THE Blues quickly got back to winning ways last night as their quality shone through against West Cheshire League opposition.
Having lost 1-0 at home to Marine on Saturday, Neil Young’s men were determined to avoid notching up back-to-back friendly defeats. Ashville battled hard, but were no match for a Chester side which could and should have won by more.
The opening goal arrived on 16 when Mark Peers played in full-back Anthony Sheehan down the right wing. Sheehan’s cross evaded Ashville keeper Aidan Dickinson and was nodded home by striker Rob Hopley.
Chester doubled their lead on 38 minutes through the impressive Mark Connolly, who raced on to a Sheehan pass and chipped the ball over Dickinson.
The Blues had plenty of opportunities to increase their lead in the second half but a combination of poor finishing and alert goalkeeping kept the score at 2-0.
On 55 minutes, substitute Ollie Ryan was upended by Dickinson in the penalty area – but the Ashville keeper made amends for his error by diving low to his left to save Ryan’s penalty kick.
He also thwarted Iain Howard and Connolly – one of Chester’s best performers on the night, along with Greg Stones – as the visitors searched in vain for a third goal.
Blues manager Young revealed after the game that he is tracking an unnamed striker currently on the books of a Conference club. The player is due to go on trial with a Football League side next week but Chester are monitoring his situation and are keen to bring him to the Deva, either on loan or on a permanent deal.
Chester: Oldfield (Whiteside 54), Sheehan (Aspin 54), Graves, Meadowcroft, Stones, Armstrong (Sheehan 81), Peers, Rigoglioso (Ryan 54), Hopley, Connolly, Burgess (Howard 54).
