Blues Match Report: Marine 2 - 3 Chester FC

Chester FC earned a crucial victory on Boxing Day away at Marine, a result that moves Calum McIntyre’s men to within a point of the top seven ahead of 2025.

Dylan Mottley-Henry, Iwan Murray and Harrison Burke netted three goals inside the first hour, before Enock Lusiama pulled two back for the Mariners late on, but the Yellows held on for all three points.

Mottley-Henry grabbed his first goal in a Chester shirt with the first chance of any note in the 11th minute.

Declan Weeks floated an inviting free-kick into the centre of the 18-yard box and Mottley-Henry rose above the Marine defence before he powered the ball past Matty Corran and into the bottom corner.

The hosts almost hit back shortly after through a pair of chances in quick succession from Josh Wardle and Finlay Sinclair-Smith.

Wardle’s close-range effort was pushed away by Elyh Harrison for a corner before Sinclair-Smith saw his strike from an acute angle bounce wide of the post.

The Yellows’ lead was doubled on the half-hour mark when Murray gave Corran no chance in the home goal with powerful finish.

Nathan Woodthorpe and Mottley-Henry combined on the left wing before Peers tapped the ball back to Murray who arrived in the area late and struck his effort with force into the top corner.

The fog continued to settle over the Marine Travel Arena in the last few minutes of the first-half, as visibility worsened.

Burke earned the Seals a three goal cushion just before the hour mark with a hooked effort that bounced into the corner after Mottley-Henry headed a loose ball into the box following a well-delivered corner by Weeks.

The Mariners pulled one back through substitute Lusiama mid-way through the second period, as he headed past Harrison from close-range.

Lusiama made a major impact after he was introduced, and he almost doubled his tally shortly after with a similar effort but Harrison was able to push the ball away to safety.

The forward did grab second with just three minutes of normal time left on the clock, as he slid in to tap home from a few yards out.

Calum McIntyre’s men held out though, and claimed three crucial points after an entertaining contest on Boxing Day.

Next up for the Seals is a return to the Deva Stadium as we host Southport on New Year’s Day.

Match Report by Tom Bird.

CHESTER FC: Harrison, Wadsworth (Roberts 78′), Burke, Pollock, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Bainbridge, Murray (Glendon 87′), Mottley-Henry (Hancox 73′), Caton, Peers.

Subs not used: Mason, Willoughby.

Scorers: Mottley-Henry 11′, Murray 30′, Burke 58′.

Attendance: 2,149

You can watch the post-match interview with Blues Boss Calum McIntyre here...