Blues Match Preview: Chester FC v Chorley

Chester FC welcome league leaders Chorley to CH1 this weekend, in what promises to be an enticing encounter at the Deva Stadium.

The Seals have had a full week to prepare for the weekend’s contest, after our trip to Leamington on Tuesday night was postponed due to the adverse weather conditions making the surface unplayable.

Despite being eliminated from the FA Trophy last Saturday to Gainsborough Trinity, Calum McIntyre’s players have the chance to triumph in consecutive league matches with a victory over the Magpies.

THE OPPOSTION

Chorley currently occupy top spot in the National League North, one point clear of second place Kidderminster Harriers.

Andy Preece’s outfit have the best home record in the league, but have fared slightly differently on their travels with twelve points collected from eight games.

The Magpies have tasted victory in four of their last five matches, with the only exception being a surprising 3-0 defeat to Marine away from home.

They advanced into the next round of the FA Trophy last weekend with a 3-1 win over the Mariners, but were knocked out of the Lancashire Cup on Tuesday to local rivals Bamber Bridge.

THE GAFFER

Andy Preece has been in the dugout at Victory Park since May 2022 after serving as Chorley’s director of football.

The 57-year-old will reach a landmark milestone on Saturday as it will be his 1000th game in management, which includes 835 matches as a manager and 165 games as an assistant manager under Jamie Vermiglio at Chorley.

The Chorley boss has also had stints managing Southport, Airbus UK Broughton and Worcester City.

During his playing days, Preece was a striker and made over a century of appearances for Blackpool and Bury, before becoming player-manager at the latter in 1999.

Notably, the Englishman appeared in the Premier League for Crystal Palace where he scored four goals for the Eagles.

ONE TO WATCH

Adam Blakeman has become synonymous with Chorley Football Club, having been a mainstay at the club since 2016.

Over the last eight years, the 32-year-old played an integral role in their 2019 National League North playoff-winning squad and magical FA Cup runs.

The full-back’s development commenced in Liverpool and Bolton’s academies before signing for Hyde United in 2013.

After brief spells with Southport and Ayr United, the Englishman initially signed for Chorley in 2016, before rejoining the club in 2021 after a short period spent at Spennymoor Town.

Not only is Blakeman highly regarded as a reliable defender, but he also poses a threat from set-pieces with his consistency of quality deliveries causing opponents problems for almost a decade at Victory Park.

LEAGUE FORM GUIDE

Chester FC | W7 D4 L5 | F18 A16 | Pos: 10th

Last Three

Hereford (H) | W 3-0 | Scorers: Charlie Caton x2, Tom Peers

Darlington (A) | L 1-0 | Scorers: N/A

Needham Market (A) | W 1-0 | Scorers: Harrison Burke

Chorley | W9 D5 L3 | F28 A19 | Pos: 1st

Last Three

King’s Lynn Town (H) | W 2-1 | Scorers: Greg Taylor (O.G), Dubem Eze

Marine (A) | L 3-0 | Scorers: N/A

Leamington (H) | W 2-1 | Scorers: Danny Ormerod x2

Match Preview by Jude Deedigan.

MATCH DETAILS

Kick off is 3pm at The Deva Stadium on Saturday.