Blues Match Preview: Chester v Morecambe

Chester FC will be looking to end the August Bank Holiday Weekend with a win as they welcome Morecambe to the Deva Community Stadium.

Monday will prove a stern test for the Blues who face a second game in three days following a near 200-mile round trip to Edgar Street just 48 hours earlier.

The Opposition 

After a slow start to their first season back in the sixth tier, the Shrimps earned their opening win of the campaign with a 2-1 victory at home to Telford United last time out.

Following back-to-back defeats to South Shields and Radcliffe, Adam Lakeland’s side started the contest in perfect fashion as a Teddy Collis first-half brace completed the job for the hosts.

Chester supporters will remember this fixture fondly as a late Jack Bainbridge thunderbolt last October secured a 2-0 win over the visitors in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round.

The Gaffer

Although Lakeland had only been in the role for 10 months, his strong 8th-placed finish in the 2025/26 National League season with promotion challenging FCHalifax Town, prompted Morecambe to trigger the release clause in the 41-year-old’s contract.

Despite his young age, his managerial record convinced the Shrimps to bring him down a division. Having focused on coaching from a young age the former Curzon Ashton boss didn’t pursue a playing career.

Instead, at the age of 22, he became the manager of Blackburn Rovers Women, where he maintained the part-time outfit’s position in the FA Women’s Premier League National Division for the five seasons he spent in the dugout, before transitioning into men’s football.

His experience across English football will be valuable in his side’s hunt to bounce back to step one as he’s coached all across the non-league pyramid from Step Four with Northwich Victoria in 2016 to last year’s experience at Step One.

One to Watch

Having only made cameo appearances in his first three outings for his new club, Collis proved his worth in his first start this weekend, as his two delicate finishes secured Morecambe’s first win of the campaign.

After only 90 seconds, the 22-year-old struck from close-range to net his first of the day, before the former Farnborough Town forward tucked away his second on the stroke of half-time to all but secure his team’s first three points of the season.

Collis brings promotion winning experience to his new squad as he led the line for Billericay Town, scoring nine goals and making nine assists in their play-off winning 2025/26 season, as the Blues secured their place in the National League South for this campaign.

Match Details

The match at the Deva Community Stadium will kick-off at 15:00.