Blues secure away win at last!

Chester City finally got their first win away from the Deva Stadium, as they overcame a Gateshead side that included former Blue, Daryl Clare.


City's two new signings, Michael Coulson & Jonny Flynn both started the game, and Coulson went close to scoring on his debut, whilst Flynn will be happy to get off the mark with a clean sheet in his first game.

City's goal came through recent signing, Mark Beesley, who scored just over 10 minutes into the second half.

Despite plenty of shots coming in from Gateshead, the Blues held on for the first away win of the season, and completed the double over the Conference new boys, having beaten them 2-1 at the Deva in September.

City now lie 21 points from safety, as two of the other bottom four teams lost, Forest Green going down 5-2 at histon, and Ebbsfleet lost 2-0 at Chester's FA Cup opponents Barrow.

Hayes & Yeading surprised everyone with a 3-0 home win over promotion hopefuls Cambridge, and pull level on points with Grays, who lost 2-1 at Wrexham.

City will now turn their attentions to the FA Cup with Jimmy Harvey's men in action at Barrow, in the 4th Qualifying Round, where there will hope to come back with a result different to that of 2001, where Chester lost 1-0 to the Holker Street side.

But for now, let's celebrate Chester's win, which stretches their unbeaten away run to 7 games, just wish they could reproduce that kind of sequence at the Deva!

Chester City 2 Gateshead 1

For the first time in god knows how long, I finally managed to see the Blues win at home!

Due to other events taking place, I've missed the previous wins at home to Histon, and the Boxing Day 2008 win, which up to about 10 days ago, was the last time we'd won at home!

So, the Blues managed victory over Gateshead, but it has to be said, it was a dire game, one which did not set the pulse racing one bit - well okay, maybe just one bit when Nick Chadwick headed in the winner!

The game started well for City, with Gregg Blundell scoring from the spot for his second successive game, this after he'd been brought down in the penalty area by defender Jamie Curtis, who saw red for the challenge on 19 minutes.

It was a ball over the top of the defence that saw Blundell run onto and memories came flooding back of the Matthew Gilks incident against Rochdale a few years ago that saw a season-ruining injury for the City striker, but this time he held his nerve and rounded the keeper before being brought down.

So, with Gateshead down to 10 men, the crowd werre expectant, but City couldn't get a second goal in the remaining 25minutes of the first half.

In the second half, the Blues could have lost it, a match with very little atmosphere, and Gateshead growing in confidence with City seemingly giving the ball away at every opportunity, and big striker Armand One causing havoc amongst the Chester defence.

It was no surprise in truth when Gateshead got back on level terms, just six minutes into the second half, Christoph Ascherl lofting a ball through to Mike MacKay who made no mistake from the edge of the six yard box.

Plenty of stick followed from the crowd, who were beginning to voice their displeasure at Manager, Mick Wadsworth, for failing to get a grip of the game.

John Danby was the hero in the last 20 minutes as he produced three vital reaction saves to keep Chester in the game, and in between Nick Chadwick got his head on a cross from Neil Ashton to send the ball looping over Jim Provett in the Gateshead goal.

So, thanks to Blundell, Chadwick, and especially John Danby, City registered their second home victory of the campaign, and the Blues move on to -16 points, now 23 points away from safety at the foot of the BSP.

Manager, Mick Wadsworth, was delighted with the points but acknowledged that it perhaps wasn't best he has seen from his side this season.

Next up for the Blues is a home game against Stevenage Borough on Saturday, where Chester will bid to win successive games for the first time in 90 matches.

City get ready for Histon as Fabian leaves

Tomorrow, Chester will aim to net their first home win since Boxing Day 2008, yes it really has been that long since the Deva faithful witnessed their last home win.

It's Histon who stand in the way of that feat, and they'll be no easy pushovers, Histon being a big strong team who will no doubt cause an aerial threat to City's small team.

They haven't started as well as last season, where they chased play off glory, but they will certainly be difficult to play against, hopefully the lads can do the business and get some much needed points.

This is a BIG month for the Blues, as they have 4 out of the next 6 games at home, Histon, Tamworth, Gateshead & Stevenage, with the away games being at Eastbourne, before finishing off the month away to Wrexham in the first ever non league derby against the Goats.

So, can City now get on a run going into that game? Let's hope so.

Fingers crossed that we can do it.

Gregg Blundell may be given his first start since his return to injury, however it may be too soon for a return to action for Shaun Kelly. Anthony Barry is also in contention for a comeback.

One player who won't be coming back, is Fabian Yantorno, who has left by mutual consent, following the cancellation of his contract, the club have said that this is down to his injury problems - time will no doubt tell on that one.

Anyway come on you blues tomorrow!

Mannix & Harris Sacked

Chester City have terminated the contracts of both David Mannix & Jay Harris, who were involved in betting scandals last season.

The two former Accrington Stanley players have been given their marching orders, and will now face a battle to find other clubs to play for in the future once they have served their bans from the game.

Hopefully this means that Chester will now be able to strengthen the squad in key areas now, with 2 midfield places available in their absence.

City have signed centre back Chris Lynch and midfielder Adam Kay from Burnley arriving at the Deva in the new days also. Lynch, who is in his first year as a professional, stands at 6ft 3 and could fit in defence quite easily at present, considering it has shipped in 8 goals in it's first 2 games of the season, whilst Kay is in his second year in the game, and spent a spell at Accrington Stanley last season.

The two are expected to go straight into the squad that faces Luton Town at Kenilworth Road tomorrow afternoon.

Elsewhere, Chester have re-arranged their home game against Gateshead Town to Tuesday 15th September.