U19 REPORT | Chester 5-0 FC Halifax Town

Chester’s Under 19’s thrashed Halifax this afternoon at Helsby Community Sports Club to move up to sixth in the NLFA North Division table.

Harrison Burke bagged an early brace, before a Shaymen red card saw Calum McIntyre’s side capitalise with further goals from Joe Nelson, Reece Daly and Sam Hughes.

The Blues’ offensive threat was there from minute one when Jay Lee hooked Sol Ashworth’s long throw inches over the bar – before the deadlock was broken on seven minutes.

Ollie Heywood’s excellent left sided corner delivery was nodded into the net by Burke.

Then the lead was doubled a few minutes later in almost identical fashion. This time Heywood’s corner from the right found Burke once more who headed home.

Harry Griffiths dragged a shot wide just after, before turning provider to see Burke go close to completing a first half hat-trick, but he could only strike the post on the stretch.

The game then saw a red card as Halifax were reduced to ten men following an off the ball incident, before the visitors forced Joe Smith into a smart low stop moments later.

But the game was put beyond doubt just before the interval. Burke was the architect this time, superb work down the right-hand side to beat his man and send in a dangerous low cross which was tucked home by the left-back Nelson.

Chester picked up where they left off just three minutes after the break as they made it four. Following a corner Hughes saw his shot blocked, but Reece Daly was on hand to collect the ball and coolly dispatch high into the goal.

Burke, who has recently returned from an extremely positive senior loan spell at Clitheroe, had a few more chances to complete his hat-trick as the half progressed.

He headed inches wide from a fantastic Griffiths delivery once more, before then meeting a ball in from Hughes, but his shot was turned off the line and couldn’t quite be turned into the goal on the follow-up.

Nevertheless, Calum McIntyre’s side did make it five with the last action of the match.

Heywood made it a hat-trick of assists, another inch-perfect corner this time found the head of Hughes who made no mistake.

The result sees the young Seals move up to sixth in the table, 12 points off the top, but with as many as six games in hand already on those above them.

CHESTER: Smith, Rg Daly, Lee, Heywood, Nelson, Griffiths, Ashworth, Hughes, Rc Daly, Giani, Burke.

SCORERS: Burke 7 & 13, Nelson 41, Rc Daly 48, Hughes 90.