A BRACE of excellent Antoni Sarcevic finishes earned Chester a friendly win over neighbours Airbus at a freezing Exacta Stadium.
Blues boss Neil Young gave every member of his senior squad a run out in a behind-closed-doors clash that was decided by top scorer Sarcevic’s first-half double.
The midfielder broke the deadlock 31 minutes in when he punished a misplaced pass across his own box by Kyle Armstrong.
Sarcevic took a touch before curling the ball past on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Jamie Stephens, who was left out of position by Armstrong’s error.
Sarcevic’s second arrived on the stroke of half-time.
Left-back Danny Williams, encouraged to get forward at every opportunity as Matty McGinn ahead of him tucked in, sent over a teasing cross.
But Sarcevic still had to show agility and technique to divert a volley past Stephens at his near post.
Stephens had earlier made two saves from Marc Williams while at the other end Martin Fearon had to get down well to deny Glenn Rule following good link-up play between Steve Abbott and adventurous right-back Lee Owens.
Airbus, riding high in the Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League, did eventually reduce the deficit when Michael Roddy sent John Danby the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Table-topping Chester return to Blue Square Bet North action on Saturday away to Corby Town (3pm).
But first up for the Blues is another behind-closed-doors encounter against another Welsh Premier outfit, Gap Connah’s Quay, on Wednesday.
Chester: Fearon (Danby 46), Baynes (Peers 78), Horan, Linwood (Collins 57), D Williams, Hankin (Brown 57), A Williams (L Turner 57), Sarcevic (N Turner 46), McGinn (Howard 57), Jarman (Gray 57), M Williams (Mills 57).
