Report: Spennymoor Town 3-0 Chester

Our National League North campaign got off to a tough start in County Durham as we fell to a 3-0 defeat to Spennymoor Town, courtesy of two goals from Isaac Fletcher and a stunning free-kick from Matty Dolan.

The hosts flew out of the traps at the Brewery Field, testing Cam Mason in the third minute through Isaac Fletcher, who drilled an effort towards goal from 20 yards but Mason got down well and parried to safety.

The Seals forced a good chance just moments later through Kurt Willoughby on his competitive return to the club, but his curling strike was saved comfortably by Brad James.

Fletcher hit back just minutes after his earlier warning though and gave Spennymoor a seventh minute lead.

Corey Mckeown was played in down the right flank before he fired a dangerous cross into the box and Fletcher’s deflected effort bounced into the net.

Graeme Lee’s men almost doubled their lead midway through the first period, when captain Glen Taylor knocked a close-range effort the over the bar after more good work from Fletcher, who was instrumental in the hosts’ positive start to the contest.

The game was played at a slow pace for the rest of the half, with very few clear-cut opportunities coming for either side.

George Glendon had the first sight of goal after the interval, floating a clever effort towards the top corner but James dealt with the threat and pushed it behind for a corner.

However, the hosts doubled their lead just nine minutes into the second period, when Fletcher grabbed his second of the afternoon after Mckeown flew down the right flank and smashed the ball across the face of goal, giving the goalscorer the easiest of tasks to slot past Mason.

With twenty minutes remaining, the Seals launched an assault on James’ goal, an unbelievable goal-mouth scramble saw Harrison Burke smash the post, Dan Turner throw himself at the goal with multiple other players in yellow having efforts blocked on the line.

Burke struck the woodwork once again just moments later, an incredible couple of minutes in the Spennymoor penalty area.

The home side added a third in the 75th minute with an unstoppable free-kick from Matty Dolan, which flew past Mason and nestled in the top corner.

The remaining minutes went without action and the whistle blew on a very tough opening day for the Seals. 

Match Report by Tom Bird.

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CHESTER: Mason, Hunter, Pollock, Rawlinson, Burke, Bainbridge, Hancox, Murray (Turner 55′), Glendon (Williams 65′),  Caton, Willoughby (Peers 55′).

SUBS NOT USED: Roberts, Woodthorpe.

SCORERS: Fletcher 7′ 54′, Dolan 75′.