Never mind Roy of the Rovers, the incredible events at the Swansway Chester Stadium on Monday night created a new comic strip hero: Ben of the Blues.
Ben Heneghan, an unknown less than six weeks ago, ingrained his name into the history and fabric of Chester Football Club forevermore.
He was candid enough in his post-match interview to admit he hadn’t heard of Melchester Rovers or Roy Race, ageing the press bench in an instant, but his last-gasp winner had something fantastical about it.
Whatever else he achieves in the game, and let’s hope there’s lots more to come, the unassuming lad from Salford will never forget his role in perhaps the greatest of the Chester-Wrexham derbies.
His goal, and some finish it was too, in the 94th minute settled a game that deserves to be remembered for a long time.
Chester seemed to freeze in front of the television cameras and took 25 minutes to remember that beneath the pre-match montages and disproportionate policing there was a game of football to be won.
Wrexham ran wild and will reflect on opportunities missed, but chances don’t win matches.
Steve Burr had the belief in his team to persevere with the pass-pass approach and the sheer weight of possession began to wear Wrexham down.
Chester started to sense the sands were shifting but it required a split-second moment of ingenuity to crack the Welsh resistance.
Craig Hobson’s instinct prompted him to elevate his left boot and his subtle flick diverted John Rooney’s shot into the net.
Hobson is more Frank Gallagher than Gianfranco Zola but his touch was reminiscent of those interventions the brilliant little Italian used to make. Chester had seized the momentum and Wrexham couldn’t wrestle it back.
Burr impelled his side forward in the final few minutes with Wrexham on the retreat but time was against them and the moment appeared to have passed.
Kingsley James had one last chance and knocked a high, hanging and hopeful cross into the area with Chris Iwelumo the probable target.
Wrexham suspected the same and three defenders focused on the big man.
Enter stage right Heneghan. He ghosted in unnoticed and slotted the ball back across goal and into the far corner to win the game.
It was an incredible finish and a true ‘I was there’ moment that the 3,183 inside the ground will never forget, least of all Ben Heneghan.
