CHESTER Schoolboys Under 14s face an all-or-nothing clash at St Helens in their bid to reach the Cheshire Schools Cup semi-finals.
The Chester youngsters were left ‘devastated’ on Saturday after allowing a 3-0 lead to slip in a 4-3 defeat at home to Macclesfield Schoolboys.
Following their opening group-game victory against Stoke where goals from Tom Donald (2), Danny Reynolds and Matthew Simpson helped Chester to a 4-1 success, a win against Macclesfield would have sealed a semi-final place.
Chester made a dream start at the Cheshire County Sports Club in Upton, with Donald opening the scoring after eight minutes.
A corner from captain Aaron Hassall was headed home by Sam Jones shortly after and Donald struck again before the half-hour mark to give the hosts a commanding lead.
But then the visitors started to edge their way back into the game.
Three minutes before break, Macclesfield hit back with their first shot on target and were first to the ball following a corner on the stroke of half-time, reducing the deficit to just one goal.
Chester started the second half much the same way as the first and got at their rivals, forcing a number of good saves out of the opposition keeper.
Yet luck wasn’t on their side and halfway through the second stage, Macc again smashed in a double whammy which gave the Chester keeper no chance.
The home side still had time to draw level and a golden chance went begging following a last-gasp corner.
Head coach Lee Cairns, a PE teacher at Blacon High School, said: “For the first 25 minutes, it was all Chester and it could have been four or five. They were all really good goals.
“The lads were devastated at the end but if we go to St Helens on March 5 and get a win then it’s not all doom and gloom.”
Now the boys, who are coached by Cairns and assistant boss David Forbes, face a tough last group game if they want to make the last four of the county cup competition.
