28 February 2011
YOUNG PLEASED WITH BATTLING BLUES
Manager Neil Young was delighted with another three points on Saturday as the Blues fought back from going a goal down to beat a youthful Durham City 3-1 to complete the double. Chester made a sluggish start and went a goal down after nine minutes as Tommy English scored from a 20-yard free-kick.

Crucially Chester drew level on the stroke of half-time as Simm scored from close range after Durham 'keeper James Winter did well to block a Robbie Booth effort. Moments after the break the Blues forged ahead. A free-kick from man of the match Greg Stones (pictured) found Jason St Juste he pulled the ball back for Carl Ruffer whose shot took a deflection to beat Winter. The points were wrapped up eight minutes from time as Kyle Wilson received a through ball from Stones to score from twelve yards.

Young said: “At this stage of the season it’s all about getting the three points – by hook or by crook – and getting out of this division. On another day we may have threw the three points away, but we kept going and as the game wore on the lads got stronger and there were some good performances.”

“On a number of times in the last few years I’ve looked at the team at the top and wondered when they were going to get beat. But when they don’t and they keep picking up three points, it does knock your confidence a bit. That’s what we’ve got to keep doing.”

Young said: “One thing we didn’t need at Lancaster was to go down to 10 men. I was speaking to some of the lads after Saturday’s game and one or two told me it was the hardest game they’d been involved in, in terms of effort.”

Chester travel to Lancaster City tonight to play a President’s Cup semi-final. The game has a 19:45hrs kick-off and will be played to a conclusion with extra-time and penalties availabe if required. Chester will be without in-form winger Iain Howard who sustained a gashed ankle in the win at Chorley on Saturday. New signing Martin Gritton is also not available to play.

Admission tonight is adults: £7.00 and concessions: £5.00, while the match programme will be £1.50.

Neil Young is looking for a league and cup double this season. he told the Chester Evening Leader: “We’ll be going to Lancaster City to win the game and put ourselves in a cup final. The President’s Cup is the one knockout cup we have targeted and we’re hoping to see the job through.”

“There will be one or two changes because there was a lot of effort put in at Chorley, but we’re going to Lancaster to win the game, it’s as simple as that. George Horan has been playing with a broken hand and an injured ankle, but I’m sure he’ll still want to be part of tonight’s squad.”

“We want to win trophies and we want some silverware. I want to see our Presentation Night on 7 May at Chester Racecourse be an absolutely wonderful night, so if we can put pots on the table it will make the occasion far better.”

“Our fans have travelled in their thousands to our away games this season and I’m sure they have appreciated the effort the players are putting in. We’re in a strong position in the league, but we have now got to see the job through.”

The Board of Chester FC met this evening to discuss the events of last Saturday at Chorley and have agreed and issued the following statement.

“We wish to express our disappointment of the logistical shortcomings apparent at the game on Saturday. We are frustrated at the behaviour of a minority of both sets of supporters which led to fans and stewards from Chester and Chorley being at risk.

We feel that the events following the game outside the stadium, which led to two Chester supporters sadly sustaining head injuries, were abhorrent. We hope that lessons are learned by all parties to prevent this from happening on future occasions.

We are aware that Lancashire and Cheshire Police are conducting enquiries into the events both in the lead up to and on the day of the game. The Board of Chester FC has agreed and decided to take the following action:-

1) Any Chester fan convicted following the incidents at Chorley will be banned from The Exacta Stadium and all other Evo-Stik grounds.

2) Any Chester fan identified by the Police as contributing to the damage to the ‘segregation barriers’ or encroaching onto the pitch at the end of the game will also face a potential ban from the Exacta Stadium and all other Evo-Stik grounds.

It was a commanding performance from the Blues on Saturday who maintained their superb unbeaten away league record with a 1-0 win at second placed Chorley to open up a nine point lead at the top of the League.

Chester were in control for most of the match and created numerous efforts throughout before Robbie Booth turned home a ball from Michael Wilde five minutes after the break to score the deciding goal. The home side were restricted to only one real effort late on when substitute Jordan Stepien stabbed the ball over the bar from six yards out to the relief of the Chester fans packed behind the goal.

Manager Neil Young said: “We got a bit of criticism when we played Chorley at our place for relying on set pieces. That was the only time they looked dangerous today, when they were just putting balls into the box whether it be from a corner, throw-in or free-kick. Each to their own. I thought we played all the football. On another day it could have been 3-0.”

“We’ve hit the bar, Carl Ruffer should have scored at the far post and we had a few chances in the first half when we should have scored. It wasn’t a picture in terms of football, but every one of my players stood up and we thoroughly deserved victory.”

Chester have boosted their squad with the signing of 32-year-old former Chesterfield forward Martin Gritton. Gritton has been playing on loan at Torquay United this season where he made 12 appearances but returned to Chesterfield last month and was released from his contract by mutual consent The Scottish born striker began his career at Plymouth Argyle and also played at Yeovil Town and Torquay United before heading north to further his career at Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Mansfield Town, Macclesfield Town and Chesterfield. Picture © Evening Leader (pictured at Chorley)

Chester travel to Chorley tomorrow for what promises to be a tight tense match at the top of the Evo-Stik Division One North. There will be a crowd of over 3,000 at Victory Park, with Chester’s entire allocation of 1,200 being snapped up in a matter of days.

Chorley of course inflicted the first defeat of the season for the Blues when they won 2-1 at the Deva back in September. Goals from Russell and Dorney were enough to beat a Chester side who had equalised through Rob Hopley and seen Grundy in the Chorley goal pull off a string of fine saves to deny Neil Young’s side a point. Playing for the visitors that day was Chester striker Chris Simm who had a loan spell with Chorley whilst at Southport.

The Blues embarked on an unbeaten eleven match run following that defeat to take over from their Lancashire promotion rivals at the top of the league. Chester currently have a six point lead having played a game more that tomorrow’s opponents.

Manager Neil Young is relishing the opportunity to manage his side in what should be a great atmosphere. He told the Chester Chronicle: “It’s always good to have rivalry in football but we’ve just got to make sure we do our talking on the pitch.”

“It is a game between two good sides who have been going hammer and tongs since day one. Chorley are really going toe-to-toe with us so I’m looking forward to what should be a great game. The best atmosphere since I’ve been at the club was the friendly we had at home to FC United of Manchester.”

“That night there were two sets of fans chanting – not just our own – and it’s going to be the same on Saturday. It will make for a proper atmosphere and I just hope the two sides produce a good game – and that we come out the victors.”

Chester progressed to the semi-final’s of the President’s Cup following last night’s 3-0 success at AFC Fylde. Goals from Iain Howard (pictured), Kyle Wilson and Robbie Booth helped book an away semi-final tie against either Lancaster City or Curzon Ashton. Should the Blues play Lancaster the match will take place on Tuesday 22 February, if they travel to Curzon Ashton the match will be the following night.

I delighted manager Neil Young said: “I think the last two performances were our best combined performances of the season. We will take some stopping if we continue to show the same appetite week in, week out. Fylde are one of the best sides we have played and they are going to be there or thereabouts, but if we look after ourselves we will win this league.”

After three successive away matches Chester are at home this Saturday when they entertain fifth placed Clitheroe. Young may consider giving a debut to 25-year-old loan signing Jason St Juste who joined this week from Garforth Town. Juste is a pacy left winger who has been traiing with the squad and is on loan until the end of the season.

Young said: “We had him involved in a behind closed doors match and I thought he did well. I’ve been looking for a left or right-sided winger for a while and I have enquired at one or two clubs about players, but the price was too high and I would be wanting Football League players for the prices thrown at us.”

A fourth hat-trick of the season by Michael Wilde gave Chester victory at Durham City on Saturday but manager Neil Young was full of praise for the entire squad after the Blues put the disappointment of the midweek Leigh display behind them.

The team stayed the night in Durham in preparation for the game, played on an artificial pitch, and the move paid dividends as victory, coupled with Chorley’s home draw with Witton Albion, saw the Blues extend their lead at the top to six points.

Goalkeeper Adam Judge was given a full debut and put in a solid performance that will have pleased the large 400+ away support that made the long journey north.

Young said: “The lads were fantastic from first minute to last. They went out there and did exactly what was asked of them and, when you’ve got a striker with the ability of Michael Wilde, if you keep the back door shut you will always have a chance.”

“Fair play to the club for financing this trip – the fans as well as it’s their money. We brought a big following up here so I’m just glad Durham will be lit up in blue and white this evening. It’s just a pity we couldn’t have got the club to get us another night here!”

“As there was considerable expense from the club, there was a little bit more pressure to do well. But to be fair to the lads they have all been spot-on, and the weekend has culminated in a fantastic performance.”

“Adam (Judge) is a hard working lad with great attitude and he deserves all the praise he got at Durham because he’s obviously waited for his chance and he probably thought the chance wouldn’t have arrived as soon as it did, but I’ve got great faith in him.

“His catching impressed me when he played against us for Leigh earlier this season and he is good at making a decision of when to punch or catch.”

A goal five minutes from time by Chris Simm ensured that Chester’s away league unbeaten run continued

“I didn’t give the players a chance to hold their hands up. I got after them and then walked out and let them argue between themselves.”

“Nobody likes losing games, nobody likes drawing games, but it happens and you accept it when your team gives it everything they have.”

“I don’t want to do them down too much as they’ve done very well this season, but maybe it’s the wake-up call they needed as let’s face it, the last two teams we’ve beaten are a 10-man Wakefield team and – without being disrespectful – a poor Ossett side.”

Young continued: “You can’t legislate for mistakes and Richard (Whiteside) made a howler for their goal. As I told him, I thought his concentration levels were woeful from the first minute.”

The Evo-Stik Executive Committee have announced that the Division One North league will be extended by five days to include the Bank Holiday Friday 29 April. All the games postponed last Saturday, and two other midweek matches, will now be played on that new date. This will see Chester finish their season at Garforth Town and not AFC Fylde.

The sad news was announced last night of the death of Richard Wightman, a popular board member at the football club. Richard passed away at the age of 33 following a serious illness. Richard, who supported the Blues all his life, was the Membership Officer with City Fans United and like many others, voluntarily gave his time and dedication to the cause and was instrumental with the setting up of our new club. A minute’s applause for Rich will be held at tomorrow night’s match at Leigh Genesis and at the next home match on 12 February against Clitheroe. Picture © Evening Leader