Report: Chester 2-2 Alfreton Town

    The Blues shared the points with Alfreton Town at the Deva Stadium in the Enterprise National League North.

    Josh Ayres gave the away side the lead following a set piece scramble, but a close-range finish from Fin Shrimpton and a Connor Woods penalty gave the Seals the half-time advantage, before Jo Cummings low finish earned a point for the Reds.

    The home side threatened early on, after a fantastic turn by Pat Jones on the right touchline led to Iwan Murray’s shot from the edge of the box deflecting just over the bar.

    But Jake Buxton’s side took the lead as Ayres, who’d just seen a wonderful strike from well outside the box tipped over acrobatically by B. Jones, nodded a corner over the line from close-range.

    Shrimpton finished Michael Kelly’s corner into the top left corner of the goal to draw the Seals level, who instantly began to threaten more.

    And we deservedly took the lead before the game as Lewis Leigh was fouled in the box, allowing Woods to send the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.

    Alfreton drew the scores level quickly after the break through Cummings, who slotted the ball past B. Jones into the bottom right corner.

    Chester had a few chances in the aftermath of the goal, most notably from Shrimpton, who fired the ball over the bar from inside the penalty box.

    Phil Croker also came close as he powered a header over the bar from in the midst of a spell of Chester set pieces.

    Tom Leak smashed the underside of the crossbar with about 15 minutes left to play, as Calum McIntyre’s side searched for a winner late on.

    Lewis Leigh forced a smart save out of Burgoyne down to his left-hand side, and Nathan Woodthorpe made a crucial last ditch tackle to prevent Bayley McCann from breaking through for a one vs one opportunity.

    The Blues are back at the Deva Stadium on Saturday as Buxton make the trip to CH1.

    Match Report by William Russell.

    Chester FC: B. Jones, Kelly (Mottley-Henry 71), Leak, Croker, Woodthorpe, Shrimpton, Murray (Peers 71′), Leigh, Weeks, P. Jones, Woods (White 81′)

    Substitutes: Davies, Bainbridge, I. Burgess, F. Roberts

    Scorers: Ayres 28′, Shrimpton 37′, Woods 42′, Cummings 47′

    Attendance: 1,374