Points target set

CHESTER FC’s players have been told they must break the 90-point barrier for the second season running if they are to claim back-to-back titles.

Neil Young believes the Blues need to take at least 31 points from the remaining 45 on offer to win what has developed into a thrilling championship race.

Chester currently top the standings with 59 points from 27 games.

But Hednesford Town, Chorley and Northwich Victoria are hot on their heels going into the final third of the campaign while the three teams immediately outside the top four – Marine, Bradford Park Avenue and FC United of Manchester – are also in the hunt.

Blues boss Young, whose side won last season’s First Division North title with 97 points from 44 matches, said: “We’re aiming for 15 wins from our last 15 matches but if we can’t do that our aim must be to reach 90 points plus to have a chance of winning it.

“Marine are putting a run together, FC United are putting their usual January-February run together, so they are pushing the four teams at the top.

“But we’ve just got to concentrate on what we do. We’ve haven’t been great recently so it’s up to me to put it right and the lads to put it right once they get over the line.”

Fans’ director vote

A NEW name will be inducted into the Chester FC boardroom next week.

Either Paul Walker or Russ Hughes will take up the final place on the Blues board at the conclusion of the club’s AGM on Thursday, February 16.

City Fans United members have been voting for who they want to become Chester’s ninth serving director.

Members who have not yet returned their vote to the club must do so by noon on Tuesday.

The conclusion of the AGM will get under way at 7.45pm in the Blues Bar at the Exacta Stadium and will be followed by a monthly CFU meeting.

The monthly meeting will give supporters the chance to see some of the first designs of next season’s home kit.

The first part of the club’s AGM – where the majority of business was dealt with – was held in November.

Blues keep it clean

A WELL-BEHAVED start to the new year has seen Chester FC claim a prize in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s monthly fair play awards.

The Blues were named the cleanest team in the Premier Division after they collected just two bookings in their four league matches in January.

Their reward is 1.5 litre bottle of Famous Grouse.

The whisky will be presented prior to this Saturday’s clash with bad boys Stafford Rangers, whose 14 cautions in January was equalled only by Hednesford Town.

Chester’s recent bout of good behaviour comes in contrast to the ill discipline that blighted their final two matches of 2011, when they had three players sent off.

Hinds deal is dead

NEIL Young has been defeated in an ambitious bid to capture a defender with more than 250 Football League appearances to his name.

The Chester FC manager was close to signing former Tranmere Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday centre-back Richard Hinds, 31, on non-contract terms following his release from Lincoln City.

But the move fell through late last week after Hinds was offered a short-term deal until the end of the season with League One outfit Yeovil Town.

Heath given hiding

CHESTER FC Under 13s thrashed Halton & District Junior League table-toppers Heath Rangers 6-1.

Man-of-the-match Owen Ainscough (2), the hardworking Keenan Beaumont (2) and Conor Rowbottom (2) did the damage.

Owen Pulford, debutant Harry Deponeo and the returning Niall Williams also impressed for the young Blues.

Chester FC Under 10s recorded a 6-1 success at Airbus UK Broughton U10s.

Nantwich help out

NANTWICH Town have allowed Northwich Victoria to use the Weaver Stadium to stage their home league match against Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday.

Vics, who are battling Chester FC for the title, have been left homeless after their Victoria Stadium ground was sold to chemical firm Thor Specialities.