News from Deva Stadium April 2014

The 2-1 defeat at Grimsby Town on Saturday leaves Chester just a point above the drop zone. With Southport and Aldershot picking up points the Blues remain in 19th place, a point above Aldershot Town and Hereford United and two above Dartford. Oumare Tounkara opened the scoring for the Mariners on 15 minutes. A minute later Craig Hobson had an equaliser ruled out for offside. Aaron Chapman saved a Scott Nielson penalty to keep the scoreline at 1-0 at the break after a lacklustre opening period from the Blues. Substitute Andy Cook made it 2-0 with a close-range finish four minutes from time before James Caton pulled a goal back for Chester in stoppage time.

Manager Steve Burr said after the defeat: “We had a go but I was a bit disappointed with our first half because we gave Grimsby a bit too much respect. I said one or two words at half time and changed one or two things, and I couldn’t ask any more effort and commitment from the lads.

“I was obviously bitterly disappointed to lose. We knew it was always going to be a tough game. I thought we improved a lot in the second half and could have maybe got something out of the game. The only positive I can take out of the game is the fact that they had a go in the second half.”

Chester must prepare themselves for the visit of local rivals Wrexham on Saturday. The all-ticket match has a 12.00 kick-off. All of the other sides near the foot of the table play 24 hours earlier.

Remaining fixtures for our relegation rivals
Southport: Gateshead (A), FC Halifax Town (H), Welling United (A)
Aldershot Town: Salisbury City (H), Woking (A), Hereford United (H)
Hereford United: Tamworth (A), Alfreton Town (H), Aldershot Town (A)
Dartford: Braintree Town (A), Tamworth (H), Nuneaton Town (A)

• Latest table

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

11 April 2014
MIDWEEK RESULTS
With Dartford, Hereford United and Aldershot Town all picking up three points in the week, and Southport picking up a home point also, the fight to avoid relegation is looking like it may even go down to goal difference on the last day of the season. All five teams in contention for two relegation places have four matches left, Chester remain in 19th spot but have the worst goal difference (just) of the five.

Chester have a tough run-in starting with a trip to third placed Grimsby Town tomorrow. The Marriners lost 1-0 at Dartford last night having made ten changes to the side that dew 2-2 at home to Woking on Tuesday. The Blues will be without the suspended Matty Brown while striker Gareth Seddon is a doubt with a broken big toe.

• Latest table

10 April 2014
SKIPPER BACK IN TRAINING
George Horan is back in training after recovering from an ankle operation. He last played in the home Cheshire Senior Cup defeat against Macclesfield Town in mid February. Manager Steve Burr will check on the 32-year-old’s fitness before deciding whether he’ll be able to join the squad for Saturday’s tough away match at play-off chasing Grimsby Town.

7 April 2014
BAN FOR BROWN
Defender Matty Brown has been given a three match ban following his red card on Saturday, he will miss the matches against Grimsby Town Wrexham and Cambridge United.

BLUES HANG ON FOR THREE POINTS

Chester were left desperately hanging on for victory over Hyde on Saturday. The Blues held a 3-0 lead early in the second half with goals from Gareth Seddon, Craig Hobson and a Josh Brizzell own goal but gave away two needless free-kick’s on the edge of the box both of which were well converted by Adam Blakeman. In between these defender Matty Brown was given a straight red card for needlessly throwing the ball at an opponent and panic set in from then onwards as Hyde carved out two great chances to grab an equaliser including a missed header from three yards out and a stoppage time effort that was deflected wide.

The Blues could have taken the lead in the first 30 seconds with Seddon missing a one-on-one with the Hyde ‘keeper Kettings, but the striker made amends by opening the scoring on 15 minutes with a well executed lob over the ‘keeper. The lead was doubled on 23 minutes as Brizzell headed a through ball back over Kettings into his own net.

Hobson extended Chester’s lead five minutes after the restart heading home Rooney’s right wing cross and all seemed well before the nerve-racking last half hour. Andy Griffin was introduced for his debut on 65 minutes to add some experience to the defence who were looking far from comfortable as bottom-of-the-table Hyde pressed for a third.

But Chester survived the final period, with obligatory five extra minutes stoppage time to take advantage of slips by other teams in the relegation fight to move up to 18th. The team are not in action now until Saturday with a tough trip to third placed Grimsby Town. Fellow strugglers, Southport, Hereford United, Aldershot Town and Dartford are all in midweek action playing their games in hand over the Blues.

• Table after Hyde match

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

2 April 2014
ACADEMY OPEN DAY
The club’s youth academy are holding an open day at Deva Stadium this Sunday. This gives everyone the chance to see the academy teams play a full fixture against North West Elite Academy, a school for talented footballers. The matches start with the under 8 and 9 sides as 09.30hrs and will run through the day until the under 16s play the final match at 17.30hrs. Entrance to the occasion is free to all and there will be a raffle on the day to raise funds and a chance to win signed first team items.

RACE NIGHT
The club are holding a Race Night tomorrow night in the Blues Bar at 19.30hrs. Tickets are priced at £3.00. the organisers are looking for race event sponsors £100, individual race sponsors £25 and horse sponsors £5.

SPONSORED WALK
Before Saturday’s home match against hyde the CFU are holding another 5km sponsored walk. The walk starts from the ground at 11.00 and moves up Sealand Road, down Ferry Lane past the river and back to the ground. Registration is from 10.00hrs at the club.

Walking sponsored form | Non walking sponsored form

Last year’s walk raised over 35,000 for the club which was split between the Youth Development and a Wheelchair Supporter Viewing project.

WREXHAM TICKETS
The club have announced that tickets for the home game against Wrexham on Saturday 19 April (kick-off 12.00) will go on sale following the match against Hyde on Saturday.

Tickets are limited to two per person and a residency proof of ID must be shown at the time of purchase. Season Ticket holders do not need to purchase an extra ticket for the game but just present the relevant voucher from their season ticket book on the day of the match. After Saturday’s ticket sales, the club will be open for the purchase of tickets from 10.00 on Monday 7 April until 16.00hrs. Further opening dates will be announced after that when an idea or numbers of remaining tickets are known. No tickets will be sold after Thursday 17th April.

The club have put aside 50 tickets for the forthcoming Wrexham game for CFU Exiles members. If you are a CFU Exile (ie you are a member of CFU and live outside of a Chester or North Wales postcode area), then contact the club about making a postal application for a ticket.

They are allocating those Exiles tickets to members on a first-come-first-served basis. For more details ring the club on 01244 371376. You will need to get your application off ASAP.

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