Report: Chester 2-0 Macclesfield

Goals from Dylan Mottley-Henry and Tom Leak saw the Blues end 2025 with success at the Deva over Macclesfield!

Isaac Buckley-Ricketts spurned the first opportunity of the contest as he latched onto a free-kick rebound but put his close-range effort wide of the post.

George Murray-Jones pulled off a fantastic stop just before the half-hour mark to deny a flicked Lewis Fensome header that looked destined for the bottom corner.

A quiet period burst into life in the 34th minute as Mottley-Henry opened the scoring from close-range.

The ball broke to Fin Shrimpton just outside the box before he squared the ball to our number 11 who finished with composure past Max Dearnley in the Macclesfield goal.

Buckley-Ricketts attempted to grab a leveller just before the break but his drilled effort from an acute angle was palmed away by Murray-Jones.

The second period started in the same vein as the first, with limited goalmouth action in front of a crowd of 2,830 at the Deva Stadium.

Paul Dawson had the first sight of goal after the interval but his glanced header found the hands of Murray-Jones.

The decisive moment of the second half was created by a well-directed Declan Weeks corner that bounced around the six-yard box before it fell to Leak, who prodded home to secure all three points for the Blues.

A clinical showing sealed a performance full of control from Calum McIntyre side, who now face another quick turnaround as Worksop Town visit the Deva on Saturday.

Chester FC: Murray-Jones, Kelly-Evans, Leak, Arthure, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Bainbridge, Shrimpton, Murray, Mottley-Henry, F. Roberts (Peers 63′)

Subs not used:  Davies, S. Burgess, J. Shorrock, I. Burgess

Scorers: Mottley-Henry 34′, Leak 85′

Attendance: 2,850 (555 away)