MATCH REPORT: CHESTER FC 2 - 3 STOCKPORT COUNTY

The Blues were beaten in their opening pre-season fixture against League Two Champions Stockport County, at the Deva Stadium, on Saturday afternoon.

Fielding a strong side ahead of their return season to the third tier of English football, the Hatters raced into a three goal half time lead.

Che Gardner was quickest to react to score the opener, sliding in and steering Lewis Bate’s through ball beyond Cam Mason and into the net.

County then scored twice in quick succession just before the break, as first Kyle Wootton turned home a cross from the right side before the impressive Bate slammed home the third with an excellent long range strike.

Either side of the double, Chester were denied by the offside flag as Tom Peers had steered home a cross from Oskar Rosenblatt, but the Assistant Referee intervened.

Both sides made a plethora of changes at half time, and Calum McIntyre’s side got a goal back on 57 minutes when George Glendon flicked on and Charlie Caton fired home beyond Max Metcalfe.

And they had another back with nine minutes to play as a Jordan Hunter ball was played forward, knocked down by Caton and then thundered home on the volley by Matty Williams. Chester almost got an equaliser late on as Dan Turner’s cross was poked wide by Glendon – but a positive workout overall for the Blues.

CHESTER: Mason, Bott, Burke, Roberts (Hunter 46), Trialist (Williams 46), Woodthorpe (Heywood 46), Murray (Davies 59), Weeks (Hancox 46), Bainbridge (Glendon 46), Peers (Turner 46), Rosenblatt (Caton 46).

SCORERS: Caton 57, Williams 81; Gardner 27, Wootton 40, Bate 43.

ATTENDANCE: 1,265.