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King’s
Lynn Town (H) | Southport
(H) | Pontefract
Collieries (FA Cup 2RQ H) | Buxton
(A) | Chorley (A)
Tuesday
27 September
Chorley 2 Chester 2
National League North
Attendance: 1,679 Half Time: 0-1
Booked: Williams, Morgan, Lynch.
Chorley: Urwin; Henley, Wilson, Leather,
Nolan (Tomlinson 77), Whitehouse, Calveley (Johnson 80),
Ustabasi, Shenton (Sampson 65), Blakeman, Hall. Subs not
used: Challoner, Owens.
Chester: Tyrer, Morgan, Burke, Williams,
Coulton, Devine, Kenyon (Roberts 61), Murray (Lynch 56),
Thomas, Willoughby, Stephenson. Subs not used: Dudley,
Heywood, McHugh.
Referee: S.Morland.
Goals
from Adam Thomas and Darren Stephenson looked to have
set up a win until a late Magpie’s equaliser at
Victory Park.
Chester started the better side with Kurt Willoughby dragging
an early shot wide, and Darren Stephen saw a header drift
wide, but their early pressure paid off on 16 minutes
when Lewis Coulton’s far post cross was met by Thomas
who headed past Matt Urwin to open the scoring.
The goal spurred on the home side but Harry Tyrer was
on hand to save from Adam Blakeman and Scott Wilson to
preserved the slender lead.
Chester almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time
as Thomas saw an effort hit the crossbar before the ball
dropped to for Urwin to gather.
Six minutes into he second period the Magpies drew level
as Ollie Shenton put Connor Hall through and he chipped
a shot over the advancing Tyrer.
Chorley were having the majority of the possession now
without really creating and chances and it was the Blues
who struck next taking he lead 13 minutes form time as
Stephenson slammed home a loose ball from 25 yards.
The Blues were just three minutes from victory when substitute
Jack Sampson headed home from Jon Ustabasi’s deep
cross to give Chorley a share of the points.
League
Table | Match
highlights [YouTube]
Saturday
24 September Buxton
0 Chester 0 National
League North
Attendance: 1,217 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Roberts, Lynch.
Buxton: Richardson, Burke, Brisley, Newton,
Clarke, Meikle, Kirby, Sargent (Hardy 76), Bunn, De Girolamo,
Boden. Subs not used: Andoh, Moult, Gilchrist, Tasdemir.
Chester: Tyrer, Morgan, Burke, Williams,
Coulton, Roberts, Devine, McHugh (Lynch 56), Hall (Dudley
12 (Thomas 68)), Willoughby, Stephenson. Subs not used:
Kenyon, Murray.
Referee: Helen Conley.
It’s
another clean sheet for Chester who extended their unbeaten
run to five games following this draw at the Tarmac Silverlands
Stadium.
Chester suffered an early blow with striker Kole Hall
limping off with an injury after just 12 minutes to be
replaced by Anthony Dudley. And it was Dudley himself
with the first effort on goal which Theo Richardson in
the Buxton goal parried, Kurt Willoughby was on hand but
put the rebound inches wide.
It was a game of very few chances. Matty Williams denied
Scott Boden a goalscoring chance and former Blue Sean
Newton saw a free kick just before half-time gathered
by Harry Tyrer.
The only efforts of note in the second period came in
the dying minutes as another ex-Chester player James Hardy
had a great chance to break the deadlock but shot straight
at Tyrer. Then in the final minute Willoughby met a Lewis
Coulton cross only for Richardson to save the striker’s
effort on the line.
Picture © Terry Marland
League
Table |
Match
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Match
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Saturday
17 September
Chester 2 Pontefract Collieries
0
FA Cup Second Round Qualifying
Attendance: 1,502 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: McHugh.
Chester: Tyrer, Burke, Kenyon, Willoughby,
Dudley (Stephenson 53), Roberts (Williams 72), Devine,
Coates, Hall, Heywood, McHugh. Subs not used: Stanway,
Morgan, Coulton, Murray, Daly.
Pontefract Collieries: Allinson, Greenhough,
Spratt, Brown (Brook 67), Picton, Clarke, Baxendale, Vann,
Lumsde (Porritt 90), Rothery, Priestley (Dunn 72). Subs
not used: Kelsey, Falk, Adamson, Bailey.
Referee: Luis Griffiths.
There
were times during the first half when Collieries’
supporters cheered every Chester pass as they moved the
ball from side to side, mainly across the back four. The
visitors were delighted at the frustrating press they
managed to impose on the Blues which led them to missing
out midfield altogether. Pontefract, as Chester McIntyre
had warned were not to be underestimated. Ollie Heywood
at left back for City, for instance, was pitted against
the widely experienced Adam Priestley. The youngster held
his own but the press on the whole defence was relentless.
Harry McHugh broke the pattern by pinpointing a superbly
weighted cross-field pass to find Coates charging forward.
He got behind and crossed but the chance was smothered.
Otherwise City were limited as an attacking force, with
a following wind making the long ball especially difficult
and the ball ending out of play on countless occasions.
Ponte fans may have had even more to cheer about if Lumsden
had converted Spratt’s pinpoint left wing cross.
He met it cleanly and his header had ‘goal’
written all over it until Tyrer pulled off an unbelievable
save to keep City on level terms.
There were signs that City were beginning to find a direct
route to goal when Burke’s forward pass held up
well for Hall who almost found a path through. But the
game was truly transformed with the introduction of Darren
Stephenson. Suddenly Blues were able to hold the ball
higher up the field as the Jamaican wizard marauded down
the left and linked up play. Ponte were now on the back
foot and within five minutes of Stephenson entering the
fray, City were ahead. He fed the overlapping Heywood
whose cut back cross was deftly turned in by Willoughby.
With City boosted in confidence and Collieries beginning
to tire the home side began to dominate. Willoughby scored
a cheeky second when Chester were awarded a free kick
just outside the area. The referee wrested the ball from
a Pontefract player who tried to delay the kick. Then
while the visitors were still lining up the wall and the
keeper was stood by the post, Willoughby asked the ref
for permission to take it and clipped it into the far,
unguarded corner of the net. Dismayed Colls players surrounded
the referee but he stood firm and allowed the goal to
stand.
Chester finished well in control and might have added
to the score but for a fine save by Allinson from Hall.
After a spirited and disciplined display, credited as
such by McIntyre after the game, Colls bowed out and City
avoided slipping on this particular banana skin. They
were rewarded with a home tie to Hanley Town on 1st October.
Colin Mansley
Match
highlights [YouTube]
Tuesday
13 September
Chester 1 Southport 0
National League North
Attendance: 1,714 (99 Southport) Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Hall.
Chester: Tyrer, Coulton, Burke, Kenyon,
Stephenson (Dudley 73), Willoughby, Devine, Coates, Murray
(Roberts 46), Hall, McHugh (Williams 90). Subs not used:
Morgan, Heywood.
Southport: McMillan, Oliver, Doyle, Evans,
Woods (Watson 71), Archer, Walton, Hmami, Vassallo (Lusiama
80), Bainbridge (Munro 46), Carberry. Subs not used: Doyle,
Anson.
Referee: Michael Crusham.
The
Blues ground out a slender victory against the Sandgrounders
to tuck into a solidly mid-table position after eight
matches.
Southport started the stronger of the two sides, dominating
possession and probing for the opening goal. Walton and
Woods got behind down the flanks on a number of occasions
despite the close attentions of Coulton and Coates respectively.
City struggled to clear their lines and failed to make
the ball stick when they did get it up the field.
Hall, however, put through on the right by Devine, made
inroads towards goal and, as he cut inside, went down
as ‘keeper McMillan dived at his feet. The referee
awarded a yellow card to Hall rather than the penalty
Blues were expecting. The veteran keeper had the honesty
to admit it was a definite penalty after the game.
At the other end it seemed like a goal was coming for
the visitors. Woods was first to a bouncing ball forward
from Bainbridge and headed over the onrushing Tyrer. City
were relieved to see it pass narrowly pass the outside
of the post. Another effort across goal from the left
clipped Kenyon’s heel and just missed the goal on
the other side. Blues defended a number of corners but
defended them well, first to headers and making sure the
ball was cleared.
Debutant McHugh, on loan from Wigan showed some fancy
footwork in right midfield to beat a couple of opponents
and surge towards the penalty area. Bainbridge’s
lunge to bring him down earned a yellow card for the Sandgrounder
and led to his withdrawal at half-time, Liam Watson not
wanting to risk a second caution and see his side reduced
to ten.
As the match entered first half stoppage time Chester
had the best chance to score so far. Willoughby latched
on to Hall’s header but before he could shoot McMillan
was out to touch it away from his feet. The ball was quickly
re-cycled and Hall himself saw his shot blocked by the
retreating ‘keeper.
Kevin Roberts replaced Murray after the break and, together
with the absence of Bainbridge for the opposition, it
meant that City saw more possession in midfield in the
second half. Willoughby worked hard to shield the ball
and was fouled by a frustrated Carberry. McHugh drove
the free kick from the right wing into the box and Hall,
having lost his marker, chested it and then volleyed the
ball emphatically into the back of the net. A superb finish
and one in which both players and fans took great delight.
There was still over half an hour to go however and Southport
went close to equalising soon after when Tyrer did well
to smother Hmami’s shot before Archer could slide
in to prod it home. Hmami went even closer later when
he glanced a header on to the post and saw it rebound
to safety. But this was the closest the visitors came
as City defended resolutely in all areas of the field
and strove to put the game beyond Southport as they came
forward for a second. Dudley came on for Stephenson and
had a half-volley just over the bar from the edge of the
area. Willoughby too put a direct free kick narrowly over.
It was the kind of game cynical City fans might have expected
the Blues to concede an equaliser late on but –
without wishing to tempt fate – this season’s
side seems more resilient defensively. They held out for
a narrow but nevertheless hard-fought win. Considering
the depletions through suspension and injuries it was
a result which will please Calum McIntyre and the supporters
alike – especially with a couple of difficult away
fixtures to come up next. Before that though City entertain
Pontefract Collieries in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Colin Mansley
Picture
© Terry Marland
League
Table | Match
photographs
Saturday
3 September Chester
3 King’s Lynn Town 3
National League North
Attendance: 1,695 Half Time: 0-3
Booked: -.
Chester: Tyrer, Coulton, Burke, Kenyon,
Stephenson (Coates 46), Willoughby, Devine, Williams (Dudley
72), Murray (Heywood 83), Hall, Edwards. Subs not used:
Morgan, Roberts.
Kings Lynn Town: P.Jones, A.Jones, Crowther,
Coulson, Denton, Stephens (Barrett 70), Widdrington, Clunan,
Hargreaves, Ponticelli (Walker 79), Omotayo. Subs not
used: Fleming, Charles, Keller.
Referee: Benjamin Tomlinson.
After
a dearth of goals in the Harry Mac end of the stadium,
City fans were treated to half a dozen in this one match.
The problem for the home faithful was that by half time,
King’s Lynn, the league leaders, were three goals
ahead. Incredibly though, Chester mounted a second half
comeback which saw them score three themselves and earn
a share of the spoils.
Kick off was delayed a few minutes after what was reported
to be a clash of goalkeepers’ kits which the referee
required to be sorted out. Once the game began however,
City were caught in a maelstrom as the visitors scored
twice within the first five minutes. They took the lead
when Omatayo flicked a header into the box and Ponticelli
was first to react to it. As he fought to bring the ball
under control Kenyon tugged the forward’s shirt
and he went sprawling in the penalty area. Omatayo stepped
up to convert the spot kick.
Barely a minute later The Linnets scored a breath-taking
second. Burke lost possession under pressure in midfield
and Widdrington hit a first time shot from within the
centre circle which did not bounce before it hit the back
of the net. A bewildered Tyrer could get nowhere near
it. A shell-shocked City fought to get a toe-hold back
in the game and restricted the visitors until shortly
before half time. Ponticelli took advantage of slight
hesitation from Tyrer to poke another Omatayo header past
him for a third goal. His cheeky celebration in front
of the home end rubbed further salt into Cestrian wounds.
Calum McIntyre made some adjustments at the break withdrawing
Stephenson in favour of Coates and swapping Burke from
midfield back into defence with Kenyon going the other
way. Within a couple of minutes of the resumption, City
had a goal back. Murray began and finished a neat move
involving Willoughby and Coates and stroked the ball past
Jones in goal.
Although the goal might have appeared nothing more than
a consolation at first, Chester began to build momentum
as the half progressed with a better shape and balance
to their play. Belief in a comeback became tangible when
Devine chested Kenyon’s chipped pass into the box
and swivelled to hit a superbly calm finish past Jones
with twelve minutes to go.
The atmosphere inside the Deva came to a crescendo as
the Blues swept forward continually in search of an unlikely
equaliser. It came with five minutes remaining as Heywood
– who replaced Murray moments earlier – floated
a free kick to the far post. Coates controlled it, beat
a defender and sent a bobbling pass across the face of
the goal. Time seemed to stand still while Willoughby
brought it under his control before stroking the ball
gleefully into the net.
There was still time for King’s Lynn to threaten
to snatch the lead again as Barrett got through only to
fire wide. But three-all it remained and Blues fans were
left to reflect whether they had seen many finer or more
unbelievable comebacks in the Deva’s thirty-year
history than this one.
Colin Mansley
Picture
© Rick Matthews
League
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