Chester FC 0 Southport 3: Michael Wilde injured as Blues lose out

Jul 26 2011 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

THE Blues lost more than just their unbeaten pre-season record on a potentially costly evening at the Exacta Stadium.

Visitors Southport eased to a convincing win, but Chester boss Neil Young will be more concerned by the injuries suffered to two of his key players.

Skipper George Horan and talismanic striker Michael Wilde both had to be replaced in the 20th minute, with the latter being taken to hospital in an ambulance for an X-ray on a shoulder injury sustained in a clash with a Southport defender.

Horan’s injury looked less worrying, but the sight of Wilde – last season’s top-scorer – leaving the pitch clutching his shoulder was a sight no Blues fan wanted to see.

The striker has had his shoulder pinned in the past and will be hoping this latest problem is not as serious.

Southport certainly gave Chester their sternest test of the pre-season campaign so far.

John Danby was the busier of the two goalkeepers as visiting strikers Steve Daly and Tony Gray linked up to dangerous effect in the first half.  

Wilde flashed an early header wide for Chester from Jerome Wright’s corner kick but the home side looked some way off the pace against their opponents from two divisions above.

Matt Walwyn and Gray fired chances wide of Danby’s goal as Southport slowly began to find their feet. And once Wilde and Horan had succumbed to injuries, Southport took a tighter grip on the contest.

Danby saved from Gray (twice) and Daly, while Chester’s only opening saw substitute Mark Reed denied from close range on 33 minutes.

The visitors went ahead in the last minute of the first half, the dangerous Walwyn beating Danby with a fine volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Chester took just four minutes to carve out their first chance of the second half, Wright firing over after his pace took him into the penalty area.

But Southport doubled their lead in the 56th minute. Matty McGinn’s free-kick from the right flank appeared to take a couple of deflections before looping into the top corner of the net, leaving Danby stranded. Daly was officially credited with the goal over the stadium PA – but it looked more like an own goal from defender Michael Taylor.

Sub Jack McCormack rounded off the victory with 20 minutes to go, blasting a fierce right-footed drive beyond Danby for 3-0.

Chester: Danby, Stones, Marsh-Evans, Horan (Brownhill 20), Taylor, Powell (Barnes 69), Wright, Brown (A Williams 61), Rainford (Simm 61), Wilde (Reed 20), Baynes (Booth 46). Subs: Judge.

Southport: Usai, Lever, McGinn, Davis, Owens, Wilkinson, Carden, Noubissie, Daly, Gray, Walwyn. Subs: Spencer, George, Marsden, Ralphs, McCormack, Nemes.  

Referee: Neil Davies (Wirral).

Attendance: 975.