News from Deva Stadium October 2017

30 October 2017
LATE DEFEAT AT MAIDSTONE
After experiencing the delight of a last mintute winner against Barrow the Blues suffered a last minute defeat at Maidstone United on Saturday. Chester deserved a share of th espoils but four minutes into injury time defender Alex Finney smashed the ball home following a corner to grab all three points for the home side. The defeat sees Chester slip back into the bottom three. Six Blues players were booked in the game.

28 October 2017
CRAWFORD OUT ON LOAN
Midfielder Tom Crawford has joined Runcorn Town on a one month loan. The 18-year-old player has made one appearance from the bench for Chester this season. One or two more players are expected to be loaned out for match experience soon.

25 October 2017
ARCHER ON TARGET IN DEBUT
Striker Jordan Archer took just 11 minutes to open his Chester account as he gave the Blues the lead on his debut in last night’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Barrow. It was the first time the Bluebirds had been beaten by Chester since 1971. Midway through the half defender Reece Hall-Johnson, signed on loan last week, also opened his account to give Chester a two goal lead. However with the game entering first half stoppage time the visitors struck twice through Adi Yussuf and Byron Harrison to turn the game right round.

Both sides had chances after the break, Ross Hannah saw a 40 yard lob land inches wide while Bluebirds substitute Harry Panyiotou saw a header go just wide of Alex Lynch’s post. Offrande Zanzala almost scored in the final minute as Chester pressed for a late winner and deep into stoppage time it came as Lucas Dawson drilled the ball home though a scrum of players from 18 yards to grab all three points.

Goal hero Archer said following his debut: “I was buzzing to start anyway but to grab a goal and the three points as well just topped off the night. I don’t think the adrenaline has worn off! Hopefully I will bag a few more on Saturday. ”

“I think we were on top first half but we let it slip a bit second half but we defended well and to score at the end was unreal.”

The victory lifts Chester out of the relegation zone.

• League table after Barrow match

23 October 2017
BLUES SIGN TWO PLAYERS
Chester have signed striker Jordan Archer from Stourbridge. Archer, 24, has already scored nine goals in the Northern Premier League this season and had a trial with Walsall in August. Archer has signed a deal until 2019.

The Blues have also signed left-back Jordan Gough from AFC Telford. Gough, also 24, is known to manager Marcus Bignot having spent four seasons at Solihull Moors, he has signed until the end of the season.

POOR CHESTER BEATEN AT HOME
Chester were made to pay for a poor first half display when they were beaten 2-1 at home on Saturday by Boreham Wood to drop into the bottom three. The Blues conceded twice in the opening half as Shaun Jeffers and Angelo Balanta gave Wood a two goal cushion. Substitute Nyal Bell pulled a goal back with around 15 minutes remaining and both Kingsley James and Town Shaw saw efforts go wide in the dying stages.

The Blues are back in home action on Tuesday night with a home game against fellow strugglers Barrow, kick-off 19.45hrs.

• Latest table after Boreham Wood defeat

20 October 2017
DEFENDER SIGNS ON LOAN
Grimsby Town defender Reece Hall-Johnson has signed on loan from Grimsby Town until the end of the year. The 22-year-old signed a one year deal with the Mariners in the last seven days and could feature in the home game against Boreham Wood on Saturday.

16 October 2017
ANOTHER EASTLEIGH DATE
With both sides out of the FA Cup, the away game at Eastleigh will now take place on Saturday 4 November, kick-off 15.00hrs. Admission to the game for Chester supporters is free.

15 October 2017
WOEFUL BLUES DUMPED OUT OF FA CUP
Chester were beaten 2-0 at Conference North side Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday in the fourth qualifying round the the FA Cup. The Blues turned in a lackluster performance for the whole 90 minutes as the home side, better in every department, ran out worthy winners to book their place in the first round draw. Chester never looked like scoring and fell behind on 20 minutes when Emmanual Sonupe reacted first to score after an Elton Ngwatala shot that had rebounded off the far post.

The Blues had one real opportunity to equalise in the second period but Jordan Chapell was unable to find the target with a free header from six yards out following good work by Lathaniel Rowe-Turner. Ten minutes from time Harriers got the crucial second goal as Joe Ironside headed a Sonupe cross in off the post.

Around 200 of Chester's 500+ support stayed behind after the match to voice their anger at the pitiful display on the players who had been brought back onto the pitch by manager Marcus Bignot.

Bignot said: “Some people said I should have brought the players off, but why hide? They have got to face up to it. We have got great supporters and it was never going to be a case of stewards being worried that this could escalate, no, they were voicing their opinion. They have every right, they have paid their hard-earned money and have every right to voice their opinion, and I believe my players should hear that opinion.”

“Too many players - and I’m talking players in football - get in the car, go home and don’t care. So we go back to character and let’s hope they do care and that we see a response on Saturday. This can’t become a common theme, hopefully it’s just a blip, and we will do everything in our power to make sure that it’s just a blip.”

“We need to go full-time and I’ve told the boys it’s going to be a full-time programme starting from Monday. It has to be. You can’t expect to compete at National League level, never mind in the North, where there’s six or seven professional teams. We have to be full-time, and once we get full-time that takes any excuses away from the players. If we get performances like that after we’ve gone full-time then they’ll see a different side to me.”

“But at the moment I’m not going to rip shreds off them because I need them. I’m going to need every single player because this is the group we’ve got.”

Chester are back in action on Saturday with a home game against Boreham Wood, kick-off 15.00hrs.

13 October 2017
DERBY STRIKER SIGNS ON LOAN
20-year-old Derby County striker Offrande Zanzala has joined Chester on a one-month loan. The Congo-born player has been recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury which forced him to sit out all of last season.

The Blues have also signed former Southport goalkeeper Ryan Crump on non-contract terms.

10 October 2017
WREXHAM SWICH
The home game against Wrexham will now be televised by BT Sport and has been moved to Wednesday 8 November, kick-off 19.45hrs.

9 October 2017
INSPIRED LYNCH SAVES BLUES
A series of fine saves from man of the match Alex Lynch helped Chester to a 0-0 draw at Tranmere Rovers on Saturday. The home side dominated for much of the match but found the Blues’ No1 in inspired form as he denied Rovers time and time again.

Nearly 1200 Blues fans made the short journey up the Wirral and manager Marcus Bignot was full of praise for them after the game: “I’ve never heard my name sung so much in all my football career. They were superb and if we would have lost I would have been absolutely devastated for them, never mind the players.”

Despite the point the Blues remain in the bottom four, though have a game in hand. Next Saturday they take a break from the league when they travel to Kidderminster Harriers in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, kick-off 15.00hrs. Harriers currently lie 12th in the Conference North.

7 October 2017
EASTLEIGH DATE
The rearranged away fixture at Eastleigh will now take place on Tuesday 31 October, kick-off 19.45hrs.

6 October 2017
YOUTH SUCCESS
The Youth team came from behind to 3-1 at AFC Fylde in the FA Youth Cup last night Lloyd Marsh-Hughes, Iwan Murray and Cain Noble were on the scoresheet for Chester. The side now travel to Altrincham in the third qualifying round.

4 October 2017
WOKING DEFEAT
Chester were beaten 2-0 at home last night by Woking. It was a disappointing showing from the Blues against a side who now move into the top three of the division. Kane Ferdinand headed The Cards in front on 10 minutes. The nearest the Blues came to an equaliser was when Ryan Astles saw an effort hit the post and roll along the line before being cleared. Moments later though a poor Andy Halls back pass was intercepted by Jamie Philpot who beat Alex Lynch to add the second goal and kill off any hopes of a Blues comeback.

2 October 2017
AWAY DRAW IN THE FA CUP
Chester will travel to Conference North side Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round. The match will take place on Saturday 14 October. Harriers reached this stage with a 1-0 win at Newcastle Benfield on Saturday.

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