Ebbsfleet
United (H) | All other matches postponed.Saturday
6 February Chester
City 1 Ebbsfleet United 2
Football Conference
Attendance: 460 (79 Ebbsfleet) Half Time 1-2
Booked: Rule.
Less
that 400 Chester supporters were at Deva Stadium to
witness this latest home defeat. Those who did turn
up did get to see the first goal scored by the club
in over 11 hours though! The Blues have now lost nine
of their last ten matches as their desperate slump continues.
Caretaker manager Morell Maison made
one change from the team thrashed at Mansfield Town
in their last outing, bringing in Jack Rae for fellow
youth team player Ryan Davidson, who took a place on
the bench. Despite months without pay the youthful City
side battled well in the opening periods.
The Blues opened the scoring against
the run of play after half an hour with a first professional
goal from Jack Rea. Another of the City youngsters Glenn
Rule sent a ball into the box that was only partially
cleared to Rea who volleyed past Lance Cronin in the
visitors goal from 18 yards out.
Ten minutes later though the Fleet
were level through Magno Vieira who slipped the ball
under John Danby from close range following a well-worked
cross from Stefan Bailey. The Brazilian-born striker
had earlier missed two great chances to find the net
in the opening ten minutes.
Worse was to follow three minutes
later as Vieira added a second following good work by
fellow striker Moses Ashikodi.
The impressive Vieira could have notched
a hat-trick in stoppage time as he broke clear, but
he squared the ball to Alex Stavrinou who failed in
his attempt to lob Danby.
Both Danby and Ben Wilkinson were
on hand to deny the visitors from close range soon after
the break, however the Blues stuck to their guns and
began to find an opening or two.
Ryan Davidson, on for Ben Jones, shot
wide of the far post after cutting inside and a clearance
from Peter Holmes deflected just wide off the onrushing
Lloyd Ellams.
In the dying minutes Danby kept out
a shot from Bailey after he’d brushed off the
challenge of two City defenders to break clear.
AWAY TIE FOR REPLAY WINNERS Should Chester win their replay, they have been handed an away tie in the Fourth Round Qualifying of the FA Cup at Scarborough Athletic.