Chester: Worsnop (Forth 45), Higgins (Tonge 45), Heneghan, Kay, Hunt, George (Hughes 60), Rooney (Mahon 45), Shaw, Chapell (Peers 60), Hannah (Thomson 60), Hobson (Richards 60).
Crewe Alexandra: Garratt, Baillie, Mullarkey, Guthrie, Turton, Bingham, King (Atkinson 67), Fox (Wintle 86), Dalla-Valle, Haber (Cooper 75), Inman (Saunders 75). Subs not used: Ng, Richards.
Referee: Rob Jones (Wirral).

Chester completed their successful pre-season campaign with a fine 3-2 victory over Cheshire neighbours Crewe Alexandra. Man of the moment John Rooney gave the Blues the perfect start opening the scoring with a curling shot within five minutes, several saves from visiting ‘keeper Ben Garratt kept the score down before Alex equalised midway through the half through Oliver Turton.

Good build up play from Craig Mahon and Jordan Chapell set up Ross Hannah who headed Chester back in front on 57 minutes. George Cooper brought the sides level 15 minutes from time. It took Chester just two minutes though to restore their lead as Tom Peers smashed the ball home for the winning goal after being set up by George Thomson.

In an entertaining first half it was The Reds who shaded possession and certainly proved swift on the counter attack. A quickly taken free kick led to a chance for captain Rossiter but he side-footed just wide of the right hand post. Kent came even closer when he clipped a shot on top of the cross bar. But City remained competitive and occasionally put together some sweeping moves. Hobson, operating on the left of the front line almost opened the scoring in the first minute as Chappell’s cross was taken off his head by a defender at the last second. Later he cut towards goal but blazed well over. Hannah turned and shot narrowly wide just before Chester took the lead at the end of a well worked move. Shaw found Chappell on the right and his driven cross found Rooney who coolly controlled it before steering his shot past a defender on the line

City went into the break ahead and then the inevitable changes in personnel began after half time. On came Mahon and Kay, Tonge and Richards, whilst Liverpool were content just to swap Chester-born Whelan for Hart. On the hour mark though, the Reds made wholesale changes and City introduced Sam Hughes fresh from signing a contract this week and George Thomson.

Mahon proved lively on either side of the pitch and looked to have crossed superbly to set up Richards but his glancing header bounced back off the post. Then Thomson headed over when well placed, Mahon again the provider. City did appear to make the game safe when Rooney’s deep cross from a free kick found Hughes at the far post annd, after his first attempt was blocked, the Blues youngster scored at the second time of asking.

Blues began to dominate and, despite neat play by the U-21s the threat to Chester’s goal was minimal. Rooney brought the crowd to their feet with an audacious lofted shot from about thirty yards which dipped and found the top right hand corner of the net. It was a sensational goal, worthy of winning goal of the season – even though it hasn’t begun yet.

Even before this went in Rooney had revelled in a superb performance and was at the heart of everything creative about Chester on the night. But he had yet more in his locker and provided the icing on a perfect performance by curling a free kick from the edge of the area, round the defensive wall and just inside the right hand post for a brilliant hat trick.

Blues fans cannot afford to be carried away by the result of a friendly match but there were many signs from all over the pitch that the team seems to be shaping up nicely for the big kick off. The Conference or National League as it is now called, may be less accommodating to City’s passing style but let’s hope they persist with it. When it comes off it is very good to watch indeed.

Colin Mansley


Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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Stalybridge Celtic: McMillan, Wylie (Wisdom 62), Hughes, Shaw, Chippendale, Chalmers, Dixon, Wright, Johnson (McKenna 46), Simm (Tames 62), Farrell. Subs not used: Regan, Hill.
Chester (first half): Worsnop, Higgins, Kay, Sharps, Hunt, George, Shaw, Mahon, Chapell, Hannah, Hobson.
Chester (second half): Forth, Tonge, George (Hayes 66), Heneghan, Herbert, Hughes, Rooney, Peers, Thomson, Richards, Hobson (Greenop 66).
Referee: Ryan Johnson (Swinton).

Two goals in three minutes just after the half hour from Jordan Chapell set Chester on their way to a win against their Conference North opponents. Celtic pulled a goal back before the break but further goals from promising youngster Sam Hughes and Craig Hobson at the start of the second period gave Chester victory against a decent home side who played better than the scoreline would suggest.

Hednesford Town: Parton, France (Ennis 70), James (Heath 46), Morrison (Bailey 24), Mills, Tilt, Craddock (Todd 46), Birch (S.Williams 58), Perry (Robinson 70), Obeng (Mugisha 70), Sanders (Trainer 58). Subs not used: T.Williams.
Chester (first half): Worsnop, Tonge, Sharps, Kay, Hunt, George, Rooney, Shaw, Chapell, Hannah, Hobson.
Chester (second half): Forth, Higgins, Sharps, Kay, Hunt, Thomas, Mahon (Rooney 83), Hughes, Peers, Thomson, Richards.
Referee: Chris Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Craig Hobson gave Chester the lead seven minutes before the break heading home a Ross Hannah cross, but the Blues conceded an equaliser minutes later. Tom Peers restored the lead on 54 minutes to bring Chester their second pre-season victory at Keys Park.

Trafford: Saunders, Palmer, Lambert, Caldecott, Grande, Ledson, Shaw, Reece, Deegan, McDonagh, Ahmadi. Subs not used: Marshall, Cookson, Lafferty, Pouncey, Bromley, Hadfield, Woods, Kay.
Chester: Worsnop, Higgins, Sharp, Kay, Liddle, Richards, Tonge, George, Thomas, Peers, Thomson. Subs not used:Ormson, Hunt, Heneghan, Hughes, Shaw, Rooney, Chapell, Mahon, Hobson, Hannah.
Referee: Tom Kirk (Altrincham).

Tom Shaw scored the only goal of the game 22 minutes from time before Ross Hannanh missed a chance to double the lead from the penalty spot.

Chester: Worsnop (Ormson 46), Tonge, Heneghan, Sharps (Kay 46), Hunt (Liddle 82), Mahon (Thomson 60), George (Hughes 78), Rooney, Chapell (Richards 60), Hannah (Peers 60), Hobson (Shaw 46). Sub not used: Heath.
Rochdale: (first half): Lillis, Rafferty, Kisimba, Barry-Murphy, Rose, Lund, Camps, Hooper, McDermott, Alessandra, Hasler-Cregg.
Rochdale: (second half): Diba, Cannon, Lancashire, Kennedy, Tanser, Allen, Noble-Lazarus, Andrew, Bunney, Vincenti, Henderson. Sub not used: Hughes.
Referee: David McNamara (Preston).

Another good workout for Chester who are beaten by a goal eight minutes from time following a defensive error.