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NEWS FROM DEVA STADIUM 2013

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OCTOBER
28 October 2013
MILLS DEPARTS DEVA

Striker Ben Mills has left Chester and joined Conference North side Brackley Town. Mills joined Chester on-loan from Macclesfield Town on 17 August 2012 and proved an instant success scoring in his second appearance as a substitute in a 1-0 victory over Workington. He went on to score eight more goals in the following five matches including a treble against Guiseley.

An initial deal to sign the striker on a permanent basis fell through but following negotiations Mills signed on 23 November. He went on to make 19+13 appearances for the club scoring 13 goals.

Mills told the Chester Leader: “I’ve known for a number of weeks that I was not part of the gaffer’s plans and the situation had dragged on long enough so I thought it was best to get away and play elsewhere. It was the gaffer’s decision to cancel my contract, but I knew the score because my contract at Chester was due to finish at the end of this season.”

“My progress at Chester wasn’t helped by the injury I picked up at the end of last season during my loan spell at Altrincham, but I told the gaffer that I would work hard to get myself fit and prove my worth. Since the summer I have not really made an impact and, although I thought I played well against Forest Green Rovers, I haven’t been ripping up any trees like the gaffer wanted.”

“It was the manager’s decision to cancel my contract because he wants to bring in players, but I am leaving Chester with a heavy heart.”

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)
CHESTER CRASH OUT OF THE CUP
Chester were knocked out of the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying stage on Saturday when they suffered a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Gateshead in front of 1,659 fans.

The only goal of the game, a well taken effort by Heed defender James Curtis, came 16 minutes from time. The Blues created a few half chances and new on-loan signing Ross Killock almost capped a solid home debut with a late equaliser only to see his well taken far post downward header saved on the line by Adam Bartlett.

Defender Danny Higginbotham played as a forward in the dying minutes as Chester looked to take the tie to a replay but the visitors held firm for the prize money and their reward of a first round match at League Two table toppers Oxford United.


Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

25 October 2013
KILLOCK SIGNS ON LOAN

Chester have signed 19-year-old Leeds United defender Ross Killock on a one month loan. The player will be available to play in the FA Cup on Saturday. Killock made 14 appearances for Alfreton Town last season before joining the Elland Road club.
23 October 2013
CFU AGM

The City Fans United 2013 Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday 28 November in the Blues Bar at Deva Stadium starting at 19.30hrs. Members will need their membership card to gain entry on the night.
21 October 2013
YOUNG BLASTS SHOCKING PERFORMANCE
Manager Neil Young apologised to the Blues supporters who travelled to watch Saturday’s dismal 3-0 defeat at Braintree Town. Around 200 Chester fans made the trip to the Amlin Stadium to see Chester go two goals down after just six minutes! On-loan AFC Wimbledon striker Charlie Strutton bagging a brace against some shoddy Blues defending. Dean Wells added a third goal in the 29th minute to wrap up the points for the Essex side who moved fourth in the table following their victory.

Chester remain third from bottom and will be without Paul Linwood and Lee Pugh for Saturday’s FA Cup Fourth Qualifying round match against Gateshead after they were both sent-off in the second half.

Young told the Chester leader: “It was a shocking performance and the first thing I’d like to do is apologise to all our supporters who travelled down to Braintree to see the load of rubbish that I have had to watch. It was an embarrassment to be fair and I told the players after the match that I can try and be as transparent as I want, but we’re 16 games in now and we’ve still got the same defensive frailties as we had at Salisbury.”

“When teams play direct to big forwards and win second balls and play in the final third we always struggle. We’re now top of the discipline league and that is not good enough and our league position doesn’t look good - that's not a good mix so I've got to do something about it. I didn’t think Paul Linwood should have been sent off - and although we were shocking I didn’t think the referee was much better because it was too much about himself. But Pughy’s was a disgraceful tackle and he will be dealt with.”

“We can't just keep going on like this because we're not good enough often enough and that needs to change.”

Table after Braintree match | More pictures

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)
SUSPENSIONS
Both Paul Linwood and Lee Pugh will miss Saturday’s FA Cup Fourth Qualifying round match against Gateshead following Saturday’s red cards. Linwood has been suspended for one match and Pugh for three.

18 October 2013
CFU MEETING
Rather short notice, but there will be a CFU consultation meeting on Monday 21 October in the Blues Bar (19.30hrs) to discuss the recently produced report that recommends changes in the structure of City Fans United and Chester FC. A number of CFU member volunteers came forward to sit on a Working Group that was joined by James Mathie, a Development Manager from Supporters Direct. The Working Group report, has been discussed at board level and they have agreed to the recommendations about the legal structure of the Club. The Board now wants to put a Motion to the 2013 AGM seeking the full support and agreement of CFU members for the recommendations to allow them to be put into practice.

More details
15 October 2013
FRIENDLY DEFEAT
The Blues were beaten 2-1 at home last night in a friendly against AFC Telford United in front of a crowd of 108. The game was 0-0 at the break before goals from Sean Cooke and a penalty from ex-Blue Tony Gray gave the Bucks a two goal advantage. Lewis Turner pulled a goal back for Chester on 62 minutes but Telford held on for victory.

Chester: Fearon, L.Turner, Kay, Heath, Linwood, Higginbotham, N.Turner, A.Williams, Miller, Seddon, Atkinson. Subs: Harrison, Reed, Peers, Horan, Pugh, Hillman (triallist).

14 October 2013
FA CUP DRAW
Chester have been drawn at home to fellow Conference Premier side Gateshead in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. The match is due to take place on Saturday 26 October. The two sides met in the league last month in the north east with The Heed winning 3-2.

Manager Neil Young said: “I think we should have won our game at Gateshead, but their manager Gary Mills has a great record, and it should be a good tie. I’m really looking forward to the cup tie because the £12,500 prize money is significant for us and the chance to progress to the first round against a Football League club is a big pull.”

BLUES HOLD LEADERS
Chester held league leaders Cambridge United to a goalless draw at Deva Stadium on Saturday. The point leaves the Blues third from bottom but extends their unbeaten run to three games having picked up five points in seven days. The visitors, who are unbeaten this season, missed the best chance of the game from the penalty six minutes before half-time, given after George Horan had upended Harrison Dunk in the box, but Kwesi Appiah sent his spot-kick well wide to the delight of the Blues fans behind John Danby’s goal.

Table after Cambridge match

9 October 2013
REED GOAL SEALS GREAT WIN
Jamie Reed scored his first goal for the club last night as his header from Lewis Turner’s cross brought Chester their second away victory of the season.

The home side were unbeaten before last night but the Blues continued where they left off on Saturday turning in a battling performance and opened the scoring, against the run of play, in the 34th minute.

With Danny Higginbotham injured, George Horan partnered Paul Linwood in the defence that stood solid all night. Craig Lindfield almost added a second after the break as the home side pressed for the equaliser.

It was a good night for many of the sides at the wrong end of the table. The victory keeps Chester third from bottom, two points adrift from the relegation zone.

Chester entertain runaway leaders Cambridge United at Deva Stadium on Saturday, kick-off 15.00hrs. The U’s are unbeaten this season having won ten and drawn four of their opening 14 matches this season.

Table after Alfreton match | More pictures

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)

TELFORD FRIENDLY
Chester have arranged a home friendly against AFC Telford United next Tuesday 15 October, kick-off 19.00hrs. Just the main East stand will be open on the night with admission set at £5.00 for adults and free for under 16’s. Telford currently boast four of last years Chester side in their squad, Tony Gray, Matty McGinn, Wes Baynes, and Sean Clancy.

7 October 2013
BLUES BATTLE FOR A POINT
Chester and Kidderminster Harriers fought out a goalless draw in their second meeting of the season. The Blues were beaten 3-1 at Aggborough in August, but put up a much better showing against their high-flying opponents and thoroughly deserved their point. Both George Horan and Gareth Seddon sat out the game with injuries as manager Neil Young made four changes from the side beaten 2-1 at The Shay last weekend.

Although chances were at a premium Chester had plenty of possession in the opening period. Both Jamie Reed and Alex Titchiner saw efforts saved by Nathan Vaughan in the Harriers goal.

Titchiner had a great chance to open the scoring after the break but hit the bar with an angled shot. The Blues didn't have it all their own way but ex-Harrier John Danby coped with everything that was asked of him as the visitors stepped up the pressure as the game wore on.

Kidderminster thought they snatched a late winner as Kyle Storer was first to react to fire home a loose ball following a Danby save but the Blues were rescued by the raised offside flag of the assistant referee.

Manager Neil Young was delighted with his teams effort, he told the Chester Leader: “I thought we were excellent from the first minute to the last against an excellent Kidderminster side.”

“People have got to remember what a good team Kidderminster are - they were third in the table before Saturday’s match and they were joint top last year - and on chances I thought we probably deserved to win. But I think I must have run over a few black cats, or members of my staff have.”

“Alex Titchiner had four good goal scoring chances and he was gutted he didn’t open his account. He had a good chance in the first half but because he is lacking a bit of confidence he didn’t take it on and finish. Once we got to grips with Kidderminster I thought Jamie Reed, Alex and Craig Lindfield were very good.”

Table after Kidderminster match | More pictures

Picture © Rick Matthews (Chester Leader)
3 October 2013
ATKINSON JOINS FOR A MONTH
Cammell Laird striker Jon Atkinson has joined Chester for a month. Atkinson played in a training game against Connahs Quay Nomads on Tuesday night and scored in the 3-3 draw.
MAHON OUT ON LOAN
Craig Mahon has joined AFC Fylde on loan. The midfielder has made just 2+3 appearances since joining Chester in the summer from Vauxhall Motors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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