Chester FC: In-form Stafford Rangers up next after Chorley clash postponed

Feb 5 2012 by Paul Wheelock, Chester Chronicle

SUB-ZERO temperatures put paid to Chester FC’s chances of striking a decisive blow in the title race on Saturday.

Neil Young’s side’s top-of-the-table battle at Chorley was postponed on an afternoon when the big freeze claimed victim to every scheduled Premier Division fixture in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League.

The wipeout means the Blues remain three points clear at the summit going into this Saturday’s home match against Stafford Rangers (3pm).

It will be the third time the teams have clashed this season.

Chester ran out 3-0 winners in September’s league meeting at Marston Road and then won November’s FA Trophy tie between the sides at the Exacta Stadium 2-0.

But Stafford have improved since then and impressive wins at FC United of Manchester and Marine and a draw at Chorley last month saw boss Greg Clowes pick up the manager of the month award for January.

Blues boss Young will be wary of the threat Rangers pose.

But he will be confident of securing the first of the 10 victories he believes are required if Chester are to win the fight for top spot.

Young said: “We’re aiming for 15 wins from our last 15 matches but if we can’t do that our aim must be to reach 90 points plus to have a chance of winning it.

“Marine are putting a run together, FC United are putting their usual January-February run together, so they are pushing the four teams at the top.

“But we’ve just got to concentrate on what we do. We’ve haven’t been great recently so it’s up to me to put it right and the lads to put it right once they get over the line.”

Young is looking to boost his defensive options.

He was close to signing former Tranmere Rovers, Hull City, Scunthorpe United and Sheffield Wednesday centre-back Richard Hinds on non-contract terms last week following his release from Lincoln City.

But the ambitious move fell through after the experienced Hinds, 31, was offered a short-term deal until the end of the season with League One outfit Yeovil Town.