Chester FC were held to a 2-2 draw against relegation battlers, Southport, on Tuesday night as the Swansway Chester Stadium held a thriller in the Skrill Premier.
Chester FC were held to a 2-2 draw against relegation battlers, Southport, on Tuesday night as the Swansway Chester Stadium held a thriller in the Skrill Premier. The Blues took the lead on 34 minutes after new signing Craig Hobson reacted quickest to put the ball in the back of the net following an earlier shot from club captain, Gareth Seddon, who forced Danny Hurst into a save.
Chester then doubled their lead soon after the break after a piece of individual brilliance saw Craig Mahon twist and turn around the Ports defence, before the Irishman struck a low left footed drive into the bottom right corner of the net.
Southport then got a goal, bringing themselves back into the game after poor defending from Chester allowed Karl Ledsham to be unmarked at the back post to head home from 10-yards.
Moments before full time, the Sandgounders were then level after Ledsham grabbed his second of the game. The striker wasn’t picked up running into the box and simply placed hit shot past Aaron Chapman.
The game started with a quick tempo and it was the visitors who came close to taking the lead minutes into the game, after a long throw found Jason Walker in the box whose shot was saved well by Chapman.
The drop zone is near
Chester were then inches from going ahead on 17 minutes after a goalmouth scramble saw the ball fall to Paul Linwood who hit a ferocious shot against the Sandgrounders bar.
The Blues then won a series of two corners which were taken quickly. John Rooney played the ball in quickly which appeared to hit the hand of a Southport player in the box but the referee waved it away.
Following half time, Chester were forced into a substitution after Matty Brown went off injured with a suspected cheek bone fracture. Nathan Turner came on which saw Jason Jarrett slot in at centre back to play alongside Michael Kay.
On the 67th minute, the referee awarded a penalty to Southport. Chapman was the man in question after a Southport attacker went down in the box. Ledsham then stepped up and blazed the ball against the bar.
Moments later, Chapman pulled off a good save which denied Danny Hattersley the chance to get Southport back into the game. The on loan Chesterfield goal keeper then saved heroically at the last minute to get down well with a one handed save to keep Southport out.
Seven minutes of stoppage time was announced and the Port continued to attack to claim a winner. Ledsham broke away and blazed his shot well wide.
The result leaves Chester just two points above the drop zone in 20th place, whilst Southport are in 19th with a game in hand over the Blues.
After the game, Chester boss Steve Burr said: “The luck we are not having is unbelievable. The only bit of luck we have had is when the ball was hit against the bar which we didn’t think it was a penalty. I can’t ask for any more effort and commitment by a group of players that I got tonight.”
Kettle’s Man of the Match: Craig Mahon
With outstanding performances from Mahon, Chapman and Jarrett, the award could have been given to a number of players. The tricky winger performed very well and played through the pain barrier of a suspected broker collarbone for the good of the team and once again given his all for the Blues.
Teams:
Chester FC: Chapman, L Turner, Linwood (Kay 23), Brown (N Turner 61), Bridge, Rooney, Bond, Jarrett, Mahon, Seddon (c), Hobson (Carlton 75).
Subs not used: Fearon, Menagh
Booked: Brown, Seddon, Bond
Southport FC: Hurst, Brown (c), Nsiala, Walker, Ledsham, Hattersley, George, Fitzpatrick, Osawe, O’Sullivan, Daly.
Subs not used: Mukendi, Challoner, Rutherford, Joyce, Brodie
Booked: George, Walker, Ledsham
Referee: Simon Bennett
Assistants: Thomas Bramhall and Joseph Johnson
Fourth Official: Michael Hanley
Attendance: 2,274
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Image: Google
