Match Report: Chester 2-1 Chorley
The Blues picked all three points against Chorley after a dominant display at the Deva Stadium.
Tom Peers and Harrison Burke bagged the goals on an afternoon when it easily could have been more if it wasn’t for a fantastic display of shot-stopping by Matt Urwin.
Tom Carr netted one for Chorley late on, but Calum McIntyre’s side held on and move up to seventh.
The Seals took the lead mid-way through the first half, when Peers finished off a quick counter-attack with a glanced effort into the far corner.
Nathan Woodthorpe intercepted a misplaced pass from Mike Calveley before the left-back threaded a long ball to Charlie Caton who sent a drilled cross into his strike partner.
Peers defied Matt Urwin to grab an early lead, and the Blues’ number seven had a golden chance to double the lead a few minutes later.
The ball bounced off Reece Daly into the path of Peers, but he dragged his drilled effort wide of the near post.
Daly had his first chance of the game as the half drew to a close, but his strike from distance flew over the bar.
In stoppage time the number 19 forced Matt Urwin into an acrobatic stop when he pushed Daly’s header behind for a corner.
It was a positive first period for the Blues, who looked dangerous and restricted Chorley to limited goal-mouth action.
Burke leaped the highest from an inviting Declan Weeks corner early in the second half, but Urwin saved well once again, keeping the Magpies within touching distance.
Weeks and Peers then combined after the hour mark to produce a chance but Urwin was equal to Daly’s powerful effort.
The away keeper was under constant pressure, and was called into action at the mid-way point of the half by Caton’s powerful header.
Finally, with twenty minutes left on the clock, the crucial second goal came for the Blues.
Weeks swung a pin-point free-kick into the centre of the box and Burke was on the scene to head home, a second goal in consecutive league games for the 22-year-old.
The visitors got one back with five minutes of the contest left as Tom Carr tapped in the rebound after Elyh Harrison pushed out Danny Ormerod’s low effort.
Despite the threat of several long balls being hurled into the Blues box during the final few moments, Calum McIntyre’s men held out to claim a crucial victory.
We are back down CH1 on Tuesday night to host Oxford City, before Saturday’s trip to Warrington Town.
Match Report by Tom Bird.
CHESTER FC: Harrison, Hunter, Burke, Rawlinson, Woodthorpe, Roberts, Weeks (Pollock 90′), Hugill, Daly (Murray 66′), Caton (Mottley-Henry 76′), Peers.
Subs not used: Willoughby, Hancox.
Scorers: Peers 22′, Burke 70′.
Attendance: 2,075