Ashton Athletic 0-7 Chester

    Chester kicked off a back-to-back weekend of pre-season fixtures with a convincing win over Ashton Athletic.

    Manager Calum McIntyre called on just three First Teamers in Adam Thomas, Ollie Heywood and Kole Hall – with Youth Teamers Joe Beswick and Sol Forde joining U18 Adam Bott in the Starting XI.

    Four Trialists started, with a further two on the bench, alongside youngsters Calum Butler and Luca Boon.

    Trialist A, playing at full-back, almost opened the scoring on 17 minutes when he cut inside and let fly from distance, only to see his shot  rebound off the underside of the crossbar and away.

    Moments later though, it was Trialist C who struck first with a low effort from range. Eight minutes after and it was Under 18 Adam Bott who doubled the advantage with a super strike of his own from distance – his second goal of pre-season.

    Two became three before the break. A corner was hooked back into the box and as Kole Hall’s overhead kick went towards goal, Trialist D swooped on the ball to score.

    Hall almost assisted Trialist D once again moments after the break with a superb whipped pass, but the ‘keeper was out quickly to make a smothering save.

    Trialist E, who came on at half time for Reece Daly, went close with a free kick on the hour mark which whistled just over the crossbar.

    Chester got their fourth with twelve minutes remaining – a second for the impressive Trialist C – who drove into the area and then fired left footed beyond the keeper at his near post.

    Blues forward Hall had already provided two assists, and then it was his turn to get on the scoresheet as he slammed home from another good pass into the box.

    Under 17 forward Luca Boon, one of the Blues new scholars for 2023/24, was introduced on 85 minutes and within sixty seconds he added the sixth – showing great composure to round up the goalkeeper and find the back of the net. It was his second of pre-season having already bagged a goal at Buckley Town last Wednesday in the 2-0 win.

    Our Bermudian forward had the final say of the evening, Kole scoring his second with a delicate chipped finish from Trialist C’s clever reverse pass.

    Chester: Beswick, Thomas, Forde (Trialist F 46), Heywood, Trialist A, Bott (Butler 70), Trialist B, Trialist C, Daly (Trialist E 46), Trialist D (Boon 85), Hall.

    Scorers: Trialist C 20 & 78, Bott 28, Trialist D 39, Hall 81 & 89, Boon 86.