Chester FC’s new manager, Steve Burr, guided his side to victory last weekend as the Blues beat Barnet 2-1 in a thrilling game at the Swansway Chester Stadium.
Chester FC’s new manager, Steve Burr, guided his side to victory last weekend as the Blues beat Barnet 2-1 in a thrilling game at the Swansway Chester Stadium. Burr was announced as the club’s head coach hours before the match was due to kick-off and took his place in the dugout for the game.
Goals from Lewis Turner and Jamie Reed earned the Blues their second home victory of the season and puts them just one point away from safety. Chester took the lead on 33 minutes after a spell of dominance finally broke the Bees defence.
An unstoppable team
Turner picked up the ball on the right hand flank and sent the ball into the box, deflecting off a Bees defender to trickle into the Barnet goal. Jake Hyde later equalised to put the visitor’s level on 83 minutes with a header across goal, before Reed latched onto a Turner cross at Nicky Jupp’s back post on 85 minutes to send the stadium in uproar.
The Blues started the game spritely and instantly put Barnet on the back foot. John Rooney came close to helping the Blues open the scoring ten minutes into the game after cutting in from the wing to send his left footed cross into the box. Jamie Menagh made an attempt to pick up the ball but it could only go out for a goal kick.
Reed then came close for the Blues after he collected the ball just outside the box and turned well, only to fire his shot over the bar. Moments later, Barnet broke away and put the ball in the back of Chester’s net, only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside.
City broke again and instantly won a free-kick down the other end of the pitch following a foul on Tom Peers. Rooney stepped up and sent a delightful free-kick past the three man wall which left Jupp helpless in the Barnet goal, only for it to go inches wide of the post into the side netting.
Chester then found themselves on the attack again just before half time, as Peers broke away with Chester three on three with the Bees defence. Luisma Villa then made a cynical foul, pulling Peers’ shirt back which saw the ref put his hand in his pocket for the yellow card.
‘A lot of character’
Rooney started the second half as he finished the first, and straight away sent an audacious shot from 35-yards out goal-wards. However it didn’t trouble Jupp who watched it fly just wide. George Horan then came close to adding his name on the score sheet after Rooney again collected the ball and sent a swooping ball into the box but the Blues captain failed to connect with the cross.
After relentless attacking from Barnet, Chester dug deep and defended well thanks to efforts from Horan and Ross Killock.
The Blues continued to push on to find another goal, and came exceptionally close thanks to Bees substitute Luke Gambin who failed to clear a corner from Rooney and nearly put the ball in his own net.
Moments before full time, Craig Lindfield intercepted the ball on the left wing and cut inside to fire a ferocious shot just inches over Barnet’s crossbar.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” Burr said after the match. “I thought the effort and the commitment which the players showed was fantastic and the players thoroughly deserved the win.The atmosphere was fantastic, the roof came off and I think that shown a lot of character and to get the win in the way we did was a great worked goal.”
Man of the Match: John Rooney
The attacker put in a very good performance today for the Blues and helped out both up front and in defence. He created many chances and came close on many occasions to score a goal of his own.
Teams:
Chester FC: Danby 7, L Turner 7, Horan (c) 7, Killock 7, McIntyre 6, Rooney 8, Jarrett 6, G Miller 6, Menagh 6 (Lindfield 6), Reed 7 (Heath 5), Peers 6 (Mahon 5)
Subs not used: Fearon, Kay.
Booked: Horan
Barnet: Yiadom 5 (Acheampong 5), Johnson 6, Weston 6, Saville 5, Marsh-Brown 6, Byrne 6, Hyde 7, Jupp 7, Cadogan 6 (Gambin 5), Villa 5 (Crawford 5), Stephens (c) 6.
Subs not used: Abdulla, Barnes
Booked: Villa
Referee: Wayne Barrett
Assistants: Barry Lamb and Matt Donohue
Fourth Official: Matt Jones
Attendance: 2,179
What do you think? What does Burr’s appointment and the first win mean for the future of Chester FC this season? Have your say in the comments section below.
