NEIL Young has called on Chester FC fans to pack out the Exacta Stadium for Wednesday’s big clash against championship rivals Chorley (7.45pm).
The Blues boss, buzzing after seeing his side extend their winning run in all competitions to six matches with a comfortable victory at 10-man Stafford Rangers yesterday, wants as many supporters to get down to the ground as possible for the meeting with the Magpies.
Young said: “The game doesn’t need any more hype, but what I would say is let’s try and get as many Chester fans there as we can.
“We want the fans to get behind the team and show the league just how big a club Chester FC are.
“It’s as big a game as there’s going to be, so I hope the fans get down there, get behind the lads and enjoy what should be a good game.”
Chester overhauled Chorley to win last season’s Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division North title.
But Garry Flitcroft’s team eventually went up through the play-offs and they currently lie second in the Premier Division standings.
The Blues are one place and one point further back in third after they maintained their imperious form yesterday.
Iain Howard’s fourth goal of the season broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, the winger volleying in from close range after Stafford failed to clear a long Matty McGinn throw, before Michael Powell confidently swept in Chris Simm’s cross to double the advantage from 18 yards seven minutes later.
The hosts, who went into the match unbeaten in five, had Luke George sent-off moments before the break for stamping on striker Simm.
But by then they were already a beaten team and, after Howard cracked a shot against the crossbar, excellent midfielder Powell sealed the win 12 minutes from time when he tapped in his sixth goal of the season after good work from Matty McNeil and substitute Jamie Rainford.
Young, who has released utility man Greg Stones and transfer-listed midfielder Bradley Barnes, said: “It was very impressive again from the lads and all in all it was a thoroughly deserved victory at a difficult place to come.
“The sending-off probably hindered us more than anything else as we dropped off a bit. We said to the lads at half-time that they needed to keep their discipline and see the game out. They did that and in the end I thought we could have had two or three more goals.”
Young not only reserved praise for man-of-the-match Powell, but also for his defence after they kept their sixth straight clean sheet – a run which means it is now 545 minutes and more than nine hours since Chester last conceded a goal.
Young said: “I thought the whole of the back four and goalkeeper John Danby were outstanding. Although they didn’t have a lot to do, they had to deal with a lot of high balls and they did that well.”
Supporters will be able to pay on the gate for Wednesday’s game against Chorley, although there will be no admission to the Evans Halshaw Stand.
The Blues gave away 150 family passes for that area of the ground – amounting to 600 seats – at the Celebrate Cheshire event at Chester Racecourse earlier this month.
You can follow the match on Twitter @PaulWheelock
