from Lewis Turner’s cross brought Chester their second away victory of the season. The home side were unbeaten before last night but the Blues continued where they left off on Saturday turning in a battling performance and opened the scoring, against the run of play, in the 34th minute. With Danny Higginbotham injured, George Horan partnered Paul Linwood in the defence that stood solid all night. Craig Lindfield almost added a second after the break as the home side pressed for the equaliser. It was a good night for many of the sides at the wrong end of the table. The victory keeps Chester third from bottom, two points adrift from the relegation zone. Chester entertain runaway leaders Cambridge United at Deva Stadium on Saturday, kick-off 15.00hrs. The U’s are unbeaten this season having won ten and drawn four of their opening 14 matches this season. • Table after Alfreton match | More pictures Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

“People have got to remember what a good team Kidderminster are - they were third in the table before Saturday’s match and they were joint top last year - and on chances I thought we probably deserved to win. But I think I must have run over a few black cats, or members of my staff have.”