Compared to at Esh on Saturday, there was a marked improvement in the Stan’s performance as well as a first win of the 19-20 season. There was a healthy crowd of 148 given the dreadful wet conditions and they saw the Stan start with 3 changes including the return of Joe Kerridge up front.

Chester had 2 early corners before a shot by Wright was put over the bar by the CLS keeper. In 5 minutes a deflected shot just went over the Stan bar. Eager CLS scored in 8 minutes when a poor back header allowed CLS to advance and although Ball made a brilliant save, the ball wasn’t cleared and was bundled into the net despite claims of off-side.

A minute later and a Kerridge free kick hit a Chester player’s hand in the box but nothing was given. Ball blocked in 12 minutes but it was the Stan who scored next in 16 minutes when the keeper fumbled a Wight cross and Sayer was 1^st to react to tap it into the net. After a quieter spell, there was a great save from Ball in 26 minutes. 11 minutes later and CLS headed over. Paterson then almost got a shot in but the keeper got out to block. In 43 minutes, there was a good build up down the left but Kerridge could not get his shot in. Soon after he turned and hit a great shot from 25 yards but it hit the bar and Sayer’s rebound header went wide.

3 minutes into the 2^nd half and CLS had a corner cleared twice. Ball then had to get down to save a free kick before the Stan attacked. In 52 minutes, a Wright free kick was cleared. 4 minutes later and he sped up the right wing and crossed to Kerridge who stretched and got his foot to it but the keeper deflected the ball out for a corner from which he eventually caught the ball.

Soon after Charmey supplied Wright and he shot just over. Kerridge then saw his 30 yard free kick deflected just wide for a corner. In 62 minutes Paterson’s shot was spilled by the keeper and he slid in for the rebound but the ball was cleared. In 66 minutes the Stan took the lead when Kerridge sent Wright off who raced down the park, held a defender off and blasted the ball into the roof of the net for 2-1.

In 68 minutes CLS hit the side netting but in 72 minutes it was back to the increasingly dominating Stan when Wright shot wide. In 73 minutes CLS had a corner and 2 minutes later Middleton headed a free kick away in front of goal. The ball was then blasted back towards goal but went just over. In 87 minutes a shot from CLS forced a good save from Ball and the resulting corner was cleared although the ball went back in and was headed just wide after some good Stan defending.

In the last minute the referee played advantage and allowed Wright to run unmarked and blast the ball into the net for 3-1. A good confidence boosting win and some great goals.

Team: Ball, Stoddart, Hall, Ray, Middleton, Bailey, Paterson (Imray 87), Charmey, Wright, Kerridge (Hoggins 80), Sayer.

Unused subs: Allan, Anderson, Bennett.

Goals: Sayer 16, Wright 66,87.

Attendance 148.

Kevin Mochrie