Blues Match Preview: Chester FC v Hyde United

After a weekend away, Phil Parkinson’s side return to action against Hyde United tonight for the start of a challenging schedule to round out October, navigating four games over the next 12 days.

The Blues will be looking to secure a third consecutive home win as we kick off our Cheshire Senior Cup campaign against the 2024 winners.

Opposition

It’s been a challenging start to the season for Hyde, who sit three points outside of the relegation zone after 15 games.

Michael Clegg’s side started this season the way they finished the last. Having sealed survival with an eight-game unbeaten run, they carried that momentum over the summer, losing just one of their opening four fixtures.

They struggled to maintain their strong form as two wins in four matches were followed by two wins in 11, causing a drop towards the bottom half of the table.

The Tigers come into this game without a win in their last four outings. Their most recent victory was a 2-1 success against Stockton Town at the Project Solar Stadium thanks to goals from Tom Walker and Brad Roscoe.

Gainsborough Trinity handed them their most recent defeat as Jordan Helliwell, Fraser Preston, Ronnie Kokkinos, and Connor Brown all netted to seal a 4-0 loss. The result compounded their defensive struggles as it left them with the fourth-most goals conceded in the division.

The Blues will be looking to extend their unbeaten run against the Tigers in this midweek clash as the two competitive outings against the Greater Manchester-based outfit both ended in victory, with the 3-2 success at home in 2014 marking the only other time we have hosted tonight’s opponents.

Gaffer 

Michael Clegg is the man in the dugout for our midweek opponents, following his appointment in January.

Last season, Clegg successfully led his side out of the relegation zone to a 15th place finish, five points ahead of the bottom four, despite an 11-game winless run prior to his appointment.

He helped them solidify their position in the league after back-to-back victories against Gainsborough Trinity and FC United of Manchester in the final two games, which culminated in a Northern Premier League Manager of the Month nomination.

The 49-year-old isn’t just known for relegation scraps, as he masterminded Atherton Collieries’ climb up the leagues in his first stint at the club.

The former Macclesfield manager won six trophies in five years at the Colls, steering their historic rise from step six to step three, an impressive run that included three league titles and three cups.

Clegg had a short but successful playing career. Starting out as a Manchester United academy graduate, he featured for the Red Devils nine times over his seven-year spell.

Whilst at the club he won the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award in 1996–97 and the FA Youth Cup in 1995.

The Tigers manager also played for Ipswich Town, Wigan Athletic and Oldham Athletic before his playing career came to an end at the age of 26.

One to watch

Brad Roscoe returned to Hyde United from Radcliffe this summer, having previously made 160 appearances during a five-year spell with the club.

The defender has impressed in limited action since returning, netting against Quorn FC and Stockton Town across five appearances to help his side pick up all four of their points this month.

The 29-year-old was an ever-present before his summer move as he played all 46 National League North games for Radcliffe in the 2025/26 season, missing just 17 minutes across the whole campaign.

After spending time in the Preston North End academy, Roscoe gained his first experience in senior football during a four-month loan at AFC Fylde. He followed that experience up with a permanent transfer to Ramsbottom United where he made over 60 appearances across two years.

He also turned out for Fleetwood Town and Buxton FC, with his impressive performances at the latter earning him a spot in the 2018/19 NPL Team of the Season.

Match Preview by Harry Bennett.

Form guide

Hyde United | W4 D3 L8 | F15 A29 | Pos: 14th

Last three

• Gainsborough Trinity (A) | (L) 4-0 | Scorers: None
• Quorn FC (H) | (D) 2-2 | Scorers: Harry Ditchfield, Brad Roscoe
• Curzon Ashton (H) | (L) 2-0 | Scorers: None

Chester FC | W6 D2 L3 | F14 A9 | Pos: 5th

Last three

• Bedford Town (H) | (W) 1-0 | Scorers: Kofi Moore
• Spennymoor Town (A) | (L) 4-1 | Scorers: Billy Waters
• Worksop Town (H) | (W) 4-1 | Scorers: Ruben Butt, Billy Waters x2, Jefferson Abreu

Match Details

The match at the Deva Community Stadium will kick-off at 19:45.