Promotional Final Match Report: Scunthorpe United 2 - 1 Chester FC

Chester FC's 2024/25 National League North campaign concluded with a 2-1 defeat to Scunthorpe United in the promotion final.

Carlton Ubaezuonu’s strike midway through extra time earned the Iron a spot in the National League next season.

The Seals started brightly. Inside the opening two minutes, Nathan Woodthorpe drove through the heart of the opposition midfield and drilled the first attempt of the contest just wide.

Shortly after, the hosts’ left back Tyler Denton replied with a similar shot that also travelled just past the post following a set-piece situation.

Scunthorpe were getting some joy down the right-flank and Carlton Ubaezuonu flashed a low cross towards Alfie Beestin who side-footed comfortably wide.

The two sides were exchanging blows. Weeks whipped in a searching corner but Bainbridge mistimed his jump and directed the header over Ross Fitzsimons’ goal.

In the 20^th minute, the hosts found the breakthrough. Beestin connected sweetly with Michael Clunan’s corner and hit the post with a volley. Danny Whitehall relied on his predatory instincts to find space and smash the ball past Jimmy Storer.

The Seals grew frustrated and began to commit some needless fouls on the opposition.

On the stroke of half-time, Whitehall was left unmarked and almost doubled his tally for the afternoon, but his header was blocked by a sea of Chester shirts.

Calum McIntyre’s side pressed for parity after the interval. Dylan Mottley-Henry curled over before Tom Peers’ close-range effort was blocked by the imperious Will Evans.

On the hour mark, Chester were awarded a penalty from out of nowhere. Evans accidentally controlled the ball inside the box using his hand, despite being under little pressure.

The responsibility from 12 yards was bestowed upon Connor Woods – who coolly sent Fitzsimons the wrong way to level proceedings.

The momentum was firmly in the visitors’ favour and Harrison Burke almost completed the comeback with a looping header.

Against the run of play, Ubaezuonu turned adroitly inside the six-yard box and volleyed goalward. However, Kevin Roberts positioned himself perfectly to soften the subsequent effort which flew into  Storer’s hands.

Whitehall then smashed the upright from a 25-yard free-kick with a quarter of an hour remaining. Storer was motionless as Ubaezuonu blazed the rebound comfortably over the crossbar.

In the closing stages, the former Chorley forward had another opportunity, but the goalkeeper was equal to the shot once again.

Nothing could separate the two sides after 90 minutes and an additional half hour was required to crown the victor.

Calum McIntyre’s side restarted the captivating affair with a renewed sense of impetus. Burke kept Weeks’ corner alive with a towering header, but Tom Leak couldn’t apply the finishing touch.

The first half of extra time was marred by several stoppages, with both sets of players feeling the effects of the demanding final.

Ubaezuonu, who was Scunthorpe’s biggest threat all afternoon, was the man to find the winner in stoppage-time of the first-half. Chester failed to clear a deep-free kick and after seeing a shot blocked, the 27-year-old found the bottom corner. The Attis Arena erupted in jubilation.

Fitzsimons’ concentration wasn’t wavering in the dying embers as he claimed several crosses.

The referee blew his whistle for the umpteenth time to signal the end of our season. A Herculean effort from everyone involved will certainly set the foundations for success in the years to come.

Match Report By Jude Deedigan

CHESTER FC: Storer, Roberts (Willoughby 106′), Burke, Leak, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Murray (O’Kane 87′), Weeks, Woods, Peers, Mottley-Henry (Mooney 90+3′)

SUBS NOT USED: Brown, Hunter, Rawlinson, Burgess, Lambert

SCORERS: Whitehall 20′, Ubaezuonu 105+1′, Woods 62′