Chester 0-2 Alfreton Town
Chester succumbed to another home defeat, as Alfreton Town ran out 2-0 winners on Easter Monday.
The Blues started the game brightly as they looked to take the momentum from Good Friday’s drubbing of Buxton into Easter Monday. Tom Peers raced clear inside three minutes, but his shot went wide of George Willis’ left hand post.
Alfreton drew first blood in true Billy Heath fashion. After a succession of set pieces, centre half Kennedy Digie rose highest from a corner and his powerful header bounced off Kev Roberts into Wyll Stanway’s net.
The Reds continuously bombarded Chester’s box with long balls and it caused the Seals several problems before and after half time.
George Cantrill struck the bar with some force in the first few minutes after the restart. Another raking corner from Billy Fewster found Cantrill who had evaded his marker at the back post, as Billy Heath’s men again nearly profited from a set-piece.
Alfreton doubled their lead in the 66th minute, as Kennedy Digie scored another header from a corner. In what was almost a carbon copy of his first goal, the centre-half spun away from his marker to power a header into the top corner, leaving Stanway rooted to the spot.
The visitors looked to compound Chester’s misery as Jordan Thewlis connected sweetly with a volley, with the opposition again finding joy and space at the back post. The woodwork was Chester’s saviour once again.
The Blues looked to salvage something from the game as they introduced Iwan Murray and Christian Norton into the fold. The latter looked lively, as he turned sweetly on the edge of the box, but his strike was parried away by Willis in what was the Blues’ best chance of the game.
McIntyre’s side now sit in 10th position, three points outside of the playoffs. They will look to bounce back as they make the long trip to Gloucester City this weekend, with only three games left of the campaign.
Match Report by Jude Deedigan.
Chester: Stanway, Woodthorpe (Taylor 52), Burton, Williams (Norton 67), Burke, Thomas, Glendon, Roberts, Weeks, Tollitt, Peers (Murray 78).
Subs Not Used: Daly, Heywood.
Scorers: Digie 37 & 68.
Attendance: 2,537.