MATCH REPORT - York City 1 - 0 Chester FC

The Blues were beaten on the road yesterday afternoon by one goal to nil at York’s brand new LNER Community Stadium.

Mark Beck’s 42nd minute header proved to be the difference in Yorkshire in this Vanarama National League North fixture.

Bern and Jonno made one change from their last league game 14 days ago, as James Hardy replaced the suspended Kevin Roberts.

York started the game brightly and two Olly Dyson corner deliveries from the left caused problems inside the box, but the Yellows were able to clear – the second incident seeing Clayton Donaldson’s effort turned away from the line.

But then Chester started to grow into the game and had a promising spell. It got underway with skipper George Glendon firing the wrong side of the post following neat build up play – before he was then well smothered inside the box at the end of another super move, keeper Pete Jameson getting a hand to the ball as Glendon looked to round him up.

The visitors’ biggest chance of the half came and went on 25 minutes. Anthony Dudley did well to burst into the box, he was well challenged before the unmarked Declan Weeks fired the loose ball against the side netting.

Ten minutes later, Jack Redshaw almost scored against his former club as he left fly from distance, but Jameson made a fantastic save to deny him.

And they were punished by the Minstermen who opened the scoring just three before the interval. Michael Duckworth’s deep cross was nodded into the net by Beck to give Steve Watson’s men the lead going into the break.

Chester came out on the front foot at the start of the half, and once again Jameson foiled Glendon on 58 minutes. His fantastic rifled effort from range was well pushed behind by the keeper.

Jude Oyibo and Darren Stephenson were both brought on as the second half progressed in search of a leveller, and the former almost ran on to a ball over the top by Josh Askew, but once again the Minstermen’s number one was quick off his line to clear.

Down the other end, Louis Gray made an excellent fingertip save to deny sub Mackenzie Heaney’s free kick with a quarter of an hour remaining.

The Blues were keen to make the most of that moment keeping them in the game but struggled to create as the match moved into the latter stages. Sub Darren Stephenson had a chance with five to play as he spun and shot just inside the box but the effort flew wide.

York held on at the end as the Blues failed to find their leveller in front of the fantastic 417 away supporters.

CHESTER: Gray, Cowan, Williams, Grand, Askew, Lacey (Waring 81), Glendon, Weeks, Hardy (Oyibo 64), Dudley, Redshaw (Stephenson 71).

SUBS NOT USED: Clark, Horsfield.

SCORERS: Beck 42.

ATTENDANCE: 3,154 (417 away).