This
was a well earned draw at the league leaders for the Blues
who could easily have come away with all three points.
Chester, with several players sidelined through injury,
kept the home side at bay and it wasn't until the 22nd
minute when they had their first effort as Josh O’Keefe’s
header from a corner was cleared off the line by the Blues
defence.
As the half wore on Chester, with Craig Mahon pulling
the strings in midfield, began to get a foothold in the
game. Mahon saw an effort from the edge of the box fizz
over the bar.
Seven minutes into the second period the Blues almost
grabbed the lead. A foul on Matty Hughes saw the Blues
awarded a free kick on the edge of the box that fell to
Jon Moran who headed over from six yards.
Twelve minutes from time substitute Deane Smalley brought
out a great save from Matt Unwin in the Magpies goal,
who tipped his close range effort round the post. Smalley
was in the action again minutes later sending a looping
header over Unwin and just over the bar.
That was to be the last real action as Chester held out
and end Chorley’s 100% home record this season.
Saturday
22 September Chester
4 City of Liverpool 0 FA Cup Second Qualifying Round
Attendance: 1,806 (422 City of Liverpool) Half Time: 2-0
Booked: Noble.
Chester: Shenton, Moran (Thomson 73),
Livesey, Howson, Grand, Stopforth, Roberts (Noble 30),
Pritchard, Murray, Mahon, Hughes (Marsh-Hughes 73). Subs
not used: King, Crilly, Jones, Cottrell. City of Liverpool: Ashcroft, Denson,
Dalton, Williams, Foy, McGrath, Clair, Holt, Hazlehurst
(Pepper 77), McDonald (Forbes), Peterson (Cairns 57).
Subs not used: Hajdari, Wilkinson, Robinson, Sandsbury-Maddox. Referee: Adam Herczeg.
Two
goals late in the first half from John Pritchard set the
Blues up for a victory that was sealed after the break
by Iwan Murray and Cain Noble.
The visitors, from the North West Counties League Premier
Division, started brightly though it was the Blues with
the first chance that saw Steve Howson head just over
from a corner.
Chester were forced into a change midway through the opening
period with Cain Noble replacing the injured Gary Roberts,
who limped off. Noble was straight into the action seeing
a shot tipped over by Ben Ashcroft in the Purps goal.
Two minutes before half time Chester took the lead with
Pritchard running through onto Jon Moran's through ball
before slotting the ball past the advancing Ashcroft.
And with the opening period about to end, Pritchard went
on a mazy run through the Purps defence before chipping
a shot over the onrushing Ashcroft to double the lead
with the last action of the half.
Chester continued the pressure after the break with Noble
wasting a great chance from ten yards, but Chester were
to seal the victory in the 71st minute as Murray was allowed
to turin in the area and fire a shot under Ashcroft for
his first senior goal.
Noble wrapped the game up in the final minute latching
onto a lose ball following a Craig Mahon effort to drive
the ball low past Ashcroft into the corner of the net.
Two
goals from Matty Hughes and an Anthony Dudley penalty
saw Chester end Kidderminster’s unbeaten start to
the season as Iwan Murray marked his full debut with a
man of the match performance.
Chester were forced into a late change with captain Scott
Burton pulling up injured in the pre-match warm-up, substitute
Murray making his debut as the replacement
On a rain soaked pitch Chester pushed from the start and
Simon Grand was unlucky to see a 30-yard volley fly just
past the post in the second minute. Just four minutes
later though the Blues got an early breakthrough as a
challenge by Joel Taylor on Murray saw refereeMichael Barlow pont to the penalty
spot, Dudley stepped up to convert the spot-kick past
Brandon Hall.
Harriers had a couple of half chances with Billy Daniels
firing wide from a good position but Chester, with the
tricky winger Murray causing problems, were unlucky to
see another angled Dudley effort miss the far post by
inches.
The last chance of the half fell to the visitors seven
minutes before the break as Ashley Chambers’ effort
on goal was blocked well by Danny Livesey.
Chester doubled their lead six minutes into the second
period as Matty Hughes prodded the ball home from Dan
Mooney’s in swinging corner.
Hughes almost added a third on 70 minutes as he forced
Hall into a smart save. Two minutes later Harriers pulled
a goal back from the penalty spot after Livesey was adjudged
to have handled in the area, Ed Williams sent Shenton
the wrong way from the spot.
Nine minutes from time Hughes sealed the three points
riding a challenge from defender James O’Connor
before shooting high into the net above Hall.
Saturday
15 September Boston
United 0 Chester 2
Conference National North
Attendance: 1,188 (100 Chester) Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Grand, Moran.
Boston United: Willis, Davies, Jackson,
Thanoj, Middleton, Qualter, Wright, Abbott, Rose (Ceesay
69), Walker, Arnold (Margetts 79). Subs not used: Wafula,
Marriott, Harris. Chester: Shenton, Howson, Livesey, Dominic
Smalley (Moran 46), Grand, Roberts, Burton (Hughes 35),
Stopforth, Mahon, Mooney (Jordan 88), Dudley. Subs not
used: Murray, Pritchard. Referee: Danny Livesey.
Chester
made two changes from the side held at home on Tuesday
with gary Roberts returning from suspension to midfield
and Danny Livesey back into the defence.
The hosts had the better of the opening period with Nathan
Arnold looking dangerous, and Nicky Walker twice going
close, first forcing a save from Grant Shenton then shooting
into the side netting.
Dan Mooney saw a long range effort saved by George Willis
in the Pilgrims goal as Chester looked to get into the
game. A knock to Dominic Smalley meant a forced change
at half-time with Jon Moran coming on as substitute.
Six minutes after the restart
Chester took the lead as Steve Howson met Mooney's corner
to head home past Willis. The goal spurred Chester, Craig
Mahon headed over a Moran cross before the Blues doubled
their advantage on 59 minutes.
Mahon picked up a loose ball in the centre of the pitch
and threaded a pass through to Mooney who took it in his
stride and coolly scored past Willis.
Walker soon had the ball in the net for Boston but his
effort was ruled offside. The Blues had a penalty appeal
turned away as a mahon effort appeared to hit the arm
of a home player.
Chester withstood a lot of pressure in the final 15 minutes
but held on for another clean sheet and three vital points
from sixth placed Boston.
Tuesday
11 September Chester
0 FC United of Manchester 0
Conference National North
Attendance: 2,045 Half Time: 0-0
Booked: Dudley.
Chester: Shenton, Dominic Smalley, Grand,
Howson, Burton, Moran, Mooney (Jordan 71), Stopforth,
Dudley, Hughes, Mahon (Pritchard 71). Subs not used: Roberts,
Livesey, Thomson. FC United of Manchester: Carnell, Tattum,
Thompson, Baird, Priestley, O’Halloran, Jones, Kay,
Mansell (Dickinson 68), Willoughby, Donohue (Crawford
90). Subs not used: Banister, Litchfield, Logan. Referee: Steve Copeland.
Chester
missed the opportunity to climb the table as they were
held at home by bottom of the league side FC United of
Manchester on a frustrating night.
The Blues started brightly. Jon Moran heading over a Dan
Mooney corner after five minutes before Anthony Dudley
forced a fine save from David Carnell as he sent in an
angled shot on target.
Kurt Willoughby had the first chance for the visitors,
the pacy front man firing a shot inches wide of Grant
Shenton’s goal following a quick breakaway.
The Blues were finding it difficult to break through a
well organised United defence, with Dudley having the
only real chance ten minutes before the break but he scuffed
his shot straight into the hands of Carnell.
The visitors started the second half on the front foot
with Billy Priestley heading wide from a corner. Mooney
saw a shot flash wide and there were loud appeals for
a penalty as Craig Mahon was tackled by Priestley in the
box but referee Steve Copeland waved play-on.
Six minutes from time Matty Hughes dragged a shot wide
following a Dudley through ball and moments later John
Pritchard saw an effort go high over the bar as the Blues
had to settle for a point and a clean sheet.
A
goal from Craig Mahon, and two apiece for Dan Mooney
and Anthony Dudley, saw Chester win an entertaining
match with Bradford (Park Avenue).
It took just three minutes for the visitors to open
the scoring as Ben McKenna connected with Jake Beesley’s
cross to slide the ball past Grant Shenton in the home
goal. Within three minutes the Blues were level as Dan
Mooney was on hand to score from close range after good
approach work from Anthony Dudley.
Steven Drench made a fine save to deny Craig Mahon as
Chester pressed for a second goal. That goal came on
12 minutes from a break away as Mahon fed Simon Grand
and his accurate cross was headed home by Dudley to
put the home side ahead.
Gary Stopforth saw an effort loop onto the top of the
net before Chester added a third goal on 33 minutes
with a fine solo effort from Mahon.
Slack defending in the Blues defence
gifted Oli Johnson a great chance but the Avenue player
blazed his shot over the bar, however Beesley did find
the net to reduce the arrears as the game approached
half-time to end an amazing five goal opening period.
Bradford started the second half the brighter and equalised
on 52 minutes as Johnson converted from close range
after Shenton had partially saved from a corner.
Matty Hughes saw a curling effort hit the crossbar before
Chester restored their lead on 74 minutes, a through
ball from Mahon found Mooney who advanced to score under
Drench.
The three points were wrapped up in the 89th minute
when Dudley swept home a penalty following a foul on
substitute Luke Jordan.
Chester
left it late but Jon Moran's header in added time rescued
a point for the Blues who looked to be heading for a late
defeat at Nethernoor.
Danny Livesey, Matty Waters and John Pritchard all missed
the game through injury and managers Anthony Johnson and
bernard Morley brought in Steve
Howson, Dan Mooney and Moran as replacements against a
Guiseley side managed by ex-Blues boss Marcus Bignot.
Chester started well with Moran shooting over from a Gary
Stopforth cross in the early stages. There was a scare
at the other end as Rowan Liburd found himself free on
the edge of the six yard box but Grant Shenton managed
to save his weak effort.
Mooney forced a save low down by Joe Green as Chester
pushed for the opening goal, Matty Hughes and Anthony
Dudley also forced saves from Green and Dudley saw another
curling effort drift just wide before half-time.
It was the home side that started the second period stronger
with Kayode Odejayi heading a free-kick at Shenton in
the opening stages.
Moran almost opened the scoring on 70 minutes as his header
from a Craig mahon cross flashed just over the bar. Liburd
was again left in space inside the penalty area but wasted
a great opportunity for the hosts heading weakly at Shenton.
Two minutes from time the home side struck as a free kick
from former Blue Andy Halls was headed home at the far
post by Scott Garner.
But Chester weren't finished and as the game entered stoppage
time a long ball into the box was met by Moran who sent
a looping header over Green into the net.
With moments remaining Simon Grand was on hand to clear
off the line from Kaine Felix who had rounded Shenton
to preserve the vital point for the Blues.
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.