Blues Match Report: Hyde United 0 - 1 Chester FC

The Blues earned a third victory of pre-season courtesy of a header from new signing Ma’kel Campbell.

A quiet start saw most of the early stages played in the middle third on a picturesque evening at Ewen Fields.

The first opening fell to the Blues’ number nine Jacob Hazel who sent a low strike towards goal, forcing Jordan Eastham into a comfortable stop.

The breakthrough arrived shortly before the half-hour mark as Campbell got his name on the scoresheet just hours after being unveiled as our latest summer signing.

The ball dropped to the 19-year-old just inside the area and he nodded an intelligent header over Eastham’s head and into the back of the net.

Hazel went close again in the dying embers of the opening period but he struck narrowly wide after positive work down the left-hand side.

A heavily-rotated Seals XI in the second period looked to press home the advantage, firstly through substitute Kofi Moore.

The winger had two efforts in the space of two minutes, but both fell into the palms of Eastham after fantastic build-up play.

Connor Murphy, who penned his first senior deal with the club earlier in the day, almost doubled the lead when his powerful effort flew over following great work on the right-hand side from Billy Waters.

Much-like the opening period, the hosts were restricted going forward, with a number of dangerous corners that were cleared by Jack Kenny the notable defensive moments for the Blues.

One final chance fell to Moore who turned sharply on the edge of the area but his strike was directed at Eastham who dealth with it comfortably.

Starting XI: Hewitson, Burroughs, Woodthorpe, Burgess, Griffin, Weeks, Ward, Campbell, Hazel, Reed, Woods.

Substitutes: Brown, Deakin, Kenny, Trialist A, Murphy, Kennedy, Trialist B, Peers, Waters, Moore, Trialist C.

Scorers: Campbell 29′.

You can watch the post-match interview with Blues Boss Phil Parkinson here...