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It had been another bad day at the office for IT professional and part-time manager of Northwich part-timers Kingfisher FC, Ray Kinsale. The sheer weight of idiot problems raised by idiot users of the new billing system he was working on was beginning to weigh heavily on his mind, and the injury list for Kingfisher FC ahead of Sunday's crunch game against Penny Black FC, only two days away, was the cause of real concern. But Friday July 12th 2003 was to be the changing point of Ray's life, but he wasn't to know this as he queued with the rest of the Friday evening traffic on the Runcorn-Widnes bridge.
When he finally reached his Northwich home that evening he opened the door to find two pieces of post on his doormat, the first was the long-awaited copy of CM 03/04, delivered on the day of issue by those trusty people from Amazon. The second, however, was more of a surprise. It was a letter, on headed notepaper from Chester City football club, offering him the vacant manager's position.
Ray had no ideas why he, an unknown pub team manager, had been asked to pick up the Chester manager's job, but that didn't stop him picking up the phone and calling the City charirman straight away with his acceptance of the job.
He would start tomorrow......
In a surprise move today Chester chairman Stephen Vaughan appointed total unknown Ray Kinsale as manager of Chester City football club. Speaking exclusively to this paper chairman Vaughan said "I was looking for a steady character with exciting potential to fill the vacant manager's position. After the last manager a bit of stability is required and Kinsale's record with Kingfisher FC speaks for itself." Whilst it is true that Kingfisher FC haven't lost in two years it's also true that they are a side in the Northwich and District Sunday League so the wisdom of this selection quite frankly has to be questioned. This writer, for one, waits to see just how quickly the unknown Kinsale will last. Harry Hackmeister
..and elsewhere in the paper Chester Evening Leader not National Paper shock
In an unfortunate incident today the new Sports Interactive game patch for CM03/04 claimed that the Evening Leader wasn't a national paper. This is just the sort of clueless, uninformed journalism that this paper, for one, despises Roger Hackmeister, Editor Chester Evening Leader
I am doing this story 'straight out of the box', I have literally just got CM03/04 and have not had a chance to work out anything except that my CM3 tactics don't work !
I'm using a 2.4Ghz Athlon with 1GB of memory, and I'm playing a new game with the number of leagues recommended to me by the system, we'll see how the speed holds up
Just a note about a couple of things from the story so far. I did not get the game on 13th July 2003, which is a Sunday anyway and not a Saturday, that is artistic liscence as it's the day the game starts. I'm also likely to start using the first person, as a style of writing as I'm not best comfortable with the third person style.
Also, the name of the thread refers to an ancient by-law of Chester, one that has never been repealed. And, by the way, I really am a Chester fan, so I hope sentiment doesn't cloud my judgement !
Preseason - Excerpts taken from the private memoirs of Roy Kinsale
Sunday 13th July 2003 was my first day in the job, a game with Nottingham Forest was due that very afternoon, so I choose to ask my assitant manager Steve Bleasdale to pick the teams whilst I got on the phones to try and drum up some additions to the back room staff
In addition to Bleasdale, who was left over from the previous mangers time at the club a couple of ex-players make up the bulk of the existing staff. Iain Jenkins, the former Northern Ireland full back is a coach whilst Big Joe Hinnigan retains the physio's job that he's held at he club for many year. A sole scout, Alan Cotterell makes up the existing backroom staff. Cottrell was asked on that first morning to look out for youth players to fill the rather thin on the ground reserve squad.
As a result of the morning's work on the phones contracts were offered to two scouts, Rob Campkin and David Jarrett and two coaches, Ian Gilzean and John Rudkin.
Meanwhile the afternoon's game against Forest would be a good chance for me to see what I've got in the squad. First impressions were of a side with very little width defensively so I asked Bleasdale to put out a side in a 5-3-2 Defensive formation in the match
The tactics selection certainly appeared to be a good one, with Chester sprinting to a 2-0 half time lead against a Forest side seemingly bereft of ideas against a well marshalled Chester defence. Both goals were scored by Steve Brodie, the first following a good break by on-loan striker Robert Gill.Gill breaking from the half way line and then squaring the ball for Brodie to score. Four minutes later Brodie lost his marker and headed home a Paul Carden at the far post. In the second half Forest came back with David Johnson knocking the ball into an empty net fter a Eugen Bopp cross eluded goalkeeper Ian McCaldon. McCaldon went a long way towards making up for this with a great save in the 84th minute, but it was Chester who finished the stronger and ran out worthy winners.
Brodie came away from the game with a bruised heel, and will be out for a week.
By the time the next game came around the four back room staff had signed and Chris Waddle was named manager of Leigh RMI
Chester 3-0 Witton Albion
Preseason Friendly Wednesday 16th July 2003
A game against the local part-timers would give a chance for some of the younger players to show what they could do, and wholseale changes were made from Sunday's match. A quiet first half ensued as Chester's young players struggled to stamp their mark on the game. A breakthrough did come on 44 minutes as Adam Hunter, an attacking midfielder, set free Lee Reece down the left. Reece got to the byline put over a wonderful cross that young Jamie Heard, playing at right wingback met with a powerful header that flew into the net. A more positive approach in the second period brought instant rewards Adam Hunter heading home on 49 minutes from a Gethin Lloyd cross. On 55 minutes Lee Reece, who had an excellent game, had a slice of luck when the Witton keeper fumbled a simple backpass and allowed Reece the simplest of tap-ins for City's third. The Chester forwards were guilty of wasting a few chances after that but Chester ended up running out comfortable winners of the game.
Chester 0-0 Tranmere
Preseason Friendly Saturday 19th July
The prematch scout's report from David Jarett shows what should be an interesting match up with Chester's defensive 5-3-2 coming up against Tranmere's attacking variation on the same formation. The first half passed off without any goals with Tranmere's attractive passing game failing to get any change out of a resolute Chester defence, Tranmere did have by far the lion's share of the play, however. The second half was no different from the first,and the game remained goalless. Chester had no real dramas in keeping Tranmere out but didn't produce much in attack theselves, which I found slightly disappointing.
Chester 0-0 Rotherham
Preseason Friendly Wednesday 23rd July
First division Rotherham were the next team to visit the Deva Stadium. Chester strated brightly, Brodie hitting the post on 11 minutes after being set free by right winger Rapley. This was a close as anyone got in the first half, the period ending 0-0. The second half was more of the same, more evenly matched than the Tranemere game, with goalkeeper McCaldon seemingly cementing his first team spot with a commanding display. But I had fewer questions answered about the defence and the left wingback slot looks a problem.
On a postive note the game against Rotherham attracted 5157 paying customers, hinting to me that entertainment wise the team must be doing something right. Before the weekend's fixture however it was time to get on the phones again and look to strengthen the side.
Chester 0-0 Sheff Utd
Presaeson Friendly Saturday 26th July 2003
The next vistors to the Deva were the highly rated division one side Sheffield United. The first half was a bit one sided with Ndlovu outstanding for the Blades, but Chester defended well once more and there were few scares for McCaldon in the Chester net.Heard and Collins did well in Chester's back line. It was goalless at half-time, and it was to remain that way. Chester were brighter in the second half, but still didn't manage a shot on target, however three consecutive clean sheets against higher division opposition is very pleasing from my point of view. Young Jamie Heard, a right back utilised on the right side of a back three was man-of-the match with a notable performance coming from midfielder Micheal Twiss
Vauxhall Motors 1-3 Chester
Preseason Friendly Monday 28th July 2003
Part-timers Vauxhall Motors managed to start off in a way that neither Sheffield United or Rotherham could by scoring an early goal against Chester's second string of players. On 10 minutes the Motor's left winger reached the byline had his pinpoint cross knocked across the face of goal for the center forward to knock a deflected shot into the net past the unlucky Wayne Brown. Chester came back strongly Adam Hunter running through the Motor's back line on a superb through ball by Gethin Lloyd and slotting it past the on rushing keeper on 24 minutes.Beesley added a second five minutes later put into the box following a good run by Shaun Carey, young Beesley kept his head and calmly placed it past the keeper. Chester started off the second half the way they had finished the first but it wasn't until the 61st minute that they added the third. Hunter running form the edge fo the centre circle, following good work by carey, to the edge of the box where he hammered a 20 yard shot past the Motor's keeper. Lee Reece had a good chance to make it four near the end but headed straight at the keeper. All-in-all a good performace by the youngsters in the team with left wingback Scott Bagnall getting the man of the match accolade. Who said the left side was a problem ?
At this time I made my first foray into the transfer market signing Birmingham's Carl McNally on a season long loan, the 20 year old attacking midfielder should add options in midfield.
Chester also made it's first permenant signing of the season, experienced left midfielder Gary Bowman.Scotsman Bowman who is 28 has played for a number of clubs over the years in Scotland St.Mirren and Clydebank being the main ones, he will, hopefully, prove to be the starting left wingback.
Scunthorpe 1-1 Chester
Preseason Friendly Wednesday 30th July 2003 Bowman and McNally would go stright into the team for this freindly. But Chester struggled in the first half against a lively Scunthorpe side. Scunthorpe full backNathan Stanton got the only goal of the half with a rasping dirve from the corner of the box after a corner had only been half cleared. As manager I was upset at how my defenders failed to close down the player. Foster for the disappointing Brodie was the only half time change, indicating to the players that I want to see how they deal with a bit of adversity. Chester did indeed respond in the second half, with McNally making a notable miss early on. Chester did equalise through Darren Stamp who shot past the goalkeeper after being put in by Micheal Twiss.
The end of July saw a great deal of contract activity at Chester with new deals being offered to Carden, Brodie, Stamp, Twiss, McCaldon, McIntyre, Bolland, Guyett, Connolly, Hunter, deals were not offered to Brady, Coulson, Cameron who are all in the final year of their contract.
Chester 2-1 Reading
Preseason Friendly Saturday 2nd August 2003
Chester sprung out of the blocks in this game Rapley stealing the ball from Reading left winger Salako charging down the wing and crossing for Brodie to sweep the ball into the net after only 18 seconds of play. Chester continued to dominate the early exchanges but couldn't turn the advantage into any more goals. Reading worked their way back into the game and equalised on 33 minutes when Harper met a Salako cross and netted past an exposed McCaldon.Adrain Williams limped off near the end of the half a worry for Reading ahead of next week's season opener. The half continued at a lively pace, but the score remained 1-1 at the half. Chester started the second half as brightly as the first. Only six minutes into the second period a long clearance by Heard was collected by Stamp who took the ball into the box, looked to have pulled it too far wide, but then crossed for Brodie, who had lost his marker to head home, 2-1. A lively, open game followed, with both sides wasting good opportunities and both goalkeepers making important saves. Reading, however, couldn't get back on parity and the game ended 2-1 to Chester. Brodie was named man-of-the-match for his two-goal display.
In the week running up to the start of the new season Chester added to their squad by signing Sergei Baltacha a defensive midfielder released by Milwall against heavy competition from Hartlepool and Clyde. Elsewhere they had an offer for Hull defender Greg Strong accpeted and enetered a bidding contest for Scottish left back Andrew Bell
In the pre-season promotion odds Chester rate as 6-4 joint favouries with Morecambe. Dagenham & Redbridge and Scarborough at 7-4 and Shrewsbury and Exeter at 6-1 make up the top tips list.
1.Wayne Brown
First choice keeper at city for a number of year's Brown(26) looks to have lost his first team spot to Ian McCaldon. In many ways technically superior to McCaldon He does have a weakness rushing out.
20.Ian McCaldon
The big Scottish goalkeeper(28) cemented his first team berth with a series of impressive displays pre-season, and made a convincing a case for the job. He has great physical attributes for the goalkeepers job.
Defenders
13.Gethin Lloyd SW/D C
A 19 year old Welsh centre back with a good work rate but still alot to learn. Reserve Team player.
26.Jamie Heard D R
20 years old, bags of promise seeemingly at home at wing back, or on the right of a three man defence. First Team Squad.
18.Scott Bagnall D L
This 19 year old left back is a great team player, whose decision making skills are good for one so inexperienced. Reserve Team Squad.
23.Paul Connolly D LC
Another 19 year old this defender's main asset is his tackling. However not very receptive to training. Reserve Team player
5.Phil Bolland D C
An agressive centre back, good in the air, this 27 year old is a backup to the first team squad.
25.Scott Guyett D C
A 27 year old Australian, no doubt still smarting at the Rugby World Cup defeat, is a good all round defender, strongest in the air. Unimpressive in pre-season and now languishing in the reserves.
17.Carl Ruffer D/DM C
A solid, if unispiring, defender who can also fill in as a defensive midfielder. A consitent performer in pre-season but never quite managed to make a starting spot his own, starts the season as backup to the first team.
2.Danny Collins D/AM C
Aged 23, Collins is one of the most promising players at the club. At home in a back three he can also fill in as an attacking midfielder and with his ability at the long shot is a threat at set pieces. His versatility is an asset to the first team.
22.Tom Coulson D RC
A 18 year old defender, he has dissapointed in pre-season and has been placed on the transfer list. For now, he warms the bench for the reserves.
6.Sergei Baltacha D/DM C
A new signing in the preseason this player, only 24, has shown himself to be a versatile defender who is capable of making the center man of the back three position his own. Good in the air and with a strong tackle this player is already a vital member of the first team.
30.Greg Strong D C
Another new signing, for £10,000 from Hull. He is left footed, and can play on the left side of the back three, a position which was becoming a bit of a problem. The 28 year old has made a bright start for the club and has made a starting place in the team his own.
Midfielders
7.Andy Harris D/DM RC
A versatile player who can fill in at the back, at right wing back or in the midfield. This 26 year old is an on-field leader as well as being a hard worker. Has yet to break into the first team on a regular basis, but his chance will surely come.
4.Paul Carden DM RC
A 24 year old who has made a starting spot his own. A defensive midfielder with a good range of passing for this level he fits in well in the centre of midfield. If all goes well will be a good player for Chester for years to come.
7.Kevin Rapley M/F RL
A wide player who has thus far only been utilised on the right side, this 25 year old is a regular feature in the Chester first team in the right wingback slot. Has beter attcking gifts than defending but is still much valued as a wingback.
3.Kevin McIntyre M LC
A 25 year old midfielder who can play in the center or on the left. Had a dissapointing pre-season but has been given the chance to resurect his Chester career in the Reserves. Someone to think of if we need to sell someone.
14.Shaun Carey M C
The hard working Irishman, 27, has been given few chances to show what he can do in Chester shirt, and, to be fair, the chances he was given in pre-season he genrally speaking took well. However doen't seem to fit into the midfield puzzle very well and is likely to remain on the periphery of the first team until injuries interveen.
16.Jon Brady AM R
A 28 year old Australian (also smarting at the Rugby World Cup defeat) he has singularly failed to impress. Now languishing in the Reserves is a high candidate for selling.
8.Ben Davies AM RC
22 years old, this player's consistency and all round good play has not failed to impress. A good dribbler he is an atatcking asset and a starting player in the team. A valued member of the team
27.John Davies AM/F R
This youngster,18, has impressed in his outings for the reserves. The right-winger, who is an excellent penalty-taker is avilable on loan and hopes to gain experiece that way. Another player with a good future.
29.Adam Hunter AM C
Aged 19 this player has been outstanding in all his pre-season displays scoring many goals joining in from midfield. A talent that will hopefully take him from the Reserves to the first team in the near furture.
11.Michael Twiss AM/F L
One of the stars of the team this 25 year old, a product of Man Utd's youth system is a integral part of Chester's midfield, the best crosser of the ball in the squad Chester will have to endeavour to use him wider, more often.
31.Gary Bowman M L
Signed on a free before the season started this 29 year old Scot has made the left wingback spot his own. He has been consitently outstanding in all his displays so far and looks to have been an exceptionally good signing.
Carl McNally AM C (on loan from Birmingham City)
On loan from Birmingham this 20 year old has yet to make his mark on the first team and will start the regular season in the reserves.
Forwards
21.Steve Brodie F RC
This 30 year old forward is likely, long term, to only be a back up to the first team, but whilst Clare is injured can expect a good run in the first team. A hard-worker and a good finisher
12.Ian Foster F RC
Another player hoping to get their share of appearances in the first team, but this 26 year old may be dissapointed as he appears to be 4th in the pecking order for two first team spots. Takes a tolerably good penalty.
28.Lee Reece F RLC
An 18 year old stalwart of the reserves this player showed well in preseason. Good in the mental and physical aspects of the game this player needs to work on the technical aspects a bit more this year. Is still likely to score many goals in the reserves this season.
19.Dave Cameron S C (on loan to Halifax)
Big Dave,as he's known, is on short term loan to Halifax.The 28 year old welshman is a big powerful man, good in the air and brave and aggressive in equal measure. Begs the question, why did the last manager loan him out ?
15.Mark Beesley S C
A 21 year old striker often is described as a goal machine. he did, however, dissapoint in preseason and can only expect chances in the reserves for the foreseeable future.
10.Daryl Clare S C
A 25 year old Irishman this is the club's star player and most valuable asset. Was injured all through preseason, however, so has not had a chance to show what he can do. Club penalty taker, good finisher. Automatic first team choice when fit.
24.Darryn Stamp S C
Aged 25, a player who is good in the air and has a high work rate, he has slotted into the first team with ease,looks a quality player. Very unselfish.
Robert Gill S C (on loan from Doncaster)
Player brought in on short term loan to cover for the injured Clare.
Chester Made Joint Favourites After Successful Pre-Season
Chester were tonight named as 6-4 joint favourites along with Morecambe for this year's Conference title by bookmaker to the stars, William Hill. What must have been a swaying factor in this decision must have been the impressive pre-season by the Blues.
Unbeaten in 8 pre-season games, including impressive wins over First Division Nottingham Forest and Reading, Chester look set to take the division by storm. This paper, for one, has never doubted Ray Kinsale's ability and we look forward to a succesful season.
In other news Chester have improved their back line with the signings of Sergei Balthacha, on a free transfer and Greg Strong, a £10,000 purchase from Hull City. Chester were unlucky, however to miss out on promising left back Andrew Bell.Bell chose the lure of higher division football and went to Leyton Orient.
Harry Hackmeister, Resident Chester City journalist
Chester 0-0 Aldershot
Conference Saturday 9th August 2003
Chester started with new signings Sergei Baltacha at the heart of the three man defence and Greg Strong on the bench. An entirely typical first game of the season followed with neither side wanting to lose. Chances were few and far between but the main point of concern for myself was the apparant lack of communication and trust between the forward pairing of Stamp and Brodie. A dour game in total with Aldershot, who only had one shot in the entire match, being pleased with the point. Chester man-of-the-match Gary Bowman
Leigh RMI 0-1 Chester
Conference Tuesday 12th August 2003
The first half of this game was another dour affair with neither side able to gain an ascendecy. At half time I replaced the ineffectual Brodie with the on-loan Robert Gill. Both sides opened up the second half in a more adventerous way with Chester making the breakthrough on 65 minutes. Darren Stamp reached the byline after being put thorugn by [b]Bowman[B] and then chipped the ball across the face of the six yard box where it was met by an unmarked Robert Gill who headed home. In contrast to the first half an open game of football followed with both sides having numerous chances. However neither side could add to the score and Chester ran out narrow, but deserved winners. Man of the match was Leigh's Steve Redmond
Chester 1-0 Gravsend
Conference Saturday 16th August 2003
A one sided first half with one way traffic towards the Gravesend goal. That Chester scored only once in this half is testament to the form of the Gravsend keeper Paul Wilkerson. The goal that did come was scored on 8 minutes a glorious first time volley from the right-hand edge of the box by Robert Gill. Gill, who had broken into space on the right side of the box was played in by a clever chip by Paul Carden. The early goal suggested a landslide but chances came and went with increasing regularity. the half time whistle came at 1-0. The second half was a much quieter and more evenly contested affair. No further score was registered and the game was marred by an ugly challenge by Gill on Gravesend's Adrian Pennock that left Pennock needing treatment. Gill was rightly shown the red card. Paul Carden was named man-of-the-match after a storming display. Chester rise to 7th in the table on the back of this result.
Margate 0-0 Chester
Conference Saturday 23rd August 2003
Another goalless first half, but this was no bore-fest, with chances at both ends, Chester keeper Ian McCaldon making one superb save. Chester were a little toothless up front only managing one shot on traget leading me to replace debutant Ian Foster in for the suspened Gill with Steve Brodie. Brodie was impressive in the second half but neither side could break through, leading to what must have been a frustrating draw for both managers. Gary Bowman was named man-of-the-match for the second time this season. Chester stay in 7th. Meanwhile Morecambe win their fourth game in a row and sit proudly on top of the conference.
Chester 3-0 Woking
Conference Saturday 30th August 2003
Chester really were firing on all cylinders straight from the off in this game, the hapless Woking side were left chasing shadows for much of the first half, as the four yellow cards in the first period alone indicates. Chester only scored two in this period but could, and should, have had more. The first of the goals came as late as the 31st minute Sergei Baltacha opening his account for the club rising above the static Woking defence to head home a Paul Carden corner. The second, on 42, was a great goal. It started with the impressive Baltacha clearing up a rare woking foray and knocking the ball to Rapley on the right. A raking pass up the line found Brodie in space. He went down the line drew Stamp's marker and then passed the ball infield to find Stamp who controlled the ball took it round the on-rushing goalkeeper and slotted it into the empty net. Quality stuff. Only one more goal was added in the second half, although Chester created even more chances than in the first Ben Davies being a culprit more than once. The goal that was scored came on 75 minutes, with fine work by Twiss on the left putting Stamp clear into the box. Stamp then pulled the ball back across the face of the goal where Steve Brodie was waiting to put the ball into the empty net. There was still time for the impressive Paul Carden to miss and 86th minute penalty. Chester running out comfortable winners of this one. Kevin Rapley was named man of the match. Chester climb a place to 6th, one of five teams on 11 points, one behind Morecambe who today lost their first match. Brodie ended the match injured and will be out for a week.
Gill returned to Doncaster on the completion of his loan period on the last day of the month. At the end of the month Chester lie 6th in the table, but more impressively have not conceeded any goals. This is mainly down to the impressive Ian McCaldon in goal. McCaldon isn't the only player to stand out with the wide players Bowman and Rapley being the pick of the bunch.
Great defence, but where are the goals ? Harry Hackmeister's Big Column of Football
What's going on at Chester City ? After one month of the season the Blues are unbeaten, but lie only sixth in the Conference table. Unbeaten ? Yes, but there are too many draws and not enough wins. Whilst this column applauds defensive security, what we, and every fan of Chester City, I'm sure, wants is goals, gaols, and more goals. Possibly with some good play thrown in for good measure.
As I've said many times before, the jury is out on Ray Kinsale, time to turn it around Ray !
Hereford 0-2 Chester
Conference Tuesday 2nd September 2003
No worries for Chester at this apparantly tricky away match against a strong Hereford team. Goals in each ahlf from Ian Foster, in for the injured Steve Brodie sealed the game. Foster got his first on 7 minutes when a rasping Ben Davies drive was parried by Matt Baker in the Hereford goal and Foster was the first to the rebound. The second came on 78 minutes, and what a goal it was, Bowman, on the left wing played Stamp into the box with a perfectly weighted pass. Stamp drew the keeper and the last man before squaring the ball to gift Foster an open goal, a chance that he did not pass up. The final scoreline in no way flattered chester who had 18 attempts on goal in the entire game compared to Hereford's four. Ben Davies was outstanding in midfield but once again the man-of-the-match accolade went to Gary Bowman for his tirless work on the left. Chester climb to fourth in the table on the back of this win.
Forest Green 1-2 Chester
Conference Sturday 13th September 2003
In an evenly contested first half Chester got their noses in front first with a Darryn Stamp effort on 20 minutes. Played in by Twiss, Stamp's effort took a wicked deflection to wrongfoot the Forest Green keeper. However the home faithful were not kept waiting and Forest Green were level within two minutes. A good run and cross by Martin Foster from the left was headed home by Jamie Moralee who rose easily above a static Greg Strong at the near post. This was the first goal Chester had conceded in the Conference this season.The teams were evenly matched throughout the half and it wasn't unfair to either side to go in on terms. Upset at the effort of some of the players I made wholesale changes at half time Collins replaced Strong, Brodie came on for Foster and Harris replaced Rapley and a more attacking mindset was adopted. Reward came on 58 minutes when Stamp ran the length of the half only to blast the ball against the bar from a tight angle but Brodie was there to knock the rebound into an empty net. Chester were easily the better side in the second half and were well worth their win. Steve Brodie was named man-of-the-match despite only playing 45 minutes. Darryn Stamp for one, can count himself unlucky not to get that accolade, Chester rise to third in the table behind Morecambe and level on points with Shrewsbury.
Wednesday 17th September 2003
Good news greeted me when I reached my office this morning Darryl Clare, the club's most valuable player, out since before the start of the season with injury was back in full training. This was good news for Chester indeed.
Chester 2-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
Conference Saturday 20th September 2003 Clare would start on the bench for this one. Chester got the early goal, with Brodie knocking the ball in off the post after a pass from the selfless Darryn Stamp who had been put in from a through ball by Twiss. This is as good as it got in the first half with Chester managing no more chances and the Daggers only producing on of their own that McCaldon saved easily. After more of the same for the first 15 minutes of the second period I decided to make a change bringing Clare on for Brodie on 61 minutes. Within four minutes Clare had created the second goal, controlling the ball in the center circle and setting Ben Davies free with an exquisite pass, Davies running on to shoot from the edge of the box into the net. A good goal but this was the high point of an otherwise dull half. Both sides managed more in the second half than the first but it was Chester who ran out worth winners. Jamie Heard got man-of-the-match for an outstanding display at the back. Chester climb to second, still a point behind Morecambe but are now the only unbeaten team in the division.
Chester 0-0 Stevenage
Conference Tuesday 23rd September 2003
A dour first half, notable only for the injury to Stevenage net minder Perez on 20 minutes. Chester however failed to really test his replacement, Phil Smith a recent purchase from Margete. Clare was brought on at half time to try and inject something into the game. The introduction of Clare however did little to improve a poor game, chances remained few and far between. Even the introduction of Danny Collins in a midfield role for Twiss failed to spark anything, although Collins did play particularly well. Nil-Nil the final score, and all-in-all a fair result. Gary Bowman was once more named man-of-the-match. Despite the poorness of the game Chester do go top, as Morecambe lose 3-0 at home to Forest Green.
Shrewsbury 0 3 Chester
Conference Saturday 27th September 2003
An entertaining first half with both sides creating, and wasting, several good chances. Former Chester loan star Sam Aiston was the star for Shrewsbury whilst Ben Davies kept things ticking over for City. The Shrews were unlucky that Aiston had to go off injured at half time, whilst for Chester Clare replaced Brodie, who had picked up a slight knock, and replaced Rapley, who had a poor first half with Andy Harris. The second half was as bright as the first with chances evenly distributed until the 74th minute. There then followed a five minute, three goal spell in which Chester took control of the game. The first came from a Clare knock-down for Stamp, a thorugh ball that set Stamp away from the defence, and into the box where he beat a hesitant goalkeeper to the ball, and scored emphatically in the bottom right corner. Three minutes later on 76 minutes it was two. A superb, defence splitting pass by Davies sent Michael Twiss away. Twiss took the ball to the edge of the box where his powerful shot was too much for Scott Howie in the Shrewsbury goal. Howie will undoubtedly be unhappy with that effort. And it got worse for Shrewsbury just a minute later when a Paul Carden corner caused chaos in the Shrew's box.In the ensueing melee Jamie Heard knocked the ball goalwards only to see Martin O'Conner divert the ball past the hapless Howie and into his own net. The drama wasn't over yet with Shrewsbury's centre back Drysdale being sent off for dissent, his second yellow, and Stamp limping off the field in the final minute with what looks like a nasty injury. All-in-all a desrved Chester victory, although not possibly by that margin. The injured Stamp was named man of the match, and Chester stay on top level on points with Morecambe.
Joe Hinnigan's physio's report made better reading than I'd hoped Stamp would only be out three days with a damaged shoulder, and Brodie's knock had cleared up overnight and wasn't of any concern. Meanwhile chairman Stephen Vaughan let it be known to the press that he was "extremly pleased" with the Shrewsbury result. It was also nice to get wider recognition when I was named Conference Manager of the Month for September. Which was nice.
On the walls, with a bow and arrow. 
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