A defensive mistake saw Chester concede a last minute
goal as Bangor grab a draw in the last home pre-season
friendly. Goals from Marc Williams and Nathan Jarman had
seen Chester come from behind to take a half-time lead
only to be denied the win with the last kick of the game.
Bangor included ex-Chester duo Chris
Simm and Liam Brownhill in their line-up but it was
Chester who had the earlier openings with Paul Linwood,
Marc Williams and Antoni Sarcevic all missing chances
of note and it was somewhat against the run of play
when the visitors took the lead ten minutes before half-time
through Chris Jones who found himself unmarked in the
box as the Blues defence were slow to clear from a long
Clive Williams throw-in.
Chester responded well and were level
within four minutes. A Matt McGinn shot was pushed away
by Bangor ‘keeper Lee Idzi but the ball fell invitingly
to Marc Williams who smashed it into the net from about
ten yards out.
On the stroke of half-time Chester
took the lead and Jarman picked up a header from Dave
Hankin before shrugging off a challenge and sending
a shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Wes Baynes hit the post with a free-kick
in the 52nd minute and Marc Williams saw an effort just
go wide as Chester looked to extend their lead in the
second period.
With the game moving into stoppage
time an under hit backpass from George Horan forced
John Danby into a quick clearance which only found Sion
Edwards who quickly crossed for substitute Dave Morley
to tap home the gifted equaliser.
Tuesday
7 August Chester
1 Fleetwood Town 1
Pre-season Friendly
Attendance: 666 Half Time 0-0
Booked: -.
Chester:
Fearon, Baynes (Higgins 74), Collins (Horan 74), Linwood
(Taylor 71), Clancy, Sarcevic, Powell (Hankin 71), Mackin,
McGinn, Blinkhorn (Jarman 57), Mukendi (M.Williams 57).
Sub not used: Danby. Fleetwood Town: Maxwell, McLaughlin,
Brown, Devine (Wynn 75), Crowther (J Allen 79), Branco,
Titchiner, Richard Allen, Milligan, Fowler, Goodall. Subs
not used: Smith, Peterson, Cartwright, Thewlis, Parker. Referee:
G.Johnson (Wigan).
Chester’s pre-season continued with a deserved home
draw against a Fleetwood Town X1. With manager Neil Young
hinting that another striker would be on the books for
the start of the season, two trialists Matthew Blinkhorn
and Vinny Mukendi were given a start in this match though
neither really impressed up front.
The
first threat in the game cane from the visitors as Richard
Allen broke through on goal but defender Paul Linwood,
playing agonist his former club, was on hand to make
a well time tackle. Mukendi sent a header with from
a Matty McGinn free-kick as Chester responded and fellow
trialist Blinkhorn was unable to take advantage of an
inch-perfect Wes Baynes cross.
Martin Fearon, in goal for the injured
John Danby, was caught off his line by Lee Fowler but
his attempted lob sailed over the bar. Minutes before
the break Michael Powell saw a glancing goalbound header
from a Antoni Sarcevic cross pushed away by Maxwell
in the Fleet goal
The opening goal came in the 57th
minute as ex-Chester loanee Alex Titchiner met a Richard
Allen cross to score past Fearon. Moments earlier Titchiner
had seen another shot on target blocked by Linwood.
Young introduced Nathan Jarman and
Mark Williams for Blinkhorn and Mukendi and Chester
began to look stronger up front and a third trialist,
ex-Everton youth player Ryan Higgins, came on as right
back. Levi Mackin forced a fine save from Maxwell and
Marc Williams posed a threat as Chester pressed for
an equaliser.
Four minutes form time Chester
drew level through midfielder Sean Clancy whose left
wing cross evaded everyone in the area including Maxwell
and nestled into the far corner of the net.
Saturday
4 August Chester
3 North Ferriby United 0
Peter Swales Challenge Shield
Attendance: 591 Half Time 0-0
Booked: -.
Chester:
Danby, Baynes, Taylor, Horan, McGinn, Hankin, A.Williams,
Sarcevic, Clancy (Powell 74), M.Williams, Proudlock (Jarman
56). Subs not used: Fearon, Mackin, Linwood. North Ferriby United: Nicklin, Gardner,
Ridley (Williams 82), King (Mobbs 74), Anderson, Bolder,
Clarke, Stevens (Taylor 78), Muldoon, Bradshaw, Kendall.
Sub not used: Pecora.
A second half hat-trick from Marc Williams secures another
piece of silverware for the Blues as Chester lift the
Peter Swales Challenge Shield.
The
two sides produced an largely uneventful opening half
though the Blues did have the ball in the net in the
opening five minutes but Marc Williams’ converted
from a Matty McGinn free kick only to be penalised for
a push on Chris Boulder.
Good work from Antoni Sarcevic put
Adam Proudlock through on goal after ten minutes but
his low effort was saved by Adam Nicklin in the visitors’
goal. A timely tackle from George Horan prevented a
goalbound shot as Ferriby countered midway through the
half.
Wes Baynes sent a volley wide and
Ashley Williams saw a long range effort deflected wide
before Nicklin was on hand to prevent Proudlock reaching
another through ball as the half ended in stalemate.
Soon after the restart the game burst
into life with two goals in three minutes as Chester
took control. Wes Baynes sent in an inswinging left
wing corner that Williams headed home from almost on
the goal line to break the deadlock. Three minutes later
and Williams was on hand again to score from close range
after the Ferriby defence had failed to clear another
Baynes corner.
Nathan Jarman, brought on to replace
Proudlock, should have put the game beyond doubt a minute
later but he blasted over. He did better with his next
chance though forcing a fine save from Nicklin before
heading the rebound over.
A minute into stoppage time
Williams grabbed his hat-trick steering the ball home
following Jarman’s inch perfect pass.
The
Blues were without five players as they suffered a three
goal defeat at neighbours Broughton. Dominic Collins,
Robbie Booth, Paul Linwood, Matty McGinn and Michael
Taylor all sat the game out with injury while George
Horan played despite carrying a knock.
Chester created several chances of
not throughout the opening half but a combination of
poor finishing and fine goalkeeping from Ben Chapman
contributed to the defeat.
Dave Hankin saw a goalbound effort
cleared from the line midway through the opening period
and Nathan Jarman saw an overhead kick fly just over
the bar before Chapman made the first of his saves to
deny Iain Howard. The home side took the lead in the
25th minute as Mike Hayes broke down the right before
crossing for Stephen Connor, who had a trial with Chester
recently, who had the simplest of tasks of slotting
the ball home past John Danby.
Jarman forced another save from Chapman
and the lively Dave Hankin sent a header just over the
bar. Horan and Michael Powell both saw efforts blocked
as Chester piled on the pressure for an equaliser but
a controversial penalty at the end of the period presented
Airbus with a second goal.
Danby did well to save an effort from
Hayes and as the two fought for the loose ball referee
Pratt pointed to the spot. Former Chester player Mark
Cadwallader converted the spot kick to give the Welsh
Premier League side a two goal advantage at the break.
Manager Neil Young made several changes
after the break. Jarman saw an effort headed off the
line and substitute Adam Proudlock tried to lob Chapman
only for the ‘keeper to save.
Ten minutes from time Airbus
added a third goal through Jack Lewis who fired home
form a Cadwallader pass. Chester continued to press
for a goal with both Proudlock and Jarman seeing chances
go begging.
Chester
got back to winning ways as goals from Nathan Jarman
and a beauty from Antoni Sarcevic brought a 2-1 victory
against an Aston Villa youth development side.
The Blues made a lively start and
visiting ‘keeper Calum Barrett made a fine save
to deny Dave Hankin in the opening minutes. Chester
enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening period without
carving out and real chances of note though Dominic
Collins forced a save following a Dave Hankin corner.
Hankin was on target again as he forcer a save from
Barrett following a speculative long range effort.
There was a scare for the hosts on
the half hour as Collins fell awkwardly and injured
a shoulder, the Blues were forced to substitute their
summer signing with Wes Baynes.
The visitors created two chances at
the end of the half and took the lead with the second
of these. John Danby saved well from Charlie Ward with
a minute to go but was unable to stop Michael Drennan
moments later scoring from six yards out to give the
Villains a half-time lead.
The Blues restored parity seven minutes
after the break as Jarman headed home from close range
after George Horan had headed Hankin’s free-kick
across goal.
Substitute Marc Williams almost grabbed
a second before Sarcevic duly obliged in the 68th minute
as he drove the ball home from fully 25 yards to find
the left corner and give Barrett no chance.
Following fine build-up play from
Marc Williams, Iain Howard saw a good effort crash back
from the post as Chester looked for a third goal. Jarman
and Sarcevic, again from long range, saw efforts go
wide as Chester held on for victory.
A
crowd of just over 1,700 saw Chester race into a two
goal lead with goals from Iain Howard and Marc Williams,
only to see the youthful visitors strike twice before
the break and grab what proved to be the winner soon
after.
It took the Blues just nine minutes
to open their account as Howard sent a left foot shot
past ‘keeper Tyrell Belford after neat build up
involving Marc Williams. Belfort produced a fine save
to deny striker Williams moments later but he was unable
to stop the striker doubling the lead six minutes before
the break as Howard set up the striker to score in the
top corner from 20 yards.
Although the home side had rarely
looked threatened in the opening period, they were stunned
by two goals from Michael Ngoo in four minutes just
before the interval. The first goal was a simple close
range tap-in, the second, two minutes before the break
was a smart left foot shot that beat John Danby.
Chester were punished again soon after
the break as substitute Jose Huertas Ortiz played a
one-two with Ngoo and raced through on goal to score
from six yards.
Manager Neil Young made a raft of
changes soon after and the Blues almost grabbed an equaliser
through Dominic Collins but the defender saw his header,
20 minutes from time, cleared off the line by Liverpool
skipper Connor Coady.
Picture
� Rick Matthews (Chester Leader) More
pictures
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Chester’s performance
Saturday
21 July Chester 0
Kilmarnock 1
Pre-season Friendly
Attendance: 1,099 Half Time 0-0
Booked: -.
A
goal from Matthew Kennedy 14 minutes from time brought
another pre-season defeat for the Blues though manager
Neil Young will have been pleased with his teams display
as Chester were twice denied a goal by the woodwork
in the opening period. Nathan Jarman and Dominic Collins
both had chances as Chester made a lively start against
the Scottish Cup holders.
Matty McGinn crashed a shot against
the bar following good build up play from Dave Hankin
and McGinn was denied again soon after by a good save
from Killie‘keeper Annsi Kaakkola.
Marc Williams had a couple of chances
to break the deadlock just before the break, a neat
through ball from Jarman fed Williams whose first time
shot his the post, the ball rebounded to the striker
but his second follow-up effort was blocked.
Both sides made substitutions after
the break as the full time team came more into the game.
Five minutes after the restart John Danby saved well
from Rory Boulding. A late challenge on Sean Clancy
caused a huge scuffle involving nearly all the outfield
players, Killie player Liam Kelly was later booked for
the foul.
The only goal of the game came in
the 74th minute as a mistake from Michael Taylor allowed
Kennedy a clear run on goal and his low shot into the
bottom corner gave Danby no chance.
Rate
Chester’s performance
Tuesday
17 July Chester 3
Southport 0
Pre-season Friendly
Attendance: 762 Half Time 0-0
Booked: -.
Three goals in the final ten minutes through Nathan Jarman,
Dave Hankin and George Horan gave Chester a deserved victory
over a Southport side that contained a number of trialists.
A crowd of 762 turned out for the first home friendly.
The Sandgrounders carved the first chance of note following
a mistake by Matty McGinn that allowed Ross Farran through
on goal but his effort was cleared off the line by Antoni
Sarcevic.
Chester began to settle and created a chance of their
own as Iain Howard shot over from 15 yards after good
build up play from trialist Cliff Moyo who impressed all
night.
Jarman and Hankin both
went close after the break, the latter seeing an effort
cleared from the line before the deadlock was finally
broken in the 80th minute as sarcevic found Jarman in
the area and he shot past Southport ‘keeper Matt
Nemes.
Five minutes later Chester doubled
their advantage as Hankin fired home past Nemes into
the bottom corner. Hankin also played a part in the
final goal three minutes from time, his cross found
Paul Linwood who nodded the ball back for Horan to head
home inside the six yard box.
Chester once again failed to find the net as hosts AFC
Fylde pulled off a 1-0 victory at a sunny Kellamergh Park.
The only goal of the game came in the 74th minute through
Michael Barnes. The Blues failed to create any chances
of note with a long range effort from Nathan Jarman their
only real attempt on target.
Manager Neil Young admitted after the game that the Blues
are lacking a threat up front. He told the Chester Chronicle:
“I wasn’t happy with the performance. I didn’t
think we had a goal threat and I don’t think we’ve
had a goal threat in either of the two games so far.”
“People will automatically point
to the forwards but I don’t think anyone can question
the application of Nathan Jarman in particular in both
games. We’ve got to play higher up the pitch but
it takes time to change and bring in new things as we’re
trying to keep the ball a little bit better.
“It wasn’t a good performance
and we did look ragged at times but you also have to remember
we did a double session yesterday.”
Chester drew 0-0 at Buckley Town as the pre-season campaign
got underway. Manager Neil Young fielded several of his
summer signings and there were four trialists on show
in Danny Tring, Tom Smith and Cliff Moyo who played in
defence and forward Stephen Connor. The Blues fielded
a almost different X1 in each half.
AWAY TIE FOR REPLAY WINNERS Should Chester win their replay, they have been handed an away tie in the Fourth Round Qualifying of the FA Cup at Scarborough Athletic.