National League North
Attendance: 2,137 (27 Oxford) Half Time: 1-1
Booked: Weeks.

Chester: Wogan, Kelly-Evans, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Leak, Murray (Shrimpton 75), Mottley-Henry (Zanzala 89), Woods (P.Jones 58), S.Burgess, K.Roberts, Rawlinson. Subs not used: Barlow, J.Jones, Rosenblatt, F.Roberts.
Oxford City: Lewis, Roddy (Sturridge 85), Ashby, Johnson, Westendorf, Wiggett, Parker, Potter, Burroughs, Humphrey-Ewers (Scott 64), Daniel. Subs not used: Treml, Wilson, McEacheran, McDonnell.
Referee: Kavan Hurn.

After another mauling on the road on Saturday it was felt imperative for Chester to find a way to win against Oxford City. They duly obliged albeit with a stumble or two along the way. Cal McIntyre had apologised for the manner of Saturday’s defeat to league leaders South Shields and made changes to the starting line-up. Out went the Jones’s James and Pat, and the Fins, Shrimpton and Roberts whilst there were starts for Kelly-Evans, Mottley-Henry, Scott Burgess and a welcome return for Iwan Murray.

Untypically the Bank Holiday Monday was warming to 27 degrees, the sprinklers were much in evidence beforehand, blowing in the fresh breeze and the game was punctuated with water breaks for the players. Scott Burgess slotted into the centre of midfield and showed great composure on the ball, Weeks played more on the right and the ever-lively Murray on the left of the same department. Kev Roberts filled the Bainbridge-shaped void in front of the back four. Up front Mottley-Henry and Woods both proved a handful for the Oxford back line.
Mottley-Henry leapt like a salmon to meet Kelly-Evans’ cross from the right but directed his header wide of goal. Woods then broke through and cut inside to shoot only to see the ball parried away by Lewis. Chester maintained the pressure though, Kelly-Evans clipped a cross back in, Mottley-Henry headed down and Scott Burgess, holding off a defender, struck the ball in for his first goal for the Blues in his first league start.

Two minutes later Hoops’ midfielder Alfie Potter was dismissed after mis-controlling the ball and lunging after it with both feet - felling Declan Weeks in the process. Ironically the incident seemed to disturb the Blues’ rhythm more than it did Oxford’s. Parker and Weeks were booked minutes later in a tangle as the visitors looked to mete out retribution of their own. A mis-print in the programme implied that Hoops’ tall striker Westendorf was 4 years old. He proceeded to act like a toddler when penalised for handball. The referee patiently waited out his tantrum but when the Oxford targetman petulantly kicked the ball away after being given offside he too had to see the ref’s yellow card.

Westendorf had the last laugh of the first half as he chased a ball down the left and breezed through a couple of weak challenges before firing a shot on goal. Wogan got his hand behind it but not strongly enough to prevent it going into the net. Going in to the break with parity restored was not what most in the Deva were anticipating when Potter was sent off.

As the second half got underway Westendorf tried to repeat his steamrolling progress through the Chester defence. This time Wogan tipped his goal-bound effort round the post. After this wake-up call, Chester began to make their man advantage tell. The Blues moved the ball patiently down either wing and the chances began to appear. Mottley-Henry glanced Murray’s excellent cross wide when well placed. Murray himself snatched at a chance and put his shot over the bar. Weeks hit a shot on target only for Mottley-Henry to be in the way. Woods was booked for simulation when he went down in the box.

The final breakthrough occurred shortly after Woods was replaced by Pat jones on the hour mark. Jones made room for Murray to cross to the far post, a clearing header fell to Weeks who flicked it forward, Mottley-Henry helped it on and Woodthorpe stabbed the ball home for Chester’s second and what proved to be the winning goal – Woodthorpe’s first ever. Blues tried to make it more comfortable for themselves: Roberts stole in at a corner to head the ball against the post; Kelly-Evans dived spectacularly to meet another cross from the left but headed over.

Inevitably as Oxford stayed in the contest – fingernails were bitten around the Deva. The visitors continued to win free kicks in threatening areas but could not prise open the Blues’ back line led by an impressive Kev Roberts who was awarded man of the match.

Chester were glad to get another win under their belt as they return to the road next weekend travelling to Worksop on Saturday before a visit to another of the fancied early season favourites Fylde on Tuesday.

Picture © Rick Matthews

• Table after Oxford City victory

National League North
Attendance: 2,185 Half Time: 1-0
Booked: .

Chester: Wogan, Kelly-Evans (K.Roberts 80), Woodthorpe, Weeks, J.Jones, Bainbridge, Shrimpton, Woods, P.Jones (Mottley-Henry 62), Rawlinson, F.Roberts. Subs not used: Barlow, Leak, S.Burgess, Rosenblatt.
Curzon Ashton: Hawkins, Sobowale (Richards 46), Stafford, Poscha, Amado, Stokes (Connolly 90+4), Stobbs (C.Weston 80), Curran (Rodwell-Grant 90), McLean (T.Weston 67), Darby, Barton. Sub not used: Owen.
Referee: Jonathan Maskrey.

City returned to the Deva still smarting from defeat at Chorley at the weekend and keen to bounce back in the first game under lights this season. Ultimately they had to settle for the disappointing result of a 1-1 draw against Curzon Ashton who had drawn their opening two fixtures.

The Blues were under strength due to the continuing absence of Zanzala, Peers, Murray and Benjamin through injury but were boosted by the signing earlier in the day of Pat Jones, a forward with EFL experience released by Exeter City during the summer. Jones, a local lad, had struggled with injury for a couple of years but had been in talks with Calum McIntyre for a couple of weeks and went straight into the line-up this evening. He soon showed signs of his undoubted talent as he made headway down the left, giving the Nash right back Sobowale a torrid time. His pace made him difficult to deal with and he proved equally capable with both feet, firing a right footed shot wide of the posts and sending in a number of threatening crosses with the left.

Curzon began methodically but cautiously, passing across the back before trying to find wing backs on either flank. Occasionally they threatened to get behind City’s defence but mostly foundered on the Blues’ defensive shield. When City were able to hold on to the ball they built attacks with purpose. Woods ended one with a venomous shot from distance that Hawkins gathered. Shrimpton connected with Jones’ pass on the edge of the box and pirouetted to volley a looping shot which cannoned off the bar and back into play.

As half time approached the Blues’ pressure told. Claims for handball in the area as a shot came in were waved away by the referee but immediately as Roberts got hold of the ball he was felled by Chris Stokes and a penalty was awarded. Connor Woods scored from the spot with confidence and celebrated with cartwheel and back flip at the corner flag.

Sobowale who had been booked for hauling down Pat Jones in the first half was subbed at the break. Within a few minutes of the re-start the scores were level. A long goal kick was flicked round the corner by Curran and Stobbs ran on to clip a clever first time shot over Wogan to bounce into the empty goal. The equaliser took the wind out of Chester’s sails for a while. Pat Jones was replaced by Mottley-Henry as they sought to regain forward momentum. They began to find it in the last quarter of an hour or so; Woods cut in from the right but his shot was lacking power. A late Blues attack culminated in a superb run and cross from the right by Dylan Mottley-Henry. Bainbridge leapt majestically to aim his header towards goal but unfortunately straight at keeper Hawkins. That was in the last minute – what a winner it would have been.

The Blues had to be content with the draw and now face a testing Bank Holiday weekend with a trip to early leaders South Shields on Saturday before facing Oxford City at the Deva on Monday. Bainbridge begins his three match suspension after being sent off at Chorley to add to the lengthening list of those injured.

Picture © Rick Matthews

• Table after Curzon draw

Remarkably, this was the first time that Chester had begun a league season with a home fixture since 2018. Peterborough Sports have provided stubborn opposition in the past and today was no exception. Under the joint management of Luke Steel and Michael Gash they finished comfortably in mid-table last season and the current owner made noises about challenging at the top end of the table this time.

Blues took the field in their new predominantly blue strip whilst the visitors’ orange and black was matched by the junior team of the week from Broughton who formed the guard of honour. As Calum McIntyre had hinted, City were without Tom Peers who was injured in last Saturday’s friendly. Offrande Zanzala took the centre forward role flanked by Fin Roberts and Connor Woods.

A strong breeze blowing from east to west made ball control difficult to begin with – though its strength eased as the game went on. The first fifteen minutes saw lots of head tennis and midfield combat for the ball as both sides struggled to find their stride. Zanzala was effective at flicking the ball forward and, when he had the ball at his feet was not afraid to run directly at the Turbines’ defence. He was instrumental in giving City the lead when he picked up Fin Shrimpton’s pass, beat his man and then set up Fin Roberts to sidefoot the ball home.

City led thanks to a well-worked goal but two minutes later found the advantage wiped out as Peterborough scored the scruffiest of equalisers. The defence failed to deal with an awkwardly bouncing ball into the box and Dyer scuffed a shot into the ground which bounced and spun in off the post. A couple of Chester players claimed the striker had handled the ball on the way down – but their pleas were not upheld by the referee.

Zanzala saw his snap shot saved by Crook before another run towards goal was abruptly halted when Fryatt up-ended him, The Turbines’ defender was the first to be cautioned for the challenge which saw City’s forward have to leave the field after extensive treatment. He was replaced by Dylan Mottley Henry. Within five minutes of coming on the City sub nodded home Fin Shrimpton’s cross to give Chester the lead again. Once more it followed a flowing move involving Woods and Roberts too.

For a second time, though, Chester were guilty of switching off soon after taking the lead. They struggled to hold on to the ball in a series of tackles and were caught at sixes and sevens when Jarvis played a one two and found space to cross for Dyer, with Kelly-Evans in his slipstream, to sweep home a second equaliser. It was galling for the Blues who had worked hard to get their noses in front. Incredibly they might have snatched a third goal in first half stoppage time after a swift break saw Woodthorpe sprinting clear but he was unable to lift the ball over the advancing Crook.

On fifty three minutes the lively Mottley-Henry was fouled as he protected the ball on the right touchline. Weeks swung in the resultant free kick. Mottley-Henry wriggled free of the pack and found himself in glorious isolation to volley the ball in for Chester’s third.

Both sides pressed for more goals. Mottley Henry came closest of all as he ran the channels without tiring and rifled a shot against the foot of the post. A hat-trick would have crowned his man of the match performance as substitute but it was not to be. Scott Burgess replaced an injured Fin Roberts and went close himself with a trio of shots – all of them just wide of post and bar. The Turbines pushed forward too. Benjamin saved well from Jarvis and Gash nodded a corner wide when well placed at the far post. Bainbridge’s influence grew as the game went on and proved an effective shield in front of the back four.

Calum McIntyre though it was a typically chaotic opening match as both sides looked to gel into a pattern. Room for improvement then, but more importantly the result gives City a winning start to the season – their first in five years.

Colin Mansley


Picture © Rick Matthews