Match reports from March 2026

Saturday 21 March
Chester 1 Southport 2
National League North
Attendance: 2,635 (295 Southport) Half-time 0-0
Booked: Croker, Woodthorpe, Shrimpton.

Chester: B.Jones, Woodthorpe, Weeks, T.Davies, Mottley-Henry, Shrimpton, Leigh (Bainbridge 90), Carson, Croker (Leak 76), Rosenblatt (S.Burgess 46), F.Roberts (Peers 69). Subs not used: B.Davies, Kellly.
Southport: Renshaw, Lavelle,, Moore, Hope (Sze 58), McKenzie (Slew 58), Gnahoua (Lloyd 72), Keane, Hilton (Woltman 65), Burgess (Dwyer 65), Minihan, Griffiths. Subs not used: Tabone, Miles.
Referee: Jack Churchill.

Chester concede twice in added time as they lose to Southport.

• League table after Southport defeat

Saturday 14 March
Kidderminster Harriers 1 Chester 1
National League North
Attendance: 3,029 (342 Chester) Half-time 0-0
Booked: Weeks, Carson.

Kidderminster Harriers: Dibble, Devine, Obi, Thompson (Morgan-Smith 80), Donnelly, Foulkes, Evans, Davis, Cooper (Kandola 80), Reynolds, Bird. Subs not used: Clarke, Faakye, Walker, Sho-Silva, Minaker.
Chester: B.Jones, Woodthorpe, Weeks, T.Davies, Mottley-Henry, Shrimpton, Leigh, Carson, S.Burgess (Rosenblatt 73), Croker, F.Roberts (Peers 58). Subs not used: B.Davies, Leak, Deakin, Corbett, White.
Referee: Will Briers.

Chester earned a useful point in their unlikely late push for a play-off place at the home of one of those teams almost certain to get there.

In an Aggborough Stadium bathed in bright sunshine, both sides fought out a competitive first half and went into the break goal-less. Chester had coped well defensively as Harriers moved the ball about quickly and tried to get down the flanks. Weeks and Carson were booked fairly early after halting attacks with fouls. Ryley Reynolds was a lively danger down the left and got behind on one occasion but City were able to clear the cross. Recent signing Kieran Donnelly showed his frustration as he tossed the ball over his shoulder into the Chester crowd. The Blues held their shape – three at the back and five across midfield, with Tom Davies marshalling the back line superbly.

As the Blues grew in confidence they began to threaten. Scott Burgess had the first shot on target which Dibble managed to scramble away for a corner. Harriers left three forwards up for the set piece – a ploy they have been putting into practice recently – and when they managed to clear they broke quickly. City got back swiftly to cover and Thompson’s shot from the right was wastefully over the bar.

A stumble by Cooper allowed Fin Roberts to bear down on the penalty area. He squared to Weeks whose shot was blocked by Obi’s outstretched leg.

Chester came out with more attacking intent after half time. Weeks fizzed a cross through everyone in the six yard area. Burgess brought a full-stretch save out of Dibble and Leigh finished a good move with a mis-hit shot. Earlier Jones had had to be alert to save from Devine as he burst through. Thompson’s shot was comfortably saved by Jones. It was Harriers who took the lead when Weeks fell under pressure and Cooper picked up the loose ball to lash home a shot from distance into the top corner of the net.

The home side had their tails up and Donnelly found room on the right to shoot from a narrow angle but Jones managed to deflect it away with his foot.

Oskar Rosenblatt came off the bench for Scott Burgess and Shrimpton moved to a more central role from wing back. Within minutes the on-fire midfielder scored his eighth goal in nine games when he exchanged passes with Peers, carried the ball forward and shot past Dibble into the corner. Both sides then pushed for a decider in the last quarter of an hour but had to settle for a draw.

City have claimed a creditable seven points from the last three games – two of them on difficult away trips – a solid start to Connell Rawlinson’s caretaker role in charge. The play-offs are still a distant hope but not inconceivable.

Colin Mansley

• League table after Kidderminster draw

Tuesday 10 March
Merthyr Town 1 Chester 2
National League North
Attendance: 1,104 Half-time 1-1
Booked: T.Davies.

Merthyr Town: Cogman, Ryan-Phillips, Handley, John (K.Evans 74), Xavier-Jones (Maddox 59), Twamley, J.Evans, Harros, Cox (Rai 68), Williams, Lucas. Subs not used: Dennis, Bourne, Caswell.
Chester: B.Jones, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Leak, T.Davies, Murray, Mottley-Henry, Shrimpton, Leigh (S.Burgess 75), Carson, F.Roberts (Rosenblatt 81). Subs not used: B.Davies, Croker, I.Burgess, Corbett, White.
Referee: S.Ouchene.

Another last gasp winner as Dylan Mottley-Henry heads home in the 97th minute!

• League table after Merthyr victory

Saturday 7 March
Chester 2 Darlington 1
National League North
Attendance: 2,437 Half-time 1-1
Booked: Weeks, Woodthorpe, Mottlry-Henry.

Chester: B.Jones, Woodthorpe, Weeks, T.Davies, Mottley-Henry, Kelly (Carson 62), Shrimpton, Leigh (S.Burgess 86), Woods (Corbett 90+5), K.Roberts, F.Roberts (Murray 68). Subs not used: B.Davies, Leak, Croker.
Darlington: Watson, Barrow, Platt, Lees, Forbess, Maskell (Lowes 85), Main, McGowan, Rutledge, Griffiths (Howells 55), Tweedy (Hedley 80). Subs not used: McGrath, Myers-Smith, Barton.
Referee: Jason Porter.

Fin Shrimpton struck a dramatic late winner as the game extended to the added time of added time. It was an exhilarating climax to an entertaining match, a joyful footnote to Kev Roberts’ fine career and a first win for Connell Rawlinson as interim manager.

All Chester eyes were on the starting line-up to see what changes the new manager would make to the team. Woodthorpe, Kelly, Tom Davies and Kevin Roberts lined up across the back with Leigh Shrimpton, Weeks and Woods all in midfield and Fin Roberts and Dylan Mottley-Henry in attack. The Blues had a fluidity about them going forward and began taking to game to the visitors. Soon they were ahead as they played out under intense pressure from the back. Weeks turned Leigh’s hopeful clearance into a good one and set Connor Woods forward. He then found Mottley-Henry who ran at the defence and fed Woods with a return pass. Woods’ low shot was parried by Rory Watson but followed up by Mottley-Henry to crash the ball past him for the opener.

The Blues put the Quakers under pressure for a considerable spell Kev Roberts had an effort cleared off the line; Fin Roberts saw his shot blocked by the keeper and Kelly’s shot was turned over the bar by Watson. They broke with speed tool and from a Darlington set-piece Leigh ended a swift counter attack by shootng narrowly wide of the far post.

Darlington recovered some composure before half time (After the ubiquitous time-out as the keeper sat down for treatment) but still trailed at the break. Chester nearly doubled the lead straight after when Davies crashed a shot against the bar following a corner. Then Darlington asserted themselves more and established control of the ball for long spells. They equalised after two corners in quick succession when Lees headed home a looping corner from the left.

It also shortly followed Michael Kelly having to go off through injury, Hayden Carson – returning to Chester on loan – replaced him. A significant change for the visitors preceded the goal when Max Howells was introduced to the action. His energy and speed of passing gave the Quakers a higher intensity. Connell Rawlinson responded by changing Chester’s shape to 4-3-3 which gave them a greater purchase on the game – though as it neared the final stages the play became end to end as both sides went for the win.

Aidan Rutledge brought a great save out of Bobby Jones following Howells’ assist. Then City thought they had regained the lead when Shrimpton turned in Leigh’s cross from the left. The linesman’s flag was raised, however – presumably because he thought the ball had crossed the goal-line before the cross.

Next Darlo came forward but a timely intervention by Tom Davies set Chester on the counter. Murray (on for Fin Roberts ) carried it forward to Shrimpton on the right who invited Mottley-Henry to run through and shoot but he was just unable to get it past the onrushing Watson.

Seven minutes stoppage time was added. Weeks floated a free kick from the right into the box. Mottley-Henry rose to meet it but his header was straight at Watson. Further injuries occurred to Lees, the Darlo goalscorer and Woods after a crunching tackle both were substituted. As the clock ticked past the allotted minimum seven minutes, Woods’ replacement Scott Burgess played a one-two with Murray and placed a shot towards the far post. It was stopped by Watson but fell loose for Shrimpton to scoop it past a defender on the goal-line for the latest of winners.

There was still time for Darlington to come forward for one last chance – only for Kev Roberts (Who else?) to head away and then throw himself in front of a Darlington forward poised to shot. The final whistle blew and Kev was able to take his last bow - as man of the match. Plenty remained to wish him well and applaud the team off as a Chester legend went down the tunnel after his final game.

Colin Mansley

• League table after Darlington victory

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