City lose away record in defeat at York

Chester City lost their good record on the road, in a 3-2 defeat at Kit Kat Crescent, as York's Richard Brodie netted a hat trick to become the Blue Square Premier League joint top scorer on 17 goals.
It didn't take long for his first, just 33 seconds had passed when Brodie fired home from close range to put the Minstermen one up, and half an hour later, he grabbed his second from the penalty spot after Neil Ashton had dragged Brodie down.

City went in at half time two down, and came back out hoping for an early goal to get them back in the game, but it went the other way, as Brodie completed his hat trick just two minutes into the second half, slotting home past John Danby to make it 3-0.

At this point you'd have been forgiven for thinking that the game was over, but City sub Anthony Barry, on for midfielder James Owen, who was replaced mid way through the first half, smashed in a shot from 30 yards to give the Blues some hope.

Sadly they couldn't get another until the last minute of stoppage time, when defender Shaun Kelly nodded homs past ex-Wrexham goalkeeper Mike Ingham, but the final whistle went soon after, and Chester had been beaten 3-2.

Jimmy Harvey was understandably disappointed, "we didn't comepet in the first half, and looked weak through the middle", and was also unhappy at a penalty decision which wasn't given for City.

Harvey also admitted that 'concentration' was possibly an issue, but said that the changes in the side hadn't helped.

City are next in action on Saturday, away to Tamworth, who have fallen away since their excellent start this season, which included a 2-1 victory over City at the Deva Satadium earlier this season.

Chester City 1 Tamworth 2

City crashed to another defeat last night as the joy from Saturday's 2-0 win was short lived as Tamworth took advantage of some sloppy defending to beat the Blues, and keep Chester rooted on -20 points.

It was Tamworth who looked the busier side in all honesty, and took a deserved lead when a pass that sliced open both Chris Lynch & Shaun Kelly fell kindly for Richard Tait who stretched out a leg and guided the ball past keeper John Danby, who really didn't need to come off his line in this instance.

Chester almost hit back immediately, when Anthony Barry fired in a shot turned round the post by the Tamworth keeper.

City should have levelled, when an effort struck the bar early in the second half, but no-one could follow up,and a drop ball was given just outside the six yard box.

The Blues fell further behind in the second half when Chris Smith had the easiest of goals to score having seen John Danby leave the ball for what he thought was going to be a goal kick, only for Tom Shaw to head back towards goal, Danby could only parry the ball back out to Smith who made no mistake from inside the 6 yard box.

City then rallied and had possibly their best spell of the game, but were guilty of missing chances for fun, one of those missed chances saw Anthony Barry screw well wide, before a misguided effort from Gregg Blundell fell kindly for Nick Chadwick who diverted the ball home to make it 2-1, and game on.

City threw everything forward, but never seemed like getting an outright chance to level matters up, that was until injury time, when substitute Adam Kay, chested a ball down inside the area, threw a dummy, but then blasted high over not just the bar, but the stand also, and City's chance to come away with a point was gone.

It was an expensive night booking wise, as Chester saw 6 players booked as Roberts, Blundell, Ellams, Lynch, Ryan, and Ashton all saw yellow.

Mick Wadsworth admitted afterwards that perhaps he was wrong to play Tim Ryan in the left back role, after being shifted to allow Shaun Kelly back in the centre half position.

In truth, a Draw was possibly what we deserved, but it's a defeat, and now City must regroup, and try to claim the points on their long trip south to Eastbourne Borough on Saturday.

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!

Chester City 2 Cambridge United 4

Chester City finally kicked off their Blue Square Premier League season today, but sadly went down 4-2 at home to Cambridge Utd.

Ex Chester striker Chris Holroyd came back to haunt the Blues with a well taken hat trick, despite Chester taking a 2-0 lead.

Unbelievably, Chester opened the scoring within the first 20 seconds, through new signing Ben Wilkinson, son of ex Leeds & England manager, Howard Wilkinson.

Ex Everton striker Nick Chadwick netted the second goal on 19 minutes having come on as sub for the injured Anthony Barry, having seized on a poor back pass from ex City defender Wayne Hatswell, and Chadwick, who had only signed on for a year on Friday afternoon, shaped himself, and finished off nicely to give the Blues a 2 goal cushion.

It wasn't enough however, as the tide turned just before half time, when Cambridge were awarded a straight forward penalty, and Holroyd smashed it home, then just a minute later midfielder Robbie Willmott struck a deflected free kick past John Danby in the Chester goal to make it 2-2 in first half stoppage time.

In the second half, Cambridge took control, and Holroyd was again on the mark after 74 minutes with a fine bicycle kick following a perfect cross from former Tranmere winger Andy Parkinson.

Holroyd completed his hat trick, with a tap in on 89 minutes, which condemned City to their opening day defeat to the U's.

So, the first match is out of the way, but plenty of positives to take from the game, as City dominated the first half, but thanks to a lack of concentration, ended up going in level when it should have been 2-0 at half time.

Elsewhere on the pitch, Neil Ashton, signed from Shrewsbury, looked half decent, and up front Lloyd Ellams put in a good performance.

So, it's Oxford away next on Tuesday night.