After a longer break from our last game than expected, we are back in action as we take on Southport at home tomorrow where we look to extend our unbeaten run to three games. It is a busy but important week ahead at the Deva, as we have to be winning tomorrow night to bolster our league position, while on Saturday we have a big FA Cup game against Pontefract Collieries where a cup run is imperative. In between those two matches, our youth team host Vauxhall Motors on Wednesday in the FA Youth Cup, so make sure to get down to the Deva to give our stars of the future your support. In the meantime though, we host a Southport side tomorrow who haven’t started off well, so it’s important we take advantage of that as we need to improve on our own inconsistent start. With a win and a draw in our last two outings though, hopefully we are now on an upwards trajectory given we had a difficult start on paper.
Our last match was a week on Saturday ago as we drew 3-3 at home against King’s Lynn Town in what was an extraordinary game. The first-half was abysmal from us, as we were outplayed and outclassed against the league leaders. After just two minutes, King’s Lynn Town were given a penalty as Alex Kenyon brought Jordan Ponticelli down. Gold Omotayo managed to cooly slot in the following penalty to make it 0-1 to King’s Lynn Town. Less than a minute later, our nightmare start continued, as Theo Widdrington scored a stunning goal from his own half to make it 0-2 to King’s Lynn Town. With two minutes of the 45 to go, former goat Jordan Ponticelli converted from a tight angle to make it 0-3 to King’s Lynn Town. Thus, we headed into half-time with a mountain to climb. Quite remarkably, we climbed that mountain with ease in the second-period, as we managed to complete a thrilling comeback. Two minutes into the half Iwan Murray pulled a goal back for us to make it 1-3 from close range. On the 78th-minute mark, Danny Devine netted a fabulous goal for us to make it 2-3. Then, with only four minutes of normal time left, Kurt Willoughby completed the comeback to make it 3-3 - sending the Harry Mac into raptures. We had to settle for the draw, in what could be a big turning point for us.
Southport will be making the trip from Lancashire having had a tough start to the season. The Port had a solid campaign last time out as they finished 12th, however they have lost four of their opening seven encounters this season, which sees them lie in 19th. The Sandgrounders actually started off well initially, as they won two of their opening three games, however Southport have lost three of their last four so hopefully we will make their poor run of form continue tomorrow. The Yellows don’t like a trip to the Deva, as you have to go all the way back to 2001 for their last league win here, while they have also shipped nine goals in their last two visits here. Two former Seals play for the opposition, who are Jordan Archer and Nyal Bell. Striker Jordan signed for us from Stourbridge in October 2017 with him scoring on his debut in our thrilling 3-2 win over Barrow. Archer departed us in July 2018 to sign for Bury FC, but due to the ongoing ownership issues he didn’t play a single game for The Shakers. In November 2020 he signed for Southport from Boston United which is where he has been at ever since, with his current spell being his second stint at the Merseyside club. Finally, striker Nyal initially joined us on loan from Rochdale in January 2016 where he failed to make a mark here, hence he was recalled by Rochdale in March 2016. Meanwhile, in May 2017 Nyal re-joined us for another loan spell, this time from Gateshead, where other than a stunner against Port Vale in pre-season he was very disappointing before he returned to Gateshead in January 2018. In July Nyal joined Southport, which is where he has been at ever since.
We had a tough start to the season based on the calibre of our opponents, however our fixtures now start to look less difficult, so it’s important we now stamp a marker down by picking up plenty of points over the coming weeks and months. No game in this league is straightforward, but the table starts to take some shape relatively soon, so let’s hope we will be in the mix. Come On You Seals ????⚪️????⚪️!
???????????????????? - Chester FC (Willoughby, McHugh) 2-0 Southport.
???????????????????????????????????????? - 1,699 (131 Southport).
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Tyrer
Coates Edwards Williams Coulton
Murray Devine Kenyon
Hall Willoughby Stephenson.
???????????????????????????? - tickets for this clash are available online, and you can purchase yours by clicking on the link below up until kick-off. However, you can still buy a ticket on the day of the game tomorrow evening from our ticket office, but with cashless turnstiles in operation payment by card is strongly encouraged. Also, you are able to pay at the turnstile by card, with chip and pin, contactless, Apple Pay, and Google Pay options all in place in the Gary Talbot Stand, the Harry McNally Terrace, and the Swettenham Chemists’ Community Stand. If you buy your ticket before tomorrow, you can make a £1.00 saving from matchday prices ⬇️:
chesterfc.ktckts.com/event/ctr2223h05/chester-vs-southport
???????????????????????????????????????? - The Cestrian matchday programme is available to purchase for just £2.50 from our club shop and our sellers throughout the ground. Also, you can order a printed copy for £2.50 and a digital copy for £2.00 online by clicking on the link below ⬇️:
www.matchdaycreative.co.uk/collections/chester-fc-programmes
???????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? - for those who cannot attend tomorrow’s game, you can listen to the match on Seals Live for free by clicking on the link below ⬇️:
sealslive.mixlr.com/
COYS!
