Chester: Chapman (Danby 70), L.Turner, Killock, Brown, Heath, Rooney, Jarrett, Bond, Mahon (Menagh 87), Taylor (Reed 90), Seddon. Subs not used: Linwood, Mainwaring.
FC Halifax Town: Glennon, Bolton, Roberts, Ainge, McManus, Maynard, Lenighan (Jackson 45), Crowther (Smith 73), Marshall, Wilson, Gregory. Subs not used: Challinor, Worthington.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Liverpool).

A dramatic 95th minute winner from Jamie Menagh is a cue for wild scenes of celebration as Chester earn three vital points and move up two places to 19th.


Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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Macclesfield Town: Taylor, Connor, Andrew, Martin (Halls 7), Mackreth, Holroyd (Lewis 90), Winn, Williams, Boden (Fairhurst 86), Whitaker, Kay. Subs not used: Rowe, Gnahoua.
Chester: Danby, L.Turner, Horan (Kay 60), Linwood, Heath, Bond, Jarrett (Mahon 46), Rooney, Taylor, Seddon, Reed (Mainwaring 60). Subs not used: Fearon, G.Miller.
Referee: Paul Rees (Somerset).

Chester’s defence were made to pay for their inability to deal with crosses as Macclesfield came from behind to inflict defeat on the Blues. With Ross Killock missing through suspension manager Steve Burr made four changes to the side that were disappointingly beaten at home by Welling United on Saturday. Joe Heath, Gareth Seddon, Paul Linwood, Andrew Bond came in to replace Michael Kay, George Miller, the injured Kevin McIntyre and Killock.

The Blues got off to a great start taking the lead on 19 minutes after Seddon coolly converted a fine through ball from Matty Taylor giving Rhys Taylor no chance in the home goal. The lead lasted barely three minutes though, Scott Boden heading home past Danby following a Danny Andrew cross.

Within a minute it looked like Seddon had restored Chester’s advantage, pouncing on a loose ball after Rooney had seen a shot partially saved, only to see his ‘goal’ ruled out for offside by the linesman.

On 33 minutes The Silkmen took advantage of some more slack Chester defending to take the lead. Peter Winn sent over a free-kick which found the unmarked Steve Williams who headed home.

Chester, now chasing the game, came close as John Rooney flashed a shot just wide, and the Blues had the ball in the net again as Linwood headed home from a Rooney free-kick only for the linesman’s flag to deny the equaliser for offside.

The second half started with Craig Mahon replacing Jason Jarrett who had been booked in the opening minutes for a foul on Chris Holroyd. Jamie Reed headed over from twelve yards following another dangerous Rooney free-kick.

Macclesfield extended their advantage on 53 minutes as Holroyd headed home a Jack Mackreth right wing cross which the Blues defence failed to deal with. The home side were now on top, Holroyd steered a shot just wide and Scott Boden saw a goalbound effort effort deflected away by Linwood.

Burr made two changes bringing on new-signing Matty Mainwaring and Michael Kay replacing Reed and George Horan who looked to have taken a knock.

Seddon sent an effort wide in the closing stages before Rooney scored a great volley to set up a tense final five minutes. Chester pressed hard for the equaliser and it almost came in stoppage time but Seddon could only steer the ball over from six yards out following a cross from the right.


Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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Chester: Danby, Kay, Horan, Killock, L.Turner, McIntyre (Menagh 17), Jarrett, G.Miller (Bond 70), Reed (Seddon 57), Rooney, Taylor. Subs not used: Mahon, Fearon.
Welling United: Butcher, McLaren (J.Obersteller 33), Hudson, Bergqvist, Obersteller, Healy, Gallagher, Beautyman, Cornick (Guthrie 58), Lafayette, Sho-Silva (Ajala 62). Subs not used: Turner, Wakefield.
Referee: Darren England (South Yorkshire).

Expectations were high following Steve Burr’s arrival as manager. Back-to-back wins against Barnet and Woking had lifted the Blues out of the relegation zone. True, they had come back to earth with a bump at Forest Green but today City fans gathered thinking that Welling at home was a winnable game. The Wings had not read the script, however, and won comfortably in the end to dent Chester’s hopes of Conference survival.

The match was played in atrocious conditions with virtually no respite all afternoon from wind and rain. It was one of only four Conference fixtures to survive the elements and others were involved in the FA Trophy. Here, then was an opportunity to steal a march on the teams around us but sadly, City didn’t grasp it. The Blues were out-fought and out-muscled by a business-like opposition who are punching well above their part-time weight this season.

Welling pressed City high up the pitch and put the Blues’ defence under pressure. Kay seemed a strange selection at left back. Horan and Killock were forced to resort to getting rid of the ball quickly and often erroneously by the hard working visitors. Beautyman shot wide at the end of an attacking move. City seemed sluggish in their response as the Wings were quickest to the loose ball and knocked it about with greater pace.

McIntyre, started in left mid-field but took a knock in a robust tackle early on and was clearly struggling. Whilst a substitute was preparing, a deft ball over the top of City’s defence caught them flat-footed. Cornick latched on to the ball and bore down on a retreating Danby. The teenager, on loan from Bournmouth, scored his first goal for Welling with composure. Worse was to follow just before half time as another impressive loanee, Tobi Sho-Silva, signed the previous day from Charlton, hunted down Danby and robbed him of possession as he was trying to clear. The Welling forward squared it back for top-scorer Lafayette to stroke the ball into the unguarded net.

There seemed little way back into the game after this for City. Only Jarrett seemed to be competing on equal terms in midfield and all too often the Blues were second best and behind the pace. After the break City briefly contrived to exert some pressure but the wind was well and truly taken out of their sails when Healy was given time and space to drive a shot towards goal. His powerful effort was too much for a fully stretched Danby and City were undone.

Debutant Matt Taylor struck back almost immediately following good work by Jamie Menagh down the left. The control and emphatic finish by the Forest Green forward showed promise. And if Jason Jarrett had managed to convert a golden opportunity with twenty minutes to go City might have been able to redeem a point. Sadly for us Jarrett shinned his effort wide of the post and the momentum was lost.

Just to rub salt into the wounds, Killock picked up a second yellow card for tripping Guthrie as he beat a couple of defenders. Lewis Turner quickly followed him into the book for another rash challenge as a frustrating afternoon for City limped to a conclusion. Steve Burr has the difficult task of restoring confidence to the squad after this deflating defeat. A Cheshire derby with Macclesfield looms on Tuesday.

Colin Mansley


Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

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