MATCH REPORT | Chester 3-1 Guiseley

Chester FC continued their dominant home form, recording an emphatic three-one victory over a Guiseley side who were placed fourth in the league going into the game.

An Akwasi Asante brace and a superb strike from Anthony Dudley saw the Blues go three up, before league top scorer Aaron Martin pulled one back for the Lions.

The Blues made one enforced change from the side that beat Curzon Ashton 3-1 on Monday, with the suspended Danny Livesey replaced by loanee James Jones.

Chester got off to the perfect start, taking the lead in the third minute as Bradley Jackson got in down the right hand side, his cross evaded Hughes but Akwasi Asante was on hand to tap for his seventh goal in seven games.

The Blues were forced into an early change as Kevin Roberts went off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, replaced by Jamie Morgan for his league debut.

The hosts had an excellent opportunity to add a second inside the opening ten minutes as Joel Taylor’s corner was met at the back post by James Jones, he played it back to Scott Burton, but his shot was blocked and Guiseley managed to scramble the ball away.

Chester were absolutely dominant in the opening twenty minutes, with Guiseley barely able to get out of their own half, and almost added a second through Joel Taylor, who drove to the edge of the penalty area and fired just wide of the left post.

Five minutes later and the Blues struck the woodwork, Bradley Jackson doing really well to release Asante, who unleashed a fierce strike against the woodwork.

The pressure for the hosts paid off as Bradley Jackson played in Jamie Morgan, and he was brought down inside the penalty area. Akwasi Asante stepped up and sent Allinson the wrong way to double the advantage after half an hour.

Chester could have added a third before the break as James Jones rose highest to meet a Joel Taylor corner, but the Blues centre half saw the header cleared off the line.

The league’s top goalscorer, Aaron Martin, had a golden opportunity to pull a goal back for the visitors in the opening minutes of the second half as he met a corner, but headed over from close range.

The pace slowed down in the second half and it suited Guiseley, who had another good chance to pull a goal back as Russ Griffiths pushed away a free kick to Garner, but the former Halifax man couldn’t find the target with the goal at his mercy.

Chester could have added a third with just over half an hour to play as Bradley Jackson latched on to a Jamie Morgan cross, but the Blues winger couldn’t direct his effort on target. Shortly after George Glendon went close as he curled an effort just wide from the left side of the penalty area.

The third did come as Anthony Dudley picked up a loose ball, shrugged off the attentions of two Guiseley defenders before finishing really well into the bottom corner for a classy strike.

Guiseley did pull one back inside the last ten minutes as top goalscorer Aaron Martin rose to meet a corner and headed in from close range.

Chester kept looking for a fourth and almost found it minutes later as George Waring met Gary Roberts’ free kick, but Lloyd Allinson made a really good save, diving away to his left to push it away.

In stoppage time Jamie Morgan went forward looking for his first goal for the Blues but he was denied by Allinson at the near post. There was still time for one more chance and when Anthony Dudley controlled the ball in the penalty area and turned, it took another superb save from Allinson to keep the score down to just three.

Chester: Griffiths, K Roberts (Morgan 7), Taylor, Burton (c), J Jones, Grand, Jackson, Glendon, Asante (Waring 69), Hughes (G Roberts 69), Dudley.

Subs not used: G Roberts, Waring, Elliott, Mahon.

Guiseley: Allinson, McNally, Nicholson (Johnson 80), Barkers, Bencherif, Garner (c), Shaw, Spencer (Starcenko 61), Martin, Felix, Cantrill (A Jones 46).

Subs not used: Johnson, Digie, Scrivens.

Goal Scorers: Chester: Asante (3, 30 pen), Dudley (72). Guiseley: Martin (81).

Yellow Cards: Chester: Dudley. Guiseley: Cantrill, Martin, Spencer, A Jones, Nicholson.

Attendance:1,989