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AUGUST
Spennymoor
Town (H) | Curzon
Ashton (A) | Blyth
Spartans (A) | FC United of Manchester (H) | Kidderminster
Harriers (H) | AFC Telford United (A) | Hereford (H)Saturday
11 August Blyth Spartans 8 Chester 1 Conference National North
Attendance: 737 Half Time: 3-0
Booked: Hughes.
Sent-off: Roberts.
Chester followed up their opening day point with a deserved
victory at Curzon Ashton just two days later. Goals from
Simon Grand, Anthony Dudley and John Pritchard brought
the three points back from the Tameside Stadium.
The Blues, who had named an unchanged side from Saturday,
almost fell behind on 10 minutes as Cameron McJannet’s
through ball caught out the defence and found Chris Sharpe
who shot wide when a goal looked certain.
It was half way through the opening period before Chester
had their first real look at goal as Shaun Tuton’s
cross was cleared to Gary Stopworth who forced a save
from Cameron Mason in the home goal.
Chester took the lead from the resulting corner as Grand
headed home John Pritchard’s cross from close range.
The Blues soon doubled their lead as Gary Roberts, instrumental
in midfield, sent Dudley through on goal and the on-loan
striker gave Mason no chance.
The Blues maintained their lead at the break thanks to
a Grant Shenton save that denied Joe Guest two minutes
before the interval.
On the hour mark Chester added a third to wrap up the
points. Good work from Dudley set up Roberts and Dominic
Smalley whose cross was met by Pritchard, the ball hitting
the net via a deflection.
The points were shared as Chester and Spennymoor started
the season with a stalemate at the Deva. Chester had the
better of the first half but faded a little after the
break.
No fewer than ten new signings started for the Blues as
the new season under joint managers Anthony Johnson and
Bernard Morley got underway in front of a crowd of over
2,000. Scott Burton missed out through injury so Gary
Roberts took the captain’s armband.
After an early Dan Mooney strike drifted wide The Blues
forced the first real chance midway through the half as
Anthony Dudley split the visitors defence with a perfect
path to Mooney, he struggled to control the ball but found
Dudley who fired just wide from 20 yards.
Chester saw Gary Roberts curl a free-kick just over the
bar and Mooney again was in the action sending a shot
just over on the half hour as Chester pressed.
Ten minutes before the break Spennymoor almost took the
lead as Rob Ramshaw burst through only for his effort
that looked goalbound to be cleared by Danny Livesey for
a corner.
Minutes into
the second period Matthew Gould in the Spennymoor goal
did well to save a Shaun Tuton 20-yard effort, the same
striker saw another good effort fly just wide of the
post moments later.
At the other end, Glen Taylor forced a close range save
from Gary Shenton and Stephen Brogan chipped an effort
over the bar after latching on to a ball sent over the
top of the Chester defence.
Chances were coming at both ends as Dudley saw an effort
bounce back from the underside of the bar and with eight
minutes remaining Gould produced a top-class save to
deny John Pritchard whose effort was heading into the
top corner.
The last effort of the game came two minutes from time
as Dudley turned his marker to shoot low but straight
at Gould.
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MATCH OFF_70px.jpg)
THRASHED
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