Match Report: Chester 2-1 Marine

Goals from Harrison Burke and Iwan Murray were enough to secure all three points for the Blues at home to Marine.

Burke opened the scoring with a header, before Murray lobbed Max Metcalfe mid-way through the second-half to earn a two-goal cushion.

The Mariners pulled one back late on through Fin Sinclair-Smith who smashed past Jimmy Storer but the Seals held on to clinch a home play-off fixture, after Saturday’s clash with King’s Lynn Town.

Chester took the lead with the first chance of the contest as Burke rose the highest at the back post to latch on to a floated Declan Weeks delivery.

Burke powered his header past Metcalfe before it struck the inside of the post and nestled in the corner, and ideal start to the Seals’ quest of securing a home play-off game.

Marine almost hit back in quick fashion through another corner, this time when Andy Scarisbrick glanced towards goal from the near post but the ball bounced back off the bar and was cleared to safety.

Taelor O’Kane came close to third goal in a Blue shirt when he stretched to try and poke in from close-range after a header from Burke but the ball evaded our number 16.

A flowing counter-attack almost doubled the Chester lead, as inter-play from Murray and Weeks led to a chance for Kurt Willoughby but his low strike was blocked and cleared to safety.

Sinclair-Smith went within inches of an equaliser early in the second period with a long-range free-kick that flew just over the bar and clipped the roof of the net.

A moment of brilliance from Murray doubled the Seals’ lead mid-way through the half.

Weeks powered a clearance up the field which unsettled the Marine back line and allowed Murray to find space in behind before he produced a delightful lob that gave Metcalfe no chance in the away goal.

A second assist of the clash for Weeks, which moves that figure up to 22 for the season, an outstanding campaign from our number four.

Sinclair-Smith, who had looked the Mariners’ most dangerous asset, pulled one back for the visitors with just over ten minutes remaining as he smashed past Jimmy Storer after a deep free-kick fell to the forward.

Chris Doyle almost grabbed an equaliser just four minutes later but he miscued from close-range and the ball bounced comfortably wide.

Another well-delivered corner from Weeks gave Burke an opportunity for his second of the afternoon but he flicked wide from around eight yards out.

Calum McIntyre’s men held on to secure all three points and to confirm a home play-off game, after Saturday’s final day trip to King’s Lynn.