MATCH REPORT | Chester 1-0 Blyth Spartans

    Chester made it three consecutive league wins as Kurt Willoughby’s early composed finish was enough to take all three points against Blyth Spartans at the Deva Stadium.

    The first chance of the game turned out to be the first goal, as Willoughby opened the scoring for the evening. Charlie Caton carried the ball forward on the break, sliding through Willoughby who beat the offside trap, opened his body and beat Blyth goalkeeper Alex Mitchell to hand Chester the lead.

    The Spartans looked to respond 18 minutes in, after a spell of possession for the visitors Matty Cornish hit a snapshot half-volley from range, but his effort failed to trouble Harry Tyrer in between the Chester sticks.

    Declan Weeks looked to inspire the Seals to a two-goal lead. The midfielder beat his man and teed up a cross from the right-hand side byline, picking out Iwan Murray in the process.  The ball sat for the Welshman to try an acrobatic, over-head kick, but it was comfortably gathered by Mitchell.

    Blyth then threatened from a corner, Nicky Deverdicks took an in-swinging corner, one of which almost sneaked in at the near post, however, Harry Tyrer was there to keep Chester’s lead intact.

    The home side continued to seek out a second, this time Anthony Dudley had a shot on goal with the outside of the boot, looking to creep the ball into the far corner but Mitchell was on hand to save and clear for the visitors.

    The Spartans had their best chance of the game when JJ O’Donnell managed to cross from the right wing, the ball beat everyone in the box and fell for Cornish on the half-volley, but his effort sailed over the bar.

    Ollie Heywood then got down Chester’s left channel before picking out Willoughby with a cross. The goal-scorer delayed the shot twice, almost dancing on the penalty spot before his shot was saved by Blyth’s number one once more.

    The Seals carried on applying pressure before the break, Iwan Murray found some space on the right, faked a pass to Jamie Morgan on the overlap and took a long-range shot on goal, proving to be unsuccessful going over the bar.

    57 minutes in and Declan Weeks proved to be a real handful for Blyth. Firstly, playing a delightfully delicate pass to Jamie Morgan, only for the ball to be recycled and Chester’s number four to take a shot on goal from range, but it evaded the far post by the smallest of margins.

    Chester moved the ball well, eventually finding the feet of loanee Charlie Caton, the youngster looked to curl the ball into the far corner with his left foot, but the shot lacked any real power to trouble the Blyth keeper.

    After a period of absorbing lots of pressure, Chester looked to counterattack via Declan Weeks. However, Blyth’s Jordan Hickey caught the midfielder with a late challenge and was subsequently sent off by referee Ben Wyatt.

    CHESTER: Tyrer, Morgan, Williams, Heywood, Edwards, Roberts, Weeks, Murray (Lynch 59), Dudley (Thomas 86), Caton (Devine 69), Willoughby.

    SUBS NOT USED: Kenyon, Daly.

    SCORERS: Willoughby 7.

    ATTENDANCE: 2,268.

    Match Report by Alex Caddick.