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Elton
Vale (A) | Sheffield
Wednesday (H) | Clitheroe
(A) | Bury
AFC (H) | Northwich Victoria
(A) | Macclesfield
FC (A) | Radcliffe
(A) | Trafford
(A) | Fleetwood
Town (H) | Bolton
Wanderers (H) | Nantwich Town
(A)
Saturday
7 August
Nantwich Town 3 Chester 2
Pre-season friendly
Attendance: - Half Time: 1-1
Booked: -.
Nantwich Town: Terry, Bourne (T.Stair
67), Hatton (Devine 64), Langley, Harrison, Hughes, Webb
(J.Stair 53), Lawrie, Miller (Thompson 78), Cooke, Saunders
(Mwasile 64). Subs not used: Danquah, Edwards.
Chester: Gray, Trialist A (Oyibo 64),
Grand (Trialist B 83), Morgan, Weeks, Glendon, Johnston,
Hardy (Marsh-Hughes 76), Stephenson, Waring, Dudley. Subs
not used: Worsnop, Cartwright, Lowe.
Anthony Dudley misses a
late penalty as Chester, with a makeshift defence, lose
their final pre-season friendly at Nantwich Town.
Picture © Rick Matthews
Match
pictures
Wednesday
4 August
Chester 0 Bolton Wanderers 0
Pre-season friendly
Attendance: 612 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: -.
Chester: Gray, Morgan, Livesey (Roberts
78), Williams, Cowan, Glendon, Weeks, Hardy (Stephenson
63), Johnston (Marsh-Hughes 75), Dudley (Trialist 81),
Waring (Oyibo 63). Subs not used: Worsnop, Burke.
Bolton Wanderers: Gilks (Hutchinson 78),
Comley, Senior, Colvin, Conway, Tutte, Thomason (Tweedley
68), Crawford, Darcy (Wilcox 80), Politic (Henry 68),
Fitzmartin. Subs not used: Toure, Pettifer.
Chester’s
final home friendly against a Bolton Wanderers XI ended
goalless but was an absorbing watch. The Trotters, backed
by a fair following, included one or two experienced players
among their side including the veteran ‘keeper Matt
Gilks – who had helped revive their fortunes last
season – and Romanian midfielder Dennis Politic
– on the road to recovery after a year out with
a knee injury. There was, disappointingly, no return for
Antoni Sarcevic – so much revered at the Deva.
City kept a similar line-up from last Saturday but with
Waring starting instead of Stephenson. Waring it was who
set up the best opportunity of the first half when he
judged the bounce of the ball better than Comley and then
squared it for Dudley to burst clear. Chester’s
Lewandowski-look-alike seemed to have scored when he shot
past Gilks but the ball rebounded off the post and Bolton
were able to clear. Meanwhile Wanderers had moved the
ball round extremely quickly as they probed for an opening.
Gray had to save bravely and smartly at the feet of Thomason.
Blues forced a number of corners in the second half as
they exerted a greater degree of pressure. Williams was
wide with a header from one and Stephenson, on as a sub,
saw his snapshot hit Gilks and fizz over the bar. Weeks
also had efforts – one from distance as he saw Gilks
off his line – and another from a close angle into
the side netting when a cross might have been a better
option.
Both sides made a number of changes as the pace of the
game continued unrelentingly. Unlike competitive league
or cup games there was little to see in the way of gamesmanship
or time-wasting even if the lack of jeopardy blunted its
edge a bit. But with players on both sides wanting to
impress their managers there was no lack of skill or endeavour
to admire.
Bernard Morley spoke after the game about how pleased
he was that Chester kept their shape against full-time
opponents whose speed of movement and thought threatened
to overwhelm. City’s new signings continue to impress
– Cowan covered a lot of ground, both in attack
and defence; Oyibo and Stephenson came on for assured
cameos; Williams looks capable at the back. The midfield
trinity of Glendon, Weeks and Hardy combined effectively
and Johnston’s pace looked threatening. Overall
though this was another solid, disciplined and silky performance
from the Blues as they prepare for the new season a week
on Saturday.
Colin Mansley
Picture © Rick Matthews
Match
pictures
Saturday
31 July
Chester 3 Fleetwood Town 0
Pre-season friendly
Attendance: 422 Half Time: 1-0
Booked: -.
Chester: Gray, Morgan (Sloane 76), Livesey
(Burke 85), Williams, Cowan, Glendon (Lowe 85), Weeks
(Clarke 85), Hardy (Clark 70), Johnston (Oyibo 59), Dudley
(Marsh-Hughes 76), Stephenson (Waring 59).
Fleetwood Town: Crellin, Bird, Hayes
(Wallace 77), Boyle, Wilson, Teale, Johnston, Thompson
(Raffie 69), McMillan (Smith 77), Baggley (Edwards 77),
Conn-Clarke.
The Fleetwood Academy minibus in the car park gave a hint
that the first team were otherwise engaged for this fixture.
When Dudley scored a delightful goal after only five minutes
following his clever pivot and one-two with Hardy, it
looked like this might be an uneven match.
But the youthful visitors – a development squad
– grew into the game impressively and began to push
City back. Left wing back Hayes ended one move by blazing
narrowly over the bar – the ball ricocheting spectacularly
in one of the entrance tunnels. Then a precise and tantalising
pass lobbed over the defence set up a chance for Conn-Clarke
whose effort was blocked by Cowan’s last ditch tackle.
Chester were glad of the break at half-time but came back
renewed in energy. Johnston harried the Fleetwood defence
like a demented gnat and forced an error out of keeper
Crellin. His pass was under-hit and Johnston teed up Dudley
to burst through and pass to Hardy. The midfielder cut
back and beat the ‘keeper at the near post.
Following a flurry of substitutions Oyibe put a gloss
on the scoreline with tricky control on the right and
a cool finish across the goal. Oyibe’s every touch
seemed spot on and he later laid the ball back for Marsh-Hughes
to scuff his shot wide. Fleetwood continued to be a threat
with Baggley testing Gray with a long-rage effort and
then cutting behind the defence on the left to be denied
by the keeper’s parry.
In the end, then, a convincing win against a busy and
technically gifted young opposition. Both sides played
good possession football with precise passing. How much
this will resemble the slog and physicality of the National
League North in November remains to be seen – but
an enjoyable watch nonetheless.
Colin Mansley
Picture © Rick Matthews
Match
pictures | Watch
the goals (YouTube)
Tuesday
27 July
Trafford 4 Chester 3
Pre-season friendly
Attendance: - Half Time: 2-2
Booked: -.
Trafford: Cooper, Neild, Sloan, Graham,
O’Brien, Rooney, Belcher, Hughes, Hazeldine, Mulholland,
Morgan. Subs: Palma, Jordan, Barlow, Sheridan, Otaluna,
Burke, Bradshaw, Higginbottom, Bentley.
Chester: Gray (Worsnop 46), Roberts,
Livesey (Williams 65), Cowan (Clarke 77), Morgan, Weeks,
Glendon (Burke 77), Hardy (Lowe 77), Dudley (Marsh-Hughes
77), Oyibo (Clark 33), Waring (Stephenson 65).
Referee: B.Wyatt.
Two goals from George Waring and a third from Jamie Morgan
weren’t enough, as the Blues lost an entertaining
encounter 4-3 last night at Northern Premier League Division
One North side Trafford, who clinched their win with a
goal two minutes from time.
Picture © Rick Matthews
Match
pictures | Watch
the goals (YouTube)
Saturday
24 July
Radcliffe 1 Chester 2
Pre-season friendly
Attendance: - Half Time: 0-2
Booked: -.
Radcliffe: Belford, Trialist, Trialist,
Lenighan, Thornley, Jones, Hall, Crothers, Akpa-Akpro,
Grant, Orlando-Young. Subs: Nacarro, Sajjad, Trialist,
Carroll, Grogan, Ibrahim, Marshall.
Chester: Gray, Roberts, Cowan, Livesey,
Grand (Morgan 36), Glendon, Weeks, Hardy (Clark 65), Johnston
(Oyibo 65), Stephenson (Clarke 82), Dudley (Marsh-Hughes
82). Subs not used: Worsnop, Burke, Williams.
Referee: Alan Bennett.
Just
up the hill from where Sir Frank Worrell and Sir Garry
Sobers played cricket for Radliffe in the ‘fifties
and ‘sixties, the football team entertained Chester
for the second summer running. Last year City were turned
over by a useful outfit from the league below. This year,
however, Chester were well into their stride and overcame
some early pressure to dominate the first half. The Blues
went into the interval two goals to the good after Grand
had glanced home Weeks’ cross from a right-wing
corner routine and Stephenson scored with the deftest
of touches following Johnston’s burst of pace down
the right.
Chester’s football was a delight to watch at times
with Weeks, Glendon and Hardy combining well in midfield,
Roberts striking up a good understanding with Johnston
and Stephenson hugging the left touchline to good effect.
Stephenson might have scored a couple more in the first
half alone – seeing one shot cleared off the line
and then rounding the garishly attired Belford to fire
wide just after City’s second. Belford did well
to save at point blank range from Grand’s header.
Grand was withdrawn through injury after half an hour
or so and Roberts switched to left back as cover –
Morgan coming on at right wing back. Radcliffe made a
couple of changes themselves with Grogan replacing the
injured Jones and Omar Ibrahim coming on for Orlando-Young
who’d been run ragged by Johnston.
Blues tried to add to their tally in the second half with
Weeks going close and Hardy just failing to connect on
a couple of occasions. But it was The Borough who scored
the only goal of the second half when Gray’s wayward
throw ended up with Grant who chipped the stranded keeper.
Gray then made amends with a spectacular save from Thornley’s
header. At the other end Glendon cracked a free kick against
the corner of upright and bar with Belford beaten.
The injury to Grand aside, Chester will be pleased with
the way they withstood the testing encounter that Radcliffe
gave them on Bernard Morley’s old stamping ground.
They look to continue progress as they pit themselves
against League opposition in Fleetwood next weekend and
Bolton shortly after.
Colin Mansley
Picture © Rick Matthews
Match
pictures
Friday
23 July
Macclesfield FC 0 Chester 3
Pre-season friendly
Attendance: - Half Time: 0-2
Booked: -.
Macclesfield FC: Hodgson (Pierce 65),
Kennerley (Pemberton 65), Fregapane, Beck, Owen, Grimshaw,
Arnasalam (Nelson 80), Crofton (James 69), De Silva (Kennedy
65), Dwyer (Hanks 69), Whitaker. Subs not used: Dos Santos,
Yusuff, Doumbouya, Ajayi.
Chester: Gray, Heywood (Hughes 62), Burke,
Williams, Sloane, Cartwright, Lowe (Turner 62), Clark,
Marsh-Hughes (Oyibo 86), Waring, Clarke (Stephenson 86).
Subs not used: Worsnop, Glendon, Hardy, Cowan, Trialist.
Two goals in the opening twelve minutes from Ethan Cartwright,
and a third early in the second half from George Waring
give a youthful Chester side victory at North West Counties
Premier Division side Macclesfield FC.
Tuesday
20 July Northwich
Victoria 1 Chester 5
Pre-season friendly
Attendance: TBC Half Time: 0-1
Booked: -.
Northwich Victoria: Cheetham, Camozzi,
Fleming, Barski, Misambo, Sherlock, R.Winder, Clarke,
Birchall, J.Winder, Waller Subs: Lynch, Brew-Butler, Kelly,
Mather, Kouris, Wood, Banfore.
Chester: Gray (Worsnop 72), Morgan (Oyibo 46),
Williams (Roberts 46), Livesey (Williams 63), Grand (Burke
63), Cowan (Hardy 46), Weeks (Clarke 73), Glendon (Cowan
63), Clark (Johnston 46), Waring (Dudley 46), Stephenson
(Marsh-Hughes 56).
This
was a convincing win for the Blues over North West Counties
Football League Premier Division side Northwich Victoria
at a very hot Wincham Park. Declan Weeks opened the scoring
on 15 minutes giving ‘keeper Chris Cheetham no chance
from a shot for the edge of the box.
That was the only goal of the opening half but the Blues
added two further goals shortly after the restart with
Anthony Dudley converting a 48th minute penalty and John
Johnston adding a third six minutes later.
Vics pulled a goal back through Brady Lynch who reacted
first to a loose bal in the Chester box to score past
Louis Gray.
Two goals in a couple of minutes near the end saw Chester
wrap up the victory. First Lloyd Marsh-Hughes found the
net after a fine mazy solo run, and moments later, on
85 minutes, Dudley added his second following fine work
by James Hardy.
Saturday
17 July Chester 4
Bury AFC 2 Pre-season
friendly
Attendance: 437 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: -.
Chester: Gray, Roberts, Cowan (Livesey
46), Grand (Williams), Morgan (Trialist 52), Johnston
(Hardy 46), Glendon, Weeks (Clark 52), Oyibo (Burke 67),
Dudley (Marsh-Hughes 52), Stephenson (Waring 52).
Bury AFC: Atkinson (Wilczynski 83), Williams
(Trialist 85), Metcalf, Brazel, Hunt (Trialist 85), Ibrahim,
Golboy, Holt (Trialist D 46), Greaves (McWilliam 85),
Daniels (Downing 85), Hughes. Subs not used: Obasoto,
Trialist, Lent, Trialist.
An entertaining frieldly at a blisteringly hot Deva Stadium
sees Chester miss a penalty before eventually running
out 4-2 winners over Bury AFC. All the goals came in the
second half with George Glendon, Matty Williams, Harrison
Burke and James Hardy on target for the Blues.
Sunday
11 July Clitheroe
0 Chester 1 Pre-season
friendly
Attendance: 277 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: -.
Clitheroe: Thompson, Winnard (Burrows
46), Lonsdale, Smalley, Priestley (Pilkington 34), Turner
(Etherington 56), Cummings, Stopforth (Hunter 46), Gonzakles,
Wilkins (Bricknell 65), Adams. Subs not used: Whitworth,
Lynch.
Chester: Worsnop, Trialist B, Trialist
C, Burke, Williams, Sloane (Hughes 66), Cartwright, Lowe,
Marsh-Hughes, Clarke, Trialist D. Subs not used: Heywood,
Turner.
A second half goal from Ethan Cartwright gave a young
Chester side victory at Northern Premier League side Clitheroe.
Saturday
10 July Chester 0
Sheffield Wednesday 2
Pre-season friendly
Attendance: 721 Half Time: 0-1
Booked: -.
Chester: Gray, Cowan, Morgan (Marsh-Hughes
83), Weeks, Livesey (Williams 63), Grand (Burke 76), Clark
(Lowe 82), Hardy (Oyibo 66), Johnston (Trialist 63), Dudley
(Waring 63), Stephenson (Clarke 69).
Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson
(Wildsmith 46), Palmer (Dawodu 46), Dunkley (Galvin 67),
Hutchinson (Brennan 46), Börner (Trialist 36), Galvin
(Trialist 46), Bannan (Waldock 46), Green (Hagan 46),
Windass (Dele-Bashiru 46), Adeniran (Hunt 46), Paterson
(Adedoyin 46).
A good work out for Chester as a goal either side of the
break see The Owls claim victory in this pre-season friendly
as fans return to Deva Stadium.
Picture © Rick Matthews
Match
pictures
Saturday
3 July Elton Vale
0 Chester 6
Pre-season friendly
Attendance: - Half Time: 0-2
Booked: -.
Chester (First half):
Gray, Roberts, Cowan, Grand, Trialist, Johnston, Clark,
Glendon, Weeks, Oyibo, Dudley.
Chester (Second half): Gray, Morgan,
Burke, Sloane, Williams, Hardy, Cartwright, Lowe, Heywood,
Clarke, Marsh-Hughes.
There
were four goals on his debut for Zack Clarke as Chester’s
pre-season gets underway with a comprehensive victory
at Elton Vale.
The Blues opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute
as Declan Weeks was well placed to head home a Kevin Roberts
cross. The lead was doubled on 13 minutes as winger Jude
Oyibo, making his first start since signing from Curzon
Ashton, opened his Chester account with a simple tap-in
following good build-up play from John Johnston. It wasn't
all one-way traffic and the home side were unlucky to
see a curling shot come back off the crossbar just before
half time. Chester made a host
of changes at the break, in fact just Louis Gray played
the full 90 minutes. And it took one of those changes,
Clarke, just three minutes to find the new on his debut,
converting a James Hardy through ball. The same two
players combined to add Chester’s fourth goal
on 78 minutes.
Clarke capped a memorable display
by adding two more goals in the final six minutes, first
converting from a rebound after Ethan Cartwright’s
effort had been partially saved, and three minutes from
time slotting home a Cartwright pass.
Picture © Rick Matthews
Match
pictures
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