With this weekend’s game against Hyde having the ‘do or die’ element to it, it seems apt that for this week’s Flashback Friday we jump in the DeLorean, tell Doc Brown to punch in April 6, 2004, and boot it back in time, Marty McFly style.
For Blues fans, the game against Aldershot Town on a warm Tuesday night, almost 10 years ago to the day, was one of those occasions to be cherished. A game where 11 men in blue and white shirts stepped on to the pitch and did what was required of them to ensure a job well done.
That game against the Shots in our Nationwide Conference-winning season under the stewardship of Mark Wright was one that we had to win for very different reasons, but reasons that were no more important than those with which Steve Burr’s Class of 2014 are faced with this weekend.
Wright’s charges, led from the front by the talismanic figure of Daryl Clare and anchored at the back by the cool head of Phil Bolland, needed the three points against Terry Brown’s Hampshire side and did not disappoint in front of a buoyant home crowd of 3,432 at the Deva Stadium.
It was a game that had it all.
A breathless start, early goals, a penalty and two sendings off. It was one of those games which you wouldn’t have begrudged paying to see twice.
The Blues extended their lead at the top of the Conference table to six points after a hard-fought win against the third-placed Shots.
Two goals apiece for leading scorer Clare, whose tally for the season had reached 28 by this point, and defender Bolland earned three precious points.
City swept into a two-goal lead in the opening 10 minutes of frenetic football.
After just 90 seconds a short corner between Clare and Jamie Heard (remember him?), saw the former Hull City youngster cross the ball into the box where the tall figure of Bolland was on hand to power a header home from six yards.
After 10 minutes it was 2-0.
Clare latched onto a flick from his Darryn Stamp – the Wise to his Morecambe, the Roy to his Siegfried, the Dec to his Ant, with the in-form hitman outpacing his marker before flashing an angled effort into the far corner past the despairing dive of Shots goalkeeper Nikki Bull.
Against the run of play Adam Miller pulled the Southerners back into the game after 37 minutes. The battling midfielder took a corner from the left and Shaun Carey and Iain Turner got into a dreadful mess as they allowed the inswinging corner to bisect them and creep over the line.
Chester restored their two-goal cushion after 57 minutes when Bolland kept a cool head, as he so often did, to score from 10 yards after an effort from the skilfull Michael Twiss had hit the base of the visitors' post.
City then put themselves firmly into the driving seat after 67 minutes when Clare scored his third penalty in as many matches after Heard had been brought down in the area by a crude challenge from Jon Challinor. The ex-Boston United striker swept the resulting penalty in the corner of the net to the delight of the vocal home faithful.
Aldershot substitute Lee Charles registered a late consolation for Brown’s men, enjoying an excellent campaign in their first season back in non-league football’s top flight.
Both teams ended the game with 10 men after current Blues player Kevin McIntyre and Shots’ Dean Hooper were sent off for an off-the-ball clash.
Following the match, Blues boss Wright said: "I thought for the first 45 minutes we were exceptional. We played some unbelievable football and we were after them.
"Aldershot are one of the best sides we have played and it was tough, but the major plus is that we won the game and took three points.
"Beating Aldershot gives us some breathing space. To be six points clear is a great thing. But we have some big games to play. We respect everybody, but we don’t fear anybody.
"Aldershot are a very good side and I think they are a good bet for the play-offs. I fancy them strongly. I hope we don’t have to go in the play-offs because I wouldn’t want to play them."
The victory ensured that, with four games remaining, seven points would ensure the Conference title and promotion back to the Football League.
With current Blues boss Burr stating his belief that his side need three wins from their remaining five games to ensure safety, a win against bottom club Hyde on Saturday would leave Chester needing six points from their remaining four games. It can be done.
CHESTER CITY: Turner, Collins, Guyett, Heard (Elam 90), Bolland, Carden, McIntyre, Twiss, Clare, Carey (Lane 90), Stamp (Davies 90). Subs: Rapley, Woods.
REFEREE: Russell Booth.
ATT: 3,432.
