News from Deva Stadium September 2014

Chester suffered a 3-0 defeat at Grimsby Town on Saturday as manager Steve Burr revealed a sickness bug had hit the squad forcing three substitutions during the match. Three players Gareth Roberts, Craig Hobson and Michael Kay all suffered during the 90 minutes and were replaced though Burr had no complaints at the final outcome as the home side fully deserved their victory.

Burr said: “We’ve had problems with one or two lads particularly at half-time that were throwing up and being sick so that hasn’t helped out our cause and we’ve lost three influential players for us so I’m a bit disappointed with that. I thought first half in particular we played well and had chances to score and should have scored but you know what it’s like, if you don’t take your chances then you rarely get things out of a game.”

“We’ve lost key men and sort of lost our way in the second half and let them in too easily but we stuck at it but all in all really they were just too strong for us.”

• League table after this game | Match pictures

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

26 September 2014
HENEGHAN DEAL EXTENDED
Defender ben heneghan has signed a deal that will keep him at Chester until the end of the season. The former Stoke City player has been signed on non-contract terms after a successful trial spell in the summer. Manager Steve Burr told the Chester Chronicle: “Ben has been brilliant since he’s been here and obviously became a hero the other night against Wrexham. He is still a young lad learning the game, and needs a lot of had work and coaching but I’m delighted that he’s going to stay with us until the end of the season.”

24 September 2014
HERO HENEGHAN

Just 14 seconds remained on the clock when defender Ben Heneghan ghosted in at the back post to steer home Kingsley James’ pinpoint cross to score his first goal for the Blues and win the dramatic derby match over Wrexham. “That’s the most important goal of my career up to now. It’s an unbelievable feeling, awesome. I’ve just seen it coming over and gambled in front of the left back and the rest is history as they say” – commented the 21-year-old who signed in the summer.

The televised match was a great advert for Conference Football and had a dramatic start as the visitors took the lead in the opening minute as Blane Hudson scored from close range after Jon Worsnop had parried a shot on goal. Wrexham hit the bar and spurned several chances to extend the lead in the opening period and had to be content with the narrow lead at the break.

Craig Hobson saw a goal ruled out for offside and John Rooney hit the post with a curling free kick as Chester too the game to Wrexham in the second half. The equaliser came on 74 minutes as Hobson deflected a Rooney effort past giving Bachmann no chance in goal. Chester were looking the more dangerous in the closing minutes and grabbed the winning goal deep into added time to record their first back-to-back victories since January.

• League table after Wrexham game

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

20 September 2014
CHAIRMAN AND MANAGER TO MEET THE EXILES
Chairman, Tony Durkin and Manager, Steve Burr have kindly accepted an invitation from the Exiles to meet with their members on Friday evening, 10 October prior to the away fixture with Dover Athletic on the Saturday. The meeting will take place at 19.00 for 19.30 start in a private room on the first floor of the Rugby Tavern, Great James Street, London WC1N 3ES which is very close to Holborn, Chancery Lane and Russell Square tube stations.

The evening will be hosted by BBC London sports presenter and Blues fan, Phil Parry and take the form of a Q&A session with Tony and Steve. If you would like to ask a question, please would you email your name, your question/s and who you would like to answer it to the Exiles by Friday, 3 October so that we can make sure that the evening covers a number of topics.

We will provide a light buffet during the evening, so if you hope to be there, it would be very helpful if you could also email the Exiles by the same date so that we make sure we have enough food to go round!

If you are a student and have recently moved to London or have taken up a new job or moved home in the area, we would be pleased to see you at this meeting. As a member of CFU, you are automatically a member of the Exiles if you live 25 miles away from Chester.

17 September 2014
HOME WIN LIFTS BLUES
Chester moved to 16th place following Tuesday’s 2-0 home victory over Southport. Captain on the night Kieran Charnock opened the scoring after just three minutes and striker Craig Hobson doubled the lead ten minutes later as the Blues got off to a great start in the opening period, something they’ve been unable to do in recent matches. Manager Steve Burr made one change from the side beaten at Woking brining in Craig Mahon for Danny Harrison in midfield.

“I thought our first half performance was excellent and we’ve been on from all last week, the weekend and in training about we need to score goals and it was pleasing to get the two goals we got.” “I was looking for more in the second half but we got a clean sheet and it was a big game obviously with the situation that we’ve been in and where Southport are and the three points is most welcome.”

Chester are next in action on Monday night with their home all-ticket match against Wrexham televised live by BT Sport, kick-off 20.00hrs. The Dragons lie sixth in the table following a 1-0 victory at Barnet on Tuesday night. Chester will be hoping that forward Craig Hobson, who limped off in Tuesday’s victory over Southport will be fit enough to play.

• League table after Southport game

BLAKE OUT ON LOAN
Chester have loaned forward Liam Blake to Witton Albion. Meanwhile manager Steve Burr has said he is hoping to bring a striker in on loan ahead of Monday’s home clash with Wrexham.

15 September 2014
WOKING DEFEAT UPSETS BOSS

Manager Steve Burr believes his side deserved something from Saturday's match at Woking. The Blues were beaten 1-0 with Giuseppe Sole scoring the match winner seven minutes into the second period. Chester once again made a slow start and had to weather home pressure for the opening ten minutes but came more into the game as the half wore on and almost took the lead as Kingsley James saw a tremendous 25-yard-efford effort hit the bar and bounce down to safety minutes before the interval. Burr thought his side should have been awarded a penalty following a foul in the box on Sean McConville earlier in the half.

The home side pressed more after the restart and got the all important breakthrough as Ben Heneghan lost out to Sole who chipped Jon Worsnop to claim all three points.

Following the defeat that saw Chester drop to 19th Burr told the Chester Chronicle: “I am absolutely gutted, the effort they have put in today, they should’ve got something out of the game. I still want a referee to tell me why decisions are different when you step into that 18-yard box but I’m still not getting answers.”

“Sean McConville was brought down in the first half, inside the penalty area, and anywhere else on the park, the referee would’ve given a free kick. So that was disappointing. We hit the bar, cleared a few off the line, but the result is hard to take today.”

Chester are back in action on Tuesday night with a home game against Southport, kick-off 19.45hrs.

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

12 September 2014
DEFENDER SIGNS
Chester have signed 19-year-old Gambian defender Ibou Touray from Everton. He was recently on a trial with Tranmere Rovers and played in the pre-season match against the Blues in August.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Seven new members were voted onto the CFU board at the Annual General Meeting last night. The successful candidates were: Brian Burns, John Martin, John Reddy, Jonathan Freeman, Grenville Millington, Michael Poole, Neil Bellis and Mike Day (who was re-elected having been co-opted on in January 2014).

10 September 2014
BLUES BEATEN BY TORQUAY
Chester were beaten at home 2-0 by Torquay United last night. SEcond half goals from Aaron Downes and Ryan Bowman gave The Gulls all three points to leave the Blues in 19th place, just a point above the relegation zone. Manager Steve Burr conceded that the better team had won on the night saying: “The overriding thoughts are that we’ve come up against a side that I think is the best side we’ve played this season and I know we've been beat by Barnet here, who were a good side. I thought in spells we did okay but we just fell short and as I say you’ve just got to hold your hands up sometimes and the better side won.”

8 September 2014
CITY FANS UNITED AGM
A reminder that the Annual General Meeting of City Fans United and Chester FC will be held on Thursday 11 September, 2014 commencing at 19.30hrs in the Blues Bar at the ground. All ballot papers (email link previously sent out to CFU members) must be received by the returning officer no later that 12.00hrs on Wednesday 10th.

7 September 2014
HOME JOY FOR BLUES

A superb John Rooney free-kick after 14 minutes brought Chester’s first home win of the season on Saturday against previously unbeaten Macclesfield Town. This was a well fought victory in stark contrast to the two poor home defeats previously dished out by Barnet and FC Halifax Town. Manager Steve Burr made just one change from the side that lost at Gateshead with Kieran Charnock replacing Danny Taylor.

And Burr was delighted to see his side pick up their first three home points of the season against one of his former clubs, he said: “I felt there was a lot of good signs last week at Gateshead and we’ve moved on again from that. I was just pleased for the lads and most importantly pleased for the supporters. The support was terrific as it has been all season and like them I’ll have a good weekend.”

“I wouldn’t say we were hanging on at the end, but with the two performances we’ve had here prior to this one, it was just important that we got a win for these fans. I think last week at Gateshead, who are a good outfit and an established Conference club, a bit of anxiety came into it with us being 1-0 up and we couldn’t really handle that and I never really felt that this week.”

“Macc haven’t lost yet so they’ve had a good start and its something that will give us a lot of confidence. I thought we should have perhaps had more goals but it’s 1-0, three points and something to build on and we’re just happy to get the win.”

Chester are back in home league action on Tuesday night when Torquay United are the visitors, kick-off 19.45hrs.

• League table after Macclesfield game

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

5 September 2014
BLUES SIGN DEFENDER
The Blues have signed former Tranmere Rovers defender Callum Morris.

4 September 2014
WREXHAM TICKETS
Tickets for the forthcoming home game against Wrexham on Monday 22 September (kick-off 20.00hrs) will go on sale following Saturday’s home match against Macclesfield Town at 17.00hrs. The purchase of tickets is limited to two per person.

East and West Stands:
Adults £18.00
Concessions £12.00
U21, Student and Armed Forces £10.00 – proof of age or student card or warrant card required
U16 £3.00 – proof of age will also be required.

Harry McNally Terrace:
Adult £15.00
Concessions £10.00
U21, Student and Armed Forces £10.00 – proof of age or student card or warrant card required
U16 £3.00 - proof of age will also be required.

Following this tickets will go on sale at the club offices from 10.00-16.00hrs Monday-Friday next week. Season Ticket holders just need to show the appropriate voucher from their book at the turnstile on the night. The match is being televised live by BT Sport.

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