News from Deva Stadium October 2015

30 October 2015
TWO MORE SIGN
Chester have completed two more signings. Left back Ben Gordon (24) and midfielder Luke Woodland (20) were both free agents having been released in the summer. Gordon was released by Colchester United having previously started his career at Leeds United before moving to Chelsea. He had loan spells with several clubs including Tranmere Rovers before moving to Colchester last season. Woodland began his career at Bolton Wanderers and had a loan spell at Oldham Athletic last season.

29 October 2015
LOAN SIGNING
Chester have signed Sheffield United midfielder Jamie McDonagh on a one month loan. McDonagh is an 18-year-old Northern Ireland youth international yet to make his debut for the first team at Sheffield.

28 October 2015
BURR LOOKING AT THREE PLAYERS
Manager Steve Burr is looking to bring in three players ahead of Saturday's trip to league leaders Forest Green Rovers. The targets include a striker on loan from a League One club whilst a left back and an experienced midfielder may also be offered non-contract terms. Should the deals go through then some of the current players on the fringe of the squad may be loaned out.

NO KIDDERMINSTER SWITCH
The home game against Kidderminster Harriers scheduled for Tuesday 10 November will not be brought forward to the free FA Cup Saturday before after the Worcestershire side declined the invitation from Chester to a switch.

26 October 2015
BLUES DUMPED OUT OF THE CUP

Chester were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth qualifying round at Altrincham on Saturday. A goal from Damien Reeves six minutes into the second half gave the home side victory and a first round home to with Barnsley. Last year’s run to a televised second round replay with Barnsley brought the Blues around £100,000 in revenue that helped fund loan players for the successful second half of the season.

Following the defeat manager Steve Burr said: “Obviously I’m bitterly disappointed to be out of the FA Cup. I thought we started the game bright enough but in the end it was Altrincham’s day. When you’re chasing like we were, we were trying to push men forward but we couldn’t get ourselves back in the game. Deasy’s made a couple of good saves but apart from that really they were very hard to break down.”

“Our performance was flat again and that’s something we’ve got to address. The way we started the game, we started really bright and we’d done a lot of preparation this week leading up to the game as we do for all games, but then we started to give the ball away and our passing went. And then with one or two you can see their heads go and they clam up a little bit where they perhaps don’t want the ball or if they have it they give it away cheaply.”

“Again it would be very hard to pick out anybody who stood out for us. I thought our captain Ian Sharps did well. I’ve always said we need 11 players to be at it and we had too many who were just not quite at it.”

Chester are next in action on Saturday with a tough away trip to league leaders Forest Green Rovers, kick-off 15.00hrs. For this match there will be free admission to U16's, tickets must be bought in advance for the away North Stand from the Forest Green Rovers website.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

21 October 2015
BOARD REJECT BURR APPROACH
The club board have revealed that they turned down an approach from Eastleigh to speak to Steve Burr about their vacant manager’s position. Chairman Grenville Millington said: “The club did receive an approach for Steve Burr from Eastleigh who wanted permission to speak to him. However, this was turned down and we informed the manager of the approach as soon as that had been done.”

CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP
Chester have been drawn at home to Winsford United in the Preliminary Round of the Cheshire Senior Cup. The match should take place on Tuesday 3 November.

20 October 2015
BACK TO BACK WINS
Goals from James Roberts and Johnny Hunt gave Chester back to back victories following the midweek success at Southport. The Blues seemed to be coasting to victory but once again were unable to kill their opponents off and allowed the visitors back into the game though a Jordan Burrow goal 17 minutes from time which set up another nervy finish with the Blues rearguard hanging on for the three points that lifts Chester to 14th.

• League Table after FC Halifax match

ROBERTS MISSES CUP CLASH
On-loan striker James Roberts will not be allowed to feature in the FA Cup at Altrincham next weekend as his parent club Oxford United don’t want him cup-tied. James would have been a doubt for the Moss Lane tie through a hamstring injury picked up in the victory over FC Halifax Town.

15 October 2015
LATE GOALS BRING MUCH NEEDED VICTORY
Two goals in the final 11 minutes brought Chester victory at Southport on Tuesday night as Michael Kay and Craig Mahon both found the net. Chester were heading for defeat following a Louis Almond goal for the Sandgrounders ten minutes before the break, but the introduction of Mahon from the bench on the hour mark gave the Blues that extra boost. Manager Steve Burr is hoping to have players, including Luke George, back from injury for the visit of FC Halifax Town on Saturday.

“At the minute we’re not firing on all cylinders” said the Blues boss, “there’s little patches where we’ve done OK, we showed a bit of spirit on Tuesday to win the game but we’re still not firing, but as I say we have been missing one or two and hopefully on Saturday we’ll have everybody back and we can build on that.”

“All round we have to do better but we’ve had a little tricky spell with one or two lads missing but there’s a bit of light at the end of the tunnel with the injuries and we’re getting lads back so hopefully this can give us a bit of a platform to kick on.”

“We saw that with Craig on Tuesday who I though did great. I know how much he’s been missing being involved and he gave us that spark. We’re pleased to have him back and hopefully Luke George will be back for Saturday if we can get a good training session into him.”

The Shaymen come to Chester on the back of a 7-0 thrashing at Grimsby Town on Tuesday night, they also conceded seven goals two weeks ago at home to Cheltenham Town, the first game under their new manager Darren Kelly.

• League Table after Southport match

12 October 2015
FA CUP DRAW
Chester have been drawn away to Altrincham in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. The tie is scheduled to take place at Moss Lane on Saturday 24 October. The winners of the match will receive £12,500 in prize money.

BLUES BEATEN AFTER POOR START
Lincoln City ran out 3-2 winners at Chester on Saturday as the Blues never recovered from a slow start that saw the Imps take the lead on just four minutes through Matt Rhead. Jordan Chapell brought Chester level on 26 minutes converting a Johnny Hunt cross but the Blues’ inability to settle after scoring returned yet again as they conceded again just three minutes later through Keegan Everington.

Ten minutes after the break Worsnop was beaten again as Power headed home to put the visitors in charge. Chester brought on George Thomson and Kane Richards for Ben Heneghan and Craig Hobson, and pulled a goal back with a fine curling effort from Ross Hannah. Suddenly Chester found a spark and pushed Lincoln back for the final 20 minutes but despite a lot of pressure were unable to find an equaliser.

7 October 2015
DEFEAT AT BARROW
Chester were unable to build on the momentum from Saturday’s pulsating victory over Wrexham as they surrendered an early lead in losing 3-2 at Barrow on Tuesday night. Jordan Chapell had given the Blues the lead in the 32nd minute, but like on Saturday, they could only hold the lead for a matter of five minutes before the Bluebirds drew level through Andy Haworth. Andy Cook gave the home side the lead two minutes into the second half before Tom Shaw scored his second goal in as many matches to bring Chester level on 71 minutes after John Rooney had seen an effort partially saved. Once again Chester conceded within five minutes of scoring as Niall Cowperthwaite scored from 25 yards giving Jon Worsnop no chance.

5 October 2015
ROBERTS GIVEN COMPASSIONATE LEAVE
Chester’s loan signing James Roberts who made his debut for the club on Saturday has been given compassionate leave following the death of his 16-year-old brother in a car crash on Saturday night.

A join club statement read: “The thoughts of everyone at Oxford United and Chester FC are with James Roberts and his family after the tragic death of his brother at the weekend. The club offers it sincerest condolences to the Roberts family, and will hold a minute’s silence before the game at home to Lincoln City on Saturday to show our support to a player who joined our Chester FC family last week. Both Oxford United and Chester FC will allow James as much time as he feels he needs before he returns to playing football.”

The club will hold a one minute silence prior to the home game with Lincoln City on Saturday.

THRILLING DERBY WIN FOR BLUES
Goals from Rooney, Tom Shaw and Kane Richards brought Chester victory over Wrexham in a thrilling cross-border derby that saw the Blues put in their best performance of the season so far. Chester took the game to their opponents straight from the kick-off but it was some time before Rooney opened the scoring with a stunning 30-yards free-kick ten minutes from half-time. The lead was short lived however with Wrexham drawing level five minutes later from the penalty spot as Ben Heneghan was adjudged to have pushed Blaine Hudson in the box. Dominic Vose stepped up and slotted the ball just past the dive of Jon Worsnop.

Ten minutes after the re-start Chester restored their lead with Tom Shaw netting his first goal for the club following a Rooney assist. Adriano Moke forced a fine save from Jon Worsnop as Wrexham looked to draw level again. It was Chester though who got the all-important next goal in the 69th minute as Ross Hannah’s pinpoint right wing cross was met at the back post by substitute Richards who glanced a delightful header past ‘keeper Cameron Belford into the bottom corner of the net.

Three minutes from time Rooney almost made it 4-1 curling another superb free-kick that hit the right hand post. Jennings pulled a goal back in stoppage time but the Blues rearguard held firm to secure a memorable victory.

• League Table after Wrexham match

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