Chadwick double helps City to third successive League win

Chester recorded their third League win in a row as they beat Grays 3-1 at the Recreation Ground, and now jump to within four points of wiping out the 25 points deduction inflicted by the Football Conference at the beginning of the season.


City headed to Essex on the back of League wins over Gateshead & Wimbledon, and were clearly in the mood to notch a trio of wins.

The game at Grays was supposed to be the first of the season, but was of course delayed thanks to the Football Association not giving the Blues a licence to play football.

City started brightly, and took the lead through Michael Coulson, on loan from Barnsley, following a measured ball from Kevin Roberts.

Grays pegged Chester back though, just minutes later, as the giant Folawiyo Onibuje towered above the City defence to level the game up.

Thankfully it wasn't long before the Blues got their noses in front again, as just before half time, Nick Chadwick took full advantage of a slip by Grays keeper Preston Edwards, to knock the ball home, and put City ahead at the break.

The clincher came again from Nick Chadwick, who scored the all important third from inside the box following more great work from the ever lively Coulson, and the goal ensured Chester would take the points home on their long journey back home.

It's great to see that since the appointment of Jim Harvey, that City have gone on the attack agains teams, something which we all thought we'd see earlier on in the season, based on the 25 point deduction meaning a "we've nothing to lose" attitude.

City are back in action again tomorrow night in their second of three away games in a row, as they travel to York, who currently sit four points off the play off positions, and are in confident mood themselves having knocked Crewe out of the FA Cup at the weekend.

Let's keep all fingers crossed for a Blues win that would take them to within one point of the "zero" milestone.

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.

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.

Blues earn point at Luton in 0-0 draw

It's great to report tonight that Chester City are off the mark, and now sit on -24 points in the Blue Square Premier League table following their 0-0 draw at Luton Town, who before the game were joint leaders of the League.

City included defender Chris Lynch & midfielder Adam Kay in their line up after signing from Burnley yesterday.

The Blues almost snatched the lead when Nick Chadwick headed against the cross bar in the first half, but withstood pressure in the second half to take a point at Kenilworth Road.

Ben Wilkinson & Chris Lynch were both booked for the Blues, but other than that a good day for the City, which sees us get off the mark, hopefully we can now put in a strong performance next Saturday at home to Mansfield Town, who will include Chester legend, Daryl Clare.

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.