News from Deva Stadium December 2018

11 December 2018
HONOURS EVEN AT STOCKPORT
Chester had to be content with a point from the match at Stockport County on Saturday. The Blues took the lead through man-of-the-moment Akwasi Asante who netted his fourth goal of the week on 33 minutes, before being pegged back on the stroke of half time through a controversial penalty after Deane Smalley was penalised for hand ball. Chester had appeals for a similar offence in the second half waved away by referee Adam Herczeg.

Joint manager Bernard Morley said after the match: “I've got to choose my words wisely here – I feel like we were robbed today. I’ve been managing for 10 years and it’s not often that I’ve said that, but it was a game of two halves. I felt the decision in the first half it was, from where I was stood, diabolical. Equally in the second half, he’s had the chance to, if you want to call it even it up, with what I believe is a stonewall penalty. I think he’s controlled it with his arm but he’s not given it.”

“We made two fouls in the game and he’s booked two of our players and they’ve made 15 or 16 fouls and he’s not booked a single one. I need to go back to the drawing board and see what the rules are, but I’m really frustrated and all I can say is we’ve been robbed today.”

Chester have the weekend off as it’s FA Trophy first round day, they are next in action when they host AFC Telford United on Saturday 22 December, kick-off 15.00hrs. Midfielder George Green is hoping to be available for selection at this match following his successful return to training following a back injury, Dan Mooney is also available after serving a one match suspension on Saturday.

7 December 2018
GREEN RECOVERY ALMOST COMPLETE
Midfielder George Green could be set to make his Chester debut before Christmas. The player who has been dogged with a back injury since signing from Nuneaton Borough in the summer, has resumed training with Chester.

Joint Manager Anthony Johnson said: “We had him ringfenced for the 15th (FA Trophy), he was unbelievable in training on Thursday night. Gary Roberts and Gary Stopforth – neither have played with him before – both came up and went ‘get him in the squad on Saturday’.”

“But we can’t rush it. He’s desperate and he’s chomping at the bit but what a football player this lad is. If we can get him and Scott Burton back at a similar time going into the second half of the season, the momentum we gain with a fully fit 16, 17, 18 man squad, we’ll be flying.”

3 December 2018
DREAM DEBUT FOR ASANTE
On-loan striker Akwasi Asante made a dream debut for the Blues on Saturday scoring a hat-trick as Chester beat Darlington 3-1 to move third in the league. Asante is the first player to score a hat-trick on debut since Stuart Rimmer back in 1985. Signed on loan only 24 hours earlier, the 26-year-old striker opened his account with a header on 27 minutes, his second came from his left foot on 49 minutes and the hat-trick was completed with a right foot shot 20 minutes later.

Chester played the last hour of the match with ten men after Dan Mooney was sent-off following a second yellow card, he will now be sidelined for the away match at Stockport County on Saturday.

Following the game the 26-year-old debutant said: “It’s a great feeling getting a perfect hat trick on your debut, I’m just happy we got the three points because we hadn’t won for five games.”

“I trained with the lads on Thursday night and did a bit of research by watching some clips on youtube to see who I was up against and who my teammates were and they are a great bunch of lads.”

“The way we play suits the way I play and I’m very happy and if I could do that every week I wonvt be here for long will I? I've not been playing much football lately but I look after myself off the pitch and I make sure I keep myself in tip-top condition in case of opportunities like today.”

“Chester is a very nice club. I’ve been here a few times and it’s a nice ground with nice fans and they shouldn’t really be in this league. Going in the bar after the game was amazing: they were all clapping and singing my name and I’ve never felt anything like it.”

• League table after Darlington match

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