WAKEFIELD (College Grove)

It was a trip to West Yorkshire today and my first  chance to watch the re-formed Chester in competitive action, in what was only their second game of the new season. College Road, Wakefield was the venue today and this was also a chance for me to see Wakefield at their 'new' ground, having seen them previously in their Wakefield-Emley guise at Belle Vue (Rugby League) ground.

The ground was pretty basic with just the one stand, but it is perfectly adequate for the crowds that watch 'the bears' their average being around 127 (based on last seasons attendances). The crowd today was 517, of which at least 400 were travelling Chester fans. Obviously when you get crowds of this size at step four games, if you want a programme you have to get there early and it was lucky we did as the programmes were sold out long before the kick off.

The game was a tough fought away win for the blues (or whites today) and they just about to deserve edge out a determined home side. There were very few clear cut chances created during the game but the ones that were generally fell to Chester. It was George Horan who gave Chester the lead from a corner, when he got his head to the ball, in amongst a ruck of players, to loop the ball home.

Wakefield should have gone in level at half time when Delroy Ferguson went through one-on-one, but goalkeeper Richard Whiteside denied him with a great save. However they were level soon after the break when Elliott Firth fired home from 20 yards after a mazy run in from the right wing.

The game was dominated by Chester from this point but unfortunately for them Bears' goalkeeper Josh Herring was in fine form. With fifteen minutes to go though the ball dropped to Stuart Graves who drove home to secure Chester their first win of the season.

All that was left for me now was to negotiate the M62 and head off to Manchester for the Muse gig at Old Trafford...



   

I apologise for the quality of the photo's, as I made a basic schoolboy error in forgetting my camera today, so these were taken on my mobile phone. Oops!

Saturday 4th September 2010
Northern Premier League Division One North
Wakefield 1-2 Chester
Attendance: 531