Blues Match Preview: Chester FC v Peterborough Sports

Chester FC return to competitive action, after just 82 days away, for a first home opening day fixture since 2018.

Peterborough Sports will be the visitors at the Deva Stadium to kick off their fourth-consecutive National League North campaign.

Calum McIntyre insisted on the importance on retainment throughout the summer after our play-off final defeat to Scunthorpe United, with a core group of the squad remaining down CH1.

Nine new faces have arrived though as the Blues look to go one step further and seal a return to the National League.

Dion Kelly-Evans and James Jones will bolster a defensive unit that was already strengthened by the return of Tom Leak on a permanent basis, whilst Fin Shrimpton will add to a strong midfield unit.

Fin Roberts has made his return to the Deva on loan from Crewe Alexandra, while Offrande Zanzala adds further firepower in forward areas alongside Tom Peers, Connor Woods and Dylan Mottley-Henry.

The Opposition

The Turbines will be looking to build on their highest ever league position from last term, a 12th-placed finish that saw the club end the season closer to the play-off spots than the drop zone.

Luke Steele and Michael Gash will have to cope without talisman Michael Gyasi for this campaign though after the striker, who netted on 15 occasions last season, put pen-to-paper on a move to King’s Lynn Town this summer.

Experienced striker Shaquile Coulthirst will look to be a direct replacement for the club in forward areas, with a record of over 68 league goals to his name in the sixth tier or higher over his career.

An ambitious move has been made at left-back courtesy of Josh Cavallo, who has decided to make the switch from Adelaide to Peterborough this summer, after six successive seasons in the A League.

The Gaffers

Player/management duo Luke Steele and Michael Gash remain in charge at PIMS Park for their fourth season in charge, after appointments in early 2023.

Whilst Steele has stepped away from the field in recent times and did not feature at all last season, Gash still hold a significant role in the squad at centre-back, after almost an entire career as a striker.

Luke started in the Peterborough United academy before he put pen to paper with Manchester United in 2002, but he failed to register an appearance for the Red Devils.

The shot-stopper made over 190 appearances between the sticks for Barnsley, and also featured for Panathinaikos in the Greek Super League between 2014-2017.

Meanwhile, Gash’s most notable stints came at Cambridge United, York City and King’s Lynn Town

The pair will be look to build on their best campaign in management as the club look to push forward towards a potential play-off berth.

One To Watch

Striker Shaquile Coulthirst has added nouse and experience to the Turbines’ frontline this summer after the departure of top scorer Gyasi.

A Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate, Coulthirst was sent to a plethora of clubs on loan spells in his younger years, including Southend United, York City and Wigan Athletic.

The 30-year-old’s most fruitful stint came with Barnet in League Two and the National League, where Coulthirst netted on 28 occasions over a three-year period.

After time with Maidstone United towards the end of last season, the forward has decided to swap the National League South for the National League North and have a positive impact on the Turbines’ attacking output.

Match Details

Saturday’s game will kick off at 15:00 at the Deva Stadium.