The
Blues failed to score for the first time in the league
this season as they were beaten at home by league leaders
York City who move five points clear.
Chester were once again without top scorer Akwasi Asante
through a groin injury for this clash of the division's
top two sides that attracted a bumper crowd of 3,653.
The Blues started well forcing an early corner that found
Danny Livesey who was unable to get a shot at goal at
the far post. Soon after, Steve McNulty in the heart of
the York defence was on hand to block a Bradley Jackson
effort after good approach play from Anthony Dudley.
The first effort on goal from the Minstermen came in the
26th minute as Jordan Burrow headed just wide at the near
post after Russell Griffiths has partially cleared a Kallum
Griffiths cross.
Andy Bonds sent another effort just past the post as the
visitors began to press as half-time approached.
York started the second half strongly, Jordan Burrow had
already seen an effort cleared off the line before they
took the lead in the 57th minute as Alex Kempster crossed
from the left for Dan Maguire who controlled the ball
before slotting it past Griffiths.
Minutes later Kempster almost added a second but Livesey
was on hand to clear the dangerous low shot away.
Chester were having little joy in penetrating the division’s
meanest defence. George Waring and Danny Elliott were
introduced at the expense of Matty Hughes and Gary Stopworth.
Elliott was soon in the action shooting from the edge
of the box and bringing out a save by Peter Jameson in
the York goal.
Elliott just failed to connect with a teasing Jamie Morgan
cross seven minutes from time as Chester showed some urgency
in the final stages. With just two minutes remaining Waring
was inches away from converting Dudley’s flick header
at the far post.
Wednesday
23 October Runcorn Town 0 Chester 7 Cheshire Senior Cup Round 1
Attendance: 182 Half Time: 0-4
Booked: -.
Runcorn Town: Reid, Turner, Wainwright,
James, Thelwell, Mcmanus, Holt, Weaver, Forbes, Cairns,
Wallis. Subs: Ward, Dursley, McQuade.
Chester: Griffiths, Morgan, Jones, Macready,
Waters, Mahon, Stopforth, Murray, Crilly, Elliott, Waring.
Subs: Molyneux, Hayes, Burton, Hampson, Rubin. Referee: Adam Davies, Chester won 7-0 at Runcorn Town in the first
round of the Cheshire Senior Cup. There were four goals
for Danny Elliott, a brace from George Waring and a further
effort from Louis Hayes. The Blues will travel to Stockport
Town for the second round in January.Saturday
19 October Blyth
Spartans 2 Chester 2 National League North
Attendance: 689 Half Time: 2-2
Booked: Elliott, Livesey, G.Roberts.
Chester
missed the chance to catch York City at the top of the
table as they were held at Blyth Spartans. The game started
well for the Blues who opened the scoring after just three
minutes as Danny Elliott sent a free-kick past Mark
Foden in the home goal.
The delight was short lived though as Spartans striker
Michael Sweet headed home Lewis Hawkins’ cross to
draw the home side level just three minutes later.
Chances fell to both sides before Blyth took the lead
midway through the half as Adam Wrightson’s shot
deflected off Danny Livesey past Russell Griffiths.
Defender Joel Taylor had appeals for a penalty turned
down by referee Adam Williamson after he was brought down
inside the box, but five minutes before the break Chester
drew level.
George Glendon’s
pin-point cross field ball found the on-rushing Bradley
Jackson, he crossed for Matty Hughes to steer the ball
home.
Griffiths was called on to make a great save to deny
Paul Dodd giving Blyth the lead early in the second
period.
Chester spurned a great chance to
take the lead on 73 minutes as Hughes, sent clear through
on goal, rounded Foden before seeing his shot hit the
post and rebound out.
Ten minutes from time the woodwork came to Chester’s
rescue as Lewis Hawkins saw his header hit the bar with
Griffiths beaten.
Both sides failed to create anything in the dying minutes
as Chester had to be content with a third successive
league draw.
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table
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Chester’s performance
Saturday
12 October King’s
Lynn Town 2 Chester 2 National League North
Attendance: 1,637 Half Time: 1-0
Booked: G.Roberts.
King’s Lynn Town: Street, Barrows,
Fox, Jones, Smith (Payne 20), McAuley, Clunan, Richards
(Kelly 69), Gash, Marriott, Henderson. Subs not used:
Carey, Bastock, Stewart. Chester: Griffiths, K.Roberts, Taylor,
Grand, Livesey, G.Roberts, Glendon, Dudley, Jackson (Elliott
88), Asante (Waring 78), Hughes (Stopforth 78). Subs not
used: Morgan, Jones. Referee: M. Howes.
Chester
picked up a point in an entertaining game at King’s
Lynn to remain second in the table.
The Blues welcomed back
Danny Livesey, Kevin Roberts and Gary Roberts to the starting
X1 while there was a place on the bench for Gary Stopforth
following his injury lay-off.
After an enforced two week
lay-off due to their FA Cup exit at Altrincham, the Blues
got off to the worst possible start falling behind to
the Linnets after just two minutes after a poor clearance
from Russell Griffiths presented Adam Marriott with a
shooting chance that the home striker took full advantage
of.
The home side almost doubled their lead eight minutes
later as Roy McAuley headed wide following a quickly taken
short corner.
Joel Taylor did just enough with a challenge to put off
Marriott from adding his second after the striker had
been sent clear from a ball over the top of the Blues
defence.
The home side, third in the league and unbeaten at The
Walks for an impressive 13 months, had the better of the
exchanges in the opening half but failed to create many
clear-cut chances.
The final effort of the opening half felly to Livesey
who saw a tame header held by Alex Street in the Lynn
goal.
Eleven minutes into the second period Chester drew level
as Simon Grand converted a Matty Hughes low cross from
close range.
And just seven minutes later the Blues had their noses
in front as top striker Akwasi Asante coolly finished
a fine move after George Glendon’s raking cross
field pass allowed Bradley Jackson to cross into the danger
area.
With 13 minutes
remaining Marriott scored his second goal of the game,
controlling the ball before turning and firing past
Griffiths from the edge of the box to bring the sides
level again.
Both sides had chances in the final ten minutes but
in the end both had to settle for a hard earned point
in what was a great advert for the league on Non-League
Day.
The
Blues failed to score for the first time in the league
this season as they were beaten at home by league leaders
York City who move five points clear. 
Chester
missed the chance to catch York City at the top of the
table as they were held at Blyth Spartans. The game started
well for the Blues who opened the scoring after just three
minutes as Danny Elliott sent a free-kick past Mark 
Chester
picked up a point in an entertaining game at King’s
Lynn to remain second in the table.
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