Match Report: Chester 4-0 Rushall Olympic
The Seals returned to winning ways with an accomplished 4-0 victory over Rushall Olympic.
A brace from Tom Peers and goals from Harrison Burke and Kurt Willoughby sealed a dominant display at the Deva Stadium.
However, it was the visitors that flew out of the traps and were inches away from breaching Jimmy Storer’s net inside three minutes. Dylan Barkers’ improvised effort was denied on the line by a combination of the Wolves loanee and Declan Weeks.
The opening goal came against the run of play as referee Robert Claussen awarded a penalty just shy of the quarter of an hour mark.
Debutant Jack Lambert tried his luck from range and Rushall goalkeeper Paul White could only parry the ball back into the box. Connor Woods pounced on the loose ball and in the process of trying to atone for his error, White fouled our number seventeen.
Tom Peers stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick and calmly slotted it straight down the middle to give his side the lead.
The striker continued to cause issues for the opposition and came close to doubling his tally for the afternoon almost immediately.
Weeks floated a precise pass into Peers who controlled it with authority. The 29-year-old managed to poke an effort goalward, but White’s right foot was equal to it this time.
Dan Mooney and Weeks also had shots from distance but neither tested the Rushall stopper.
Calum McIntyre’s players then had a brief lapse of judgement in defence which allowed Omari Sterling-James to burst clear. Storer held his ground to block the winger’s heavy touch from travelling beyond him.
The contest followed a similar pattern after the interval with the hosts dominating possession.
Peers was desperately unlucky not to record his second of the afternoon ten minutes into the second period.
His partnership with Weeks was at the forefront of the move once again as the midfielder played him through. Peers delicately dinked the ball above the outstretched hand of White, but Rushall skipper Nathan Cameron assessed the situation astutely to intervene just before it crossed the line.
The Blues deservedly doubled the deficit midway through the second half courtesy of the inevitable Harrison Burke.
For the umpteenth time this season, Weeks delivered a dangerous corner onto the head of Burke, who made no mistake with his header.
Peers eventually got the second goal he craved to wrap up the three points for the Blues. Woods drilled an attempt towards the bottom corner which was saved by White. However, the goalkeeper’s stop rolled perfectly into the path of Peers who smashed home.
Substitute Kurt Willoughby completed the rout in the closing stages with a fine finish. The instrumental Weeks arrowed a cross-field ball towards the Englishman who took the ball in his stride. Willoughby cut inside and confidently placed a shot into the corner to send the Harry McNally terrace into raptures.
The Blues’ tenth home win of the league campaign sees them remain top of the National League North.
Match Report by Jude Deedigan.
CHESTER FC: Storer, Hunter, Burke, Rawlinson, Woodthorpe, K.Roberts, Weeks (Burgess 84′, F.Roberts 88′), Woods, Lambert (Murray 65′), Mooney (Willoughby 65′), Peers.
Subs not used: Pollock
Scorers: Peers 14′ & 76′, Burke 67′, Willoughby 83′
Attendance: 2295