Blues Match Report: Vauxhall Motors 0 - 2 Chester

Chester FC secured victory over the Motormen, on Saturday afternoon, thanks to goals from Tom Peers and Jacob Hazel.

Phil Parkinson’s men started with intent at The Premier Jet Stadium and went close in the third minute as Tom Peers’ low cross narrowly evaded Billy Waters’ outstretched leg.

Parity didn’t last long for the hosts though with the deadlock broken two minutes later through Peers.

Kofi Moore produced excellent footwork on the left-hand side before crossing for our number seven who tapped in from close-range.

Dom McHale was lively throughout the opening period and he struck narrowly over with a half-volleyed effort after taking the ball down well on his chest.

The home shot-stopper, Jack Atkinson, was also tested by Billy Waters, whose powerful effort from an acute angle was pushed away to safety, before the Motormen’s only dangerous moment of the opening period arrived through Sam Turner, only for his strike to fall narrowly wide of the post.

A completely rotated Chester XI took to the field after the break but the momentum remained firmly with the visitors, the opening opportunity falling to Trialist C whose effort smashed back off the crossbar.

Jefferson Abreu, signed from Northwich Victoria, was dangerous down the left-hand side and linked up well with Jacob Hazel throughout the second period.

Dan Ward curled comfortably over after turning nicely at the edge of the box, before the Yellows doubled the lead via the partnership of Abreu and Hazel.

The former beat his opponent down the left and laid a cross into a dangerous area, allowing Hazel to slot past Atkinson and into the back of the net.

Further opportunities arrived for Hazel in the latter stages, one which flew wide after positive work in wide areas, and another which was ruled out for offside after a well-directed finish.

A positive opening outing for Phil Parkinson’s side who head to Fleetwood Town on Tuesday for a Behind Closed Doors Friendly.

First-Half XI: Hewitson, Deakin, Griffin, Trialist A, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Murphy, Peers, McHale, Moore, Waters.

Second-Half XI: Brown, Burgess, Foley, Kenny, Reed, Ward, Kennedy, Trialist B, Trialist C, Abreu, Hazel.

Scorers: Peers 5′, Hazel 65′

Phil Parkinson reflected on our pre-season opener against Vauxhall Motors, in which a goal in either half from Tom Peers and Jacob Hazel secured a 2-0 victory.

“It was great to get back out on the grass,” said Parkinson.

“I thought it was a good start from the lads and they acquitted themselves really well. The first thing you want to do is get through it injury-free, which we did, and you want to show the fans some of the concepts and principles that we’ve been working on.

“Overall, it was a really good day out for us.”

“Obviously there’s loads of room for improvement, that’s just from two weeks of the group being together, so I felt against a strong Vauxhall team they acquitted themselves well on a really tricky pitch.”

The Yellows dominated the content on a sweltering afternoon at The Premier Jet Stadium, and Parkinson was pleased with the performance in attacking areas.

He said: 

“I was pleased going forward. I would’ve liked to have seen us be a bit more clinical as most of the chances weren’t just half-chances they were really strong opportunities.

“We’re trying to make a team that can regularly create high quality balls for the forwards to finish, and on another day if we had been a bit more clinical we could’ve scored more.”

The Seals also stifled the majority of the hosts’ threat going forward, who were restricted to very limited opportunities in attacking areas.

“A clean sheet is always nice. I think we got away with one where a ball fizzed across the box but apart from that we kept them at arm’s length and controlled the game through our possession,” said Parkinson.

“It was a good test for our lads, they played a couple of different shapes which we had been working on in terms of how to press them. Overall, it was a really good day out for us.”

We are next in action on Tuesday with a trip to Fleetwood Town for a friendly that will be played Behind Closed Doors.