Report: Chester 1-0 South Shields

Calum McIntyre’s men made it four home victories on the bounce and six unbeaten after a close-range finish from Tom Peers was enough to defeat South Shields.

The game was paused for a five minute period early on as Matty Williams was forced off on a stretcher.

Williams received a standing ovation from the 2,254 who watched on at the Deva Stadium.

It was a contest of very few chances for most of the first period, as both goalkeepers went untested with the two sides cancelling each other out.

The Blues pushed forward as the interval drew closer though, and both Charlie Caton and Kurt Willoughby had efforts that landed off-target.

Kyle Crossley had the Mariners’ best chance of the half but his drilled shot was just wide of Elyh Harrison’s far post.

Tom Peers put the Seals ahead in additional time however, as he stabbed the ball home from close-range past Myles Boney in the away goal.

Willoughby picked up the ball on the left and fired a dangerous cross towards goal which found Declan Weeks before the ball dropped to Peers who had a simple task to finish.

The Seals continued to dominate after the interval, with chances dropping to Glendon and Weeks but both had close-range efforts brilliantly saved by Boney.

Charlie Caton almost extended his scoring streak with a couple of chances in the second period, once with a low strike that bounced back off the post and one that flew over the bar after nice work from Nathan Woodthorpe.

South Shields didn’t threaten Harrison throughout the second half, after an excellent performance from the Blues defence kept our clean sheet intact.

Ben Pollock almost grabbed his first goal in a Chester shirt late on but his clever shot unfortunately clipped the top of the bar and flew into the crowd.

Caton had one last chance with two minutes remaining to add a two-goal cushion but he lifted his  powerful strike over the top, after a brilliant pass from Glendon.

It was a solid performance defensively from the Blues, who made it four wins on the bounce at home and six unbeaten, as we move up to fourth in the National League North.

Match Report by Tom Bird.

CHESTER: Harrison, Hunter, Williams (Burke 7′), Pollock, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Glendon, Weeks, Caton, Willoughby (TURNER 75′), Peers.

SUBS NOT USED: Murray, Roberts, Hancox

SCORERS: Peers 45+2′