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Peterborough
Sports (H) | Hartlepool
United (A) FAC4RQ | Scunthorpe
United (H) | Southport
(A) | Curzon Ashton (A)
Saturday
28 October
Curzon Ashton 0 Chester 1
National League North
Attendance: 1,110 (800 Chester estimated) Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Coates.
Curzon Ashton: Ollerenshaw, Poscha, Kenyon,
Sinclair, Spencer, Hayhurts, Waring (Campbell 77), Allen
(Mols 62), Richards, Mahpn, Barton. Subs not used: Taylor,
Edmundson, Lopes.
Chester: Stanway, Sparrow, Burke, Williams,
Taylor (Coates 54), Roberts, Glendon, Weeks (Murray 80),
Whitehouse, Peers, Thomas. Subs not used: Evans, Maguire,
Edwards.
Referee: -.
After
the midweek win at Southport Calum McIntyre said that
Curzon Ashton was the most important match since he had
been appointed. He was alluding to the significance of
maintaining momentum in away form and progress up the
league table.
His side duly delivered with a 1-0 victory but Curzon
proved a very tough nut to crack. The Nash, under newly
appointed former City favourite Craig Mahon, were well
drilled and settled into a rhythm early. Following a corner
they won a free kick on the edge of the box. Hayhurst
lined it up and swept the ball over the wall and towards
the top corner. Stanway stretched and got a hand to it,
deflecting it on to the angle of post and bar and down
to the ground where the Chester keeper grabbed it. Minutes
later Jamie Allen was booked for the hosts after diving
in the box in search of a penalty.
City began to dominate possession as Ashton sought to
get at least ten behind the ball. Whitehouse, Weeks and
Glendon found clever ways to play through the lines but
Chester’s attacks foundered on the edge of the area.
Thomas went closest when he glanced a Taylor cross narrowly
wide. But Curzon were able to restrict City to shots from
distance while continuing to carry a threat on the break.
As half time approached Thomas managed to carve an opening
but could not direct his effort on target.
The pattern continued in the second half with Chester,
all in yellow, camped in the Curzon half. Kev Roberts
played a pivotal role in sweeping up possession when Curzon
cleared their lines and recycling it forward. He even
found opportunity to try to break the deadlock himself
but his shot from the edge of the area was wide. Weeks
had a shot tipped round the post by Ollerenshaw and Poscha
scooped Thomas’s cross off the line.
The Nash, featuring Alex Kenyon as a holding midfielder
and George Waring as central defender – ably converted
from centre forward – were proving stubborn opponents.
And they continued to hold a danger on the counter attack.
Spencer headed tamely over from a Mahon cross; substitute
Mols’ header was on target but mercifully straight
at Stanway.
Roberts threaded the ball through to Sparrow and he cut
in behind the defence. The Curzon goal had a narrow escape
as first, Glendon’s shot was cleared off the line,
then Thomas’s follow-up hit the bar and both Whitehouse
and Peers, off-balance, were just unable to apply the
finish.
A decisive goal seemed elusive until Murray replaced Weeks
and his pass unlocked the defence for Thomas to drive
a cross along the line for Glendon to slide in at the
far post. The relief among the large contingent of travelling
fans – generously awarded two thirds of the ground
by the hosts – was palpable. City’s away form
from last season might have returned and hope begins to
grow. After warm applause was given and received, fans
drifted off singing merry tunes – to cars, town
and in search of the tram to Eccles.
Colin Mansley
Picture
© Rick Matthews
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Tuesday
24 October Southport
0 Chester 2
National League North
Attendance: 1,835 (684 Chester) Half Time: 0-1
Booked: Taylor.
Southport: Renshaw, Quansah, Doyle (Watson
65) Flowers, Evans (Thomson) Bainbridge, Hmami, Morgan,
Burgess, Carver, Holmes (O’Neill 74). Subs not used:
F.Heath, McMillan.
Chester: Stanway, Sparrow, Edwards, Williams,
Taylor, Roberts, Glendon, Weeks, Whitehouse, Peers, Thomas
(Murray 78). Subs not used: Burke, Evans, Heywood, Maguire.
Referee: M.McQuillan.
Chester’s
impressive run continued as they moved to within a point
of the play-off’s with a well deserved victory at
Southport. An injury to Charlie Caton on Saturday meant
a start for new signing Tom Peers in his second spell
at the club.
The Blues took the game to their hosts from the off and
could have already been in front through Peers and an
Adam Thomas header that hit the bar before captain George
Glendon opened the scoring on seven minutes.
Chester were creating chance after chance in the opening
period. Elliott Whitehouse shot over from close range
and Chris Renshaw in the Sandgrounders goal pulled off
a couple of saves to deny the Blues. One of those saves
was from the penalty spot as Whitehouse missed the chance
to double the Blues’ lead following a foul in the
box on Thomas.
Thomas saw an effort cleared from the line as Chester
went into the break knowing they should have had the game
wrapped up in the opening half.
Five minutes after the restart there was a scare as Southport’s
Luke Burgess saw a header deflect off a post to safety
but Chester soon doubled their lead as Whitehouse converted
following a Tom Sparrow cross. The Blues created a few
more efforts of note before seeing the game out for a
fifth successive victory.
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Saturday
21 October
Chester 2 Scunthorpe United
0
National League North
Attendance: 2,676 (363 Scunthorpe) Half Time: 1-0
Booked: Roberts.
Chester: Stanway, Sparrow, Edwards, Williams,
Taylor (Burke 90+5), Roberts, Glendon, Weeks, Whitehouse,
Caton (Peers 45+3), Thomas. Subs not used: Evans, Murray,
Maguire.
Scunthorpe United: Fitzsimons, Ogle,
Evans, Boyce, Elliott (Whitehall 10), Bennett (Wilson
61), Butterfield, Scales, Jenkins, Denton, Barrows (Law
84). Subs not used: Kelly, Pugh.
Referee: William Davis.
After
playing at Hartlepool in the Cup last week Chester were
at home to Scunthorpe as the fixtures began to resemble
the old Fourth Division days of the seventies. The visitors
were playing at this level for the first time in their
history after having suffered successive relegations and
gone through a couple of changes of ownership. Off the
field things are beginning to look up as the club was
acquired by local a businesswoman, the previous regime
had spent and recruited lavishly during the close season
installing the Iron as pre-season title favourites.
Storm Babet had struck the day before but, despite a residual
lake on the car park behind the Harry Mac, the pitch was
draining well and the sprinklers were on just before kick-off.
Blues made a couple of changes to the previous match with
Coates absent and Burke dropping to the bench; Sparrow
and Thomas their replacements in a more attacking formation.
Chester were boosted by the new signing of Tom Peers,
returned to the fold after making his debut for the Blues
ten years ago – he began the game on the bench.
The Iron suffered an early blow when former Blue Danny
Elliott had to retire hurt following a collision with
Stanway. His replacement was Danny Whitehall – son
of former Chester player Steve. Scunthorpe sought to use
the width of the pitch and fired cross-field passes to
either flank at every opportunity. The experienced Reagan
Ogle threatened down the right but it was Butterfield’s
long ball from the left that was converted by Boyce –
only to see the linesman’s flag raised for offside.
Butterfield himself then hit the crossbar with a direct
free kick as the visitors enjoyed a spell of dominance.
On the half hour mark Caton made the breakthrough for
Chester when he anticipated Jenkins’ back pass,
rounded the keeper and then stroked the ball in to the
net off the far post from the acutest of angles. Chester
then enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and
chances. Glendon and Thomas harried the defenders mercilessly.
Caton and Taylor had shots from distance. Just before
the interval, however, Caton pulled up with an injury,
giving Peers the opportunity to make his first appearance
in this second spell with the Blues.
After the break City continued to threaten as the Iron’s
forwards were well marshalled by Edwards and Williams.
Peers ended a forceful run by firing narrowly wide and
then had the ball in the net following Glendon’s
shot but was given offside. He did turn provider a few
minutes later as he teed up Whitehouse to thrash a shot
into the back of the net. His joy at scoring against the
team that had released him last season was unconfined.
In the aftermath of the goal, the referee, Mr Davis went
down injured and was unable to continue. After a break
and an appeal for a qualified person to run the line was
answered in the affirmative, the senior linesman took
control of the remaining quarter of an hour plus lengthy
stoppage time. The Blues were able to see out the remaining
minutes comfortably to record a hard earned win.
Colin Mansley
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Saturday
14 October
Hartlepool United 0 Chester
2
FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying
Attendance: 3,205 (471 Chester) Half Time: 0-1
Booked: Thomas.
Hartlepool United: Jameson; Hendrie,
Lacey, Onariase, Johnson (Agyemang 46), Ferguson, Featherstone
(Hastie 86), Crawford, Grey, Umerah (Wreh 62), Dieseruvwe.
Subs not used: Dixon, Dolan, Burton, Paterson, Hastie,
Agyemang, Wreh.
Chester: Stanway, Coates, Burke (Daly
75), Edwards, Williams, Taylor, Roberts, Glendon (Thomas
83), Weeks, Whitehouse, Caton. Subs not used: Davies,
Evans, Sparrow, Murray, Maguire.
Referee: Mulligan
Chester
produced one of the shocks of the round as goals from
Elliott Whitehouse and Charlie Caton brought FA Cup success
at National League side Hartlepool United.
It was the home side that satrted on the front foot with
Wyll Stanway saving a Josh Umerah header in the opening
minutes. Stanway was caled into action again saving a
long distance effort from Luke Hendrie comfortably.
Former Blue Toom Crawford saw a shot deflected wide before
the Blues took the lead through their first attack of
the game on 13 minutes. Harrison Burke brought the ball
out form defence, his pass to Caton was flicked through
to Whitehouse to shoot from long range past Pools ‘keeper
Peter Jameson into the bottom corner.
Stanway saved an effort from Joe Grey not long after the
restart then another effort from Manny Dieseruvwe before
Chester struck again just before the hour mark. Glendon
won the ball in msdfield before sending Caton through,
he slipped the last defender Manny Onariase before shooting
under the advancing Jameson to the delight of the City
fans behind the goal.
The home side continued to press but the Blues defence
with Burke and Matty Wlliams outstanding held firm for
a famous victory.
Saturday
7 October
Chester 3 Peterborough Sports
2
National League North
Attendance: 2,250 Half Time: 1-2
Booked: Thomas.
Chester: Stanway, Sparrow (Coates 58),
Burke, Edwards, Taylor, Roberts, Glendon, Weeks, Whitehouse
(Thomas 46), Daly (Williams 90+5), Caton. Subs not used:
Evans, Maguire.
Peterborough Sports: Crook, Tootle (Nee
88), Cann, Johnson, Lawlor, McCammon, McGlinchy (Alban-Jones
64), Fox, Felix, Gash, Miles (Jarvis 73). Subs not used:
Fowkes, Meyer.
Referee: Lewis Dawson.
A
persevering fightback by Chester from a two-goal deficit
was crowned by a magnificent first senior goal for Academy
graduate Reece Daly.
In bright autumnal sunshine Blues made a lively beginning
against the Turbines. Weeks saw his goal-bound effort
flicked over the bar by Sports ‘keeper Crook. Peterborough
were barely able to get out of their own half for the
first ten minutes or so. But they proved resilient and
when McCammon picked up a loose ball on halfway he swept
it out to the left to find Matt Tootle. The veteran got
the better of Sparrow and crossed to the far post where
it was met by player-manager Michael Gash to nod home
unattended. Playing the part of pantomime villain, Gash
blew kisses to the Harry Mac.
Ten minutes later the Turbines went two-up when Gash’s
deft lick set up McCammon to run through and score past
Stanway. With Blues desperate for the points to move up
the table, going behind to next to bottom Peterborough
was not in the expected script.
Five minutes later, though, City were back in the game
when Caton slotted in a goal at the far post. This time
it was Sparrow who was the provider as Glendon found his
overlapping run and he fired in low and hard across the
box. Whitehouse helped it on to Caton who had time to
take a touch before scoring.
The Blues were in the ascendant again as they tried to
pick their way through a packed midfield but had to be
wary of Peterborough’s long ball game, playing on
the couner and for set piece opportunities. Glendon saw
an angled effort flicked on to the cross bar by a defender
and twice Caton hammered on the door of the Turbines’
goal only to see Crook get his body in the way. Try as
they might City could not get themselves back on level
terms by half time.
After the interval Thomas came on for Whitehouse –
who was winded by a challenge towards the end of the first
period – and within six minutes he’d notched
City’s equaliser. Weeks capitalised on a wayward
pass out of Peterborough’s defence and homed in
on the penalty area. He combined with Glendon who set
up Caton for another shooting opportunity. This time Crook
could only parry a powerful effort into the path of Adam
Thomas to finish off.
Coates came on to replace Sparrow and City began to threaten
down both flanks. Weeks embodied perpetual motion in his
efforts to create an opening and to drive Blues forward.
Glendon, like a dynamo, persisted in picking up the ball
from defence and begin the passing movement as City looked
to build from the back.
Weeks’ cross from the left did not fall kindly to
a Chester forward ad was scrambled clear. Coates’
cross from the right was cleared only with a desperate
lunge. Burke’s header from a corner was headed off
the line by a Sports defender and then Caton had a header
and follow up shot blocked in a pinball passage of play
in the six yard box.
All was not completely one-sided though as Peterborough
had a short spell on the attack in between these attempts
to find a winning goal. Stanway was well positioned to
repel a shot on target.
Joy finally arrived for City when Glendon’s clever
flick found Daly in space to let fly a shot from just
outside the box. The youngster hit it sweetly and the
back of the Peterborough net billowed. Calum McIntyre
afterwards described it as a fabulous moment for Daly
and for his family – it was certainly an exquisite
first goal for Chester. Blues survived one last Gash header
over the bar and negotiated the remaining minutes of stoppage
time to claim a vital three points, essential for upward
momentum.
Colin Mansley
Picture
© Rick Matthews
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