Blues Match Report: Chester 0 - 1 Morecambe

A Paul Lewis header, early in the second half, saw Morecambe end Chester’s unbeaten start to the season.

The game started amid a raucous atmosphere and both sides created half chances early on without testing either goalkeeper. For the visitors Paul Lewis’ header drifted wide before Chester worked the ball well with Abreu finding Woodthorpe, who picked out Hazel but he couldn’t get his shot away.

Clear-cut chances remained at a premium in the first-half but the Blues once again went close as Woodthorpe’s cross into the six yard box evaded everyone.

Minutes later it was Connor Murphy’s turn to put a ball in that was just out of the reach of Jacob Hazel as the hosts tried to apply some pressure.

The best chance of the opening period fell to the visitors with the last kick of the half as a set-piece saw Lewis Baines miss a free header before Morecambe kept the ball alive and it broke to Teddy Collis but he put his effort wide.

The visitors opened the scoring as Jake Cain’s free kick was played into a dangerous area and flicked in by Paul Lewis.

Into the final quarter of the game and Jefferson Abreu met a dangerous cross at the back post but couldn’t direct it on target.

Chester followed up that chance as substitute Dan Ward played in Jacob Hazel but he couldn’t keep his effort down.

Hazel then set-up Billy Waters, but his effort failed to test Boney in the Morecambe goal.

The pressure continued as Chester had their best chance of the game as Kofi Moore’s dangerous cross broke to Ma’kel Campbell but his effort was well blocked from close-range

In stoppage time Dan Ward fired a volley just the wrong side of the post to condemn Chester to their first defeat of the season.

The Blues return to action on Saturday 5th September with a trip to Hebburn Town.

Starting XI: Hewitson, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Griffin, Peers, Hazel, Murphy, Foley, Abreu, Campbell, Reed.

Substitutes: Mackin, Kenny, Waters, Ward, Burgess, Jones-Mellor, Moore.

Scorers: Lewis 52′