BLUES MATCH REPORT - BANBURY UNITED 1 - 0 CHESTER FC

Chester FC fell to a second successive away defeat, being edged out in Oxfordshire by Banbury United.

Tope Obadeyi scored the only goal of the game early on and, despite having their chances, the Blues couldn’t break through and were beaten.

Calum McIntyre made two changes from the midweek stalemate with Chorley – as Ollie Heywood and Lewis Earl replaced Joel Taylor and Reece Daly.

Adam Thomas returned to the bench and was joined by new loan signing Franke Maguire.

The Blues got off to the worse possible start on three minutes. Elliott-Wheeler’s cross from the left was controlled on the edge by Obadeyi who held off Heywood and fired into the bottom corner on the spin.

Chester had a glorious chance to level on 24 minutes when Earl played a superb through ball for Iwan Murray who was through on goal – however he fired his shot into the body of Jack Harding.

Banbury midfielder Lawson D’Ath swung in a dangerous free kick on the half hour mark which just evaded the far post – before debutant Maguire went down in the area in first half stoppage time, only to be booked for simulation.

Chester nearly had an opportunity early in the second half through debutant Maguire, as he changed passes with Kole Hall, however he couldn’t sort his feet out and the ball was scrambled clear.

At the other end Hewitt crossed for Ken Charles who forced Stanway into a save, before Zak Goodson’s low effort for the Blues was tipped round the post by Harding.

The visitors pressed on for a leveller in the final ten, and hit the woodwork when Hall met Murray’s corner and nodded it against crossbar.

Hall was then unmarked in the box on 84 minutes but headed Kieran Coates’ cross over – before sub Jake Burton created a yard for himself but blazed over on a frustrating afternoon.

Chester: Stanway, Coates, Edwards (Williams 68), Burke, Heywood, Earl, Whitehouse (Maguire 38), Weeks, Murray, Goodson (Burton 65), Hall.

Subs Not Used: Glendon, Thomas.

Scorers: Obadeyi 3.