A happy Good Friday Blues fans.
Chester FC face Forest Green Rovers in their first clash of the Easter weekend today (3pm kick-off).
Latest updates from The New Lawn below.
Key Events
Full time: Forest Green 2 Chester FC 0
The referee sounds the final whistle.
It was always going to be a difficult game, but Chester have been comfortably beaten here.
They never got a foothold in the contest and failed to register a shot on goal.
Waters forces corner
The home side have dropped off and Chester try to take advantage of some complacent defending.
Matty Waters, who has provided some energy since coming on, sees his shot deflect away for a corner. It comes to nothing.
Durrell goes close
A tough day this. Elliott Durrell lets out some frustration with a shot from 25 yards out.
It dips, but not enough and grazes the top of the Forest Green net.
Final five
Getting towards the 90-minute mark and the Blues have their foot on the ball.
Forest Green know they have this wrapped up.
Theo Vassell launches a free-kick forward from the halfway line and it goes over everyone and out for a goal kick.
Akintunde offside
Chester put together their best spell of possession of the half, it is not saying too much.
Joyce eventually drives over a cross towards James Akintunde, but he had strayed beyond the last man.
Forest Green goalie Sam Russell would have beaten him to it anyway.
Shaw booked
Not long after coming on Tom Shaw is carded for a late tackle. The Blues, rightly, thought Durrell was fouled near the corner flag moments earlier but it was not given.
Forest Green make their final substitution with Shamir Mullings on for Kaiyne Woolery.
Doidge denied a second
Noble was warmly cheered when he was brought on and it is easy to see why.
He spins Astles and lays it through to Doidge inside the box.
Alex Lynch is out quickly to deny the Rovers captain.
Goal: Forest Green 2 Chester FC 0
It is not getting any better.
Substitute Liam Noble is off the bench to probably settle this.
It is a good goal to be fair, curled high into the net from 20 yards. He had too much space to shoot.
Triple sub
Jon McCarthy has seen enough after another Blues attack breaks down.
James Akintunde, Matty Waters and Tom Shaw are on. Johnny Hunt, Lucas Dawson and James Alabi are off.
Attendance
1,936 here today. 143 of those are away fans. A great effort to travel down but they have had so little to cheer.
Woodwork
Mark Cooper’s side hit the frame of the goal for the third time today.
Woolery outstrips Hughes for pace and drives his shot low against the near post past Lynch.
It runs across the goalmouth and clear.
Overrun in midfield
I am not sure the change in formation has helped Chester.
Forest Green are dominating the midfield and the Blues have fewer numbers in there now.
Another corner for the hosts, nothing comes of it. Alex Lynch then puts the goal kick straight out and they are on the back foot again.
Hit the wall
Charlie Cooper’s free kicks have not been the best for Forest Green.
The midfielder drivers one against the Chester wall from 20 yards out.
Skipper booked
Luke George is now in referee Adrian Quelch’s book for a late challenge.
Two of Chester’s midfield on yellow cards now, Dawson the other.
Durrell down
Elliott Durrell is down here.
He has tried his best to provide a spark for the Blues today.
Because of the foul Chester will at least have a chance to get the ball forward.
James Akintunde took his bib off, but it is back on now. Durrell OK to continue.
Little response
Chester have just not got going today.
Durrell clips a ball towards Alabi but Manny Monthe is quickly up to take it off him.
The service to the striker has been poor.
Goal: Forest Green 1 Chester FC 0
Christian Doidge has given Rovers the lead.
He is slid through on goal and has plenty of time to sidefoot his finish past Lynch.
Jon McCarthy had changed it to a back four at the start of this half and there was plenty of space between Ryan Astles and Johnny Hunt, who has moved from midfield to left back.
Rovers corner
Similar pattern to the first as the hosts have a corner.
Vassell’s clearing header is a good one and then Woolery, who clearly is not shy about having a pop, shoots harmlessly wide.
Second half under way
Forest Green kick off and the second half has begun.
Chester are now kicking towards their away support.
Tweet
Blues on back foot for most of first 45 but they managed to settle down and by the end were relatively comfortable https://t.co/ATwbj4HfDE
— Mike Fuller (@mikefuller91) April 14, 2017
Forest Green 0 Chester FC 0 : Half time
Goalless at the break. Chester should probably consider themselves fortunate that is the case.
The hosts have hit the post twice through Christian Doidge and Kaiyne Woolery.
They are losing the midfield battle and every time they do have the chance to get forward cannot make it stick.
Plenty for McCarthy to ponder.
Vassell treatment
Theo Vassell is down needing some treatment after a heavy fall, but looks to be moving OK and is fine to continue.
Jon McCarthy is in discussions on the edge of the technical area.
Mark Cooper and his team in the opposing dugout have been constantly making noise and urging their players forward.
Tilt heads wide
Forest Green have another corner and it is swung in by Cooper.
Curtis Tilt gets up highest to win it but the on-long Wrexham man cannot hit the target.
A threatening set-piece opportunity 25 yards out for the hosts after Hughes fouls Bugiel.
It is dead centre.
Lynch shouts his instructions to the six-man wall.
Cooper hits it well over the bar and into the Chester fans behind the goal.
Brave from Hughes
The Sam Hughes block count is up to at least five.
The dangerous Woolery spins Hunt, who thought about bringing him down, in the midfield and advances towards the Chester goal.
Hughes is there to stop his well-struck effort.
Wishart denied
Forest Green’s left wing back Dan Wishart brings the ball forward and he mazes his way into the Blues box.
He evades Joyce and Hughes before a sprawling Lynch blocks his toe-poke shot.
Chester are looking more composed now and Alabi heads the corner away.
