FA Cup Report: Chester FC 5 - 1 Curzon Ashton

A dominant display from Chester FC, on Saturday afternoon, earned them a deserved place in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round!

Curzon Ashton were blown away at the Deva Stadium, as goals from Offrande Zanzala, Dylan Mottley-Henry, Pat Jones, and Connor Woods, alongside an own goal from Jack Stobbs sealed progression to the next stage.

The Blues began the first-half on the front foot and never looked back, as a blistering performance blew away the visitors.

Tony Weston did put the ball in the Seals’ net in the early stages but he was ruled out for offside.

Zanzala grabbed his first goal in a Chester shirt just after the 20-minute mark, as he reacted quickest to earn a crucial lead.

Mottley-Henry’s header bounced back to the number nine who finished instinctively to head home from a few yards out.

The lead was doubled just over ten minutes later, as a fantastic show of creativity from Pat Jones unlocked the Curzon defence.

Jones found space in behind the back line on the right-hand side of the box before his powerful low cross was turned into the away net by the unfortunate Stobbs, a crucial moment in the contest.

Calum McIntyre’s men could’ve led by more at the interval, but Mottley-Henry couldn’t connect to a glorious opportunity when he was found inside the six-yard box, and the lead remained at two.

The second-half saw more of the same as the Blues dominated their National League North counterparts to extend the lead.

Captain Declan Weeks could’ve got the third but his strike flew over the bar after he turned past away defenders in the 18-yard box.

Mottley-Henry was the man who made it three, as he creatively found space and rifled an unstoppable strike past Callum Hawkins into the top corner.

The number 11 should’ve had another shortly after, but he fired over from close-range after great link-up play from Zanzala and Weeks.

P. Jones got his second goal in two games with a fantastic drilled finish from the corner on the box that gave Hawkins no chance in the Curzon goal.

Four became five in the 86th minute as Connor Woods came off the bench to score after Fin Roberts’ effort bounced back off the post into the path of our number 17 who stroked home.

Chester’s clean sheet was wiped out with two minutes of normal time to play as Jimmy Spencer fired past Murray-Jones to add a consolation.

A sensational afternoon for the Blues who march into the Fourth Qualifying Round in sensational fashion.

CHESTER FC: Murray-Jones, K. Roberts (Kelly-Evans 72′), Leak, Carson, Bainbridge, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Murray (Shrimpton 88′), Weeks, P. Jones (Woods 78′), Mottley-Henry, Zanzala (F. Roberts 85′).

Subs not used: Barlow, Jones, S. Burgess

Scorers: Zanzala 21′, Stobbs OG 32′, Mottley-Henry 65′, P. Jones 75′, Woods 86′, Spencer 88′.

Watch the post-match interview with Blues Boss, Calum McIntyre, here...

Chester FC will travel to Morecambe in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The game is scheduled to take place at on Saturday 11th October, kicking off at 15:00.

Morecambe currently sit 24th in the Enterprise National League, with a record of seven points from their opening nine matches.

Further details including ticket info and admission prices will be available in due course.