Blues Match Report: Chester FC 1 - 1 Curzon Ashton

The points were shared between Chester FC and Curzon Ashton after a frenetic contest at the Deva Stadium.

Connor Woods capped off a positive first-half display with a penalty just before the interval before Jack Stobbs levelled for Curzon with a sensational lob in the 48th minute.

Pat Jones brought excitement to the Deva Stadium before kick-off by penning a deal until the end of the season after his release from Exeter City in the summer.

The 22-year-old started brightly on the left-hand side, showing off his pace as he reached the byline and crossed on a number of occasions in the early stages.

Connor Woods had the first dangerous effort of the contest but his drilled strike was gathered with relative ease by Callum Hawkins.

The Blues dominated the first 45 minutes and played a positive flow that the visitors struggled to cope with.

Crewe Alexandra loanee Fin Roberts had his first sight of goal midway through the half but he dragged a low strike wide after Woods laid the ball off.

Fin Shrimpton went so close to his first goal in a Chester shirt when he swivelled and struck a volley with power only for it to bounce back off the bar to safety.

Calum McIntyre’s side deserved to lead going into the break after a positive performance, and with just minutes remaining they did after referee Jonathan Maskrey pointed to the spot, following a late challenge from centre-back Chris Stokes inside the 18-yard box.

Connor Woods made it look simple from 12 yards as he deceived Hawkins and slotted his spot-kick straight down the middle.

The visitors reaction after the interval was positive and the Nash levelled in the 48th minute through Jack Stobbs, who lobbed the ball over Blues shot-stopper Andrew Wogan and into the back of the Blues’ net in sensational fashion.

The second period was noticeably quieter than before the interval, with 20 minutes before the next sight of goal as Roberts tried his luck but Hawkins was equal to it.

Mark Bradshaw’s side went close through substitute Tony Weston who controlled the ball superbly but blasted over the bar from an acute angle.

Vice-captain Jack Bainbridge had the best chance of the closing stages as Dylan Mottley-Henry’s pinpoint cross picked him out but the number eight’s header was held from close-range by Hawkins.

The Blues had to settle for a point despite a fantastic first-half display, with plenty to build on ahead of Saturday’s long trip to South Shields.

CHESTER FC: Wogan, Kelly-Evans (K. Roberts 80′), Rawlinson, Jones, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Shrimpton, Weeks, Woods, F. Roberts, P. Jones (Mottley-Henry 62′.

Subs not used: Barlow, Leak, S.Burgess, Rosenblatt.

Scorers: Woods 39′, Stobbs 48′

Attendance: 2,185