Chester might have to adapt for Hereford test at Sixways

The Blues make the trip to Worcester this evening in the National League North

Calum McIntyre watches on at Leamington (TOM GREEN)

Chester head to Worcester this evening looking to stretch their unbeaten run in the National League North to five games.

Calum McIntyre’s Blues side made it three wins from four games with the 2-0 success at bottom side Leamington on Saturday, and tonight they take on another side staring relegation in the face, taking on second-bottom Hereford.

Pitch issues at the Bulls’ Edgar Street home have forced a number of postponements this season, meaning that the club are seven games back on some teams, including 11th-placed Chester. The need to get games on quickly and avoid further schedule disruption means that this evening’s game will take place at the 12,000-seater Sixways Stadium, the home of the Worcester Warriors rugby union side, as well as Worcester City FC.

Hereford called time on Paul Caddis’ spell as boss in the past fortnight, hiring ex-Torquay United manager Aaron Downes to try and mastermind a great escape to avoid relegation from the North.

Downes, who helped steer Torquay to survival during an interim spell as boss in 2024, led Hereford to a 1-0 win at Darlington in his first game before a 2-1 reverse against Scarborough at the weekend.

The Blues will face a Bulls side who have had a shot in the arm in terms of confidence due to the arrival of a new boss, but Chester have also benefited from a confidence boost in recent weeks after wins over Bedford Town, Buxton and Leamington, with a draw against Alfreton Town sandwiched in between.

That increased confidence was on show at Leamington with the Blues putting in one of their most efficient, assured and professional displays of the season, where a solid rearguard led expertly by new addition Tom Davies, whose presence has already been transformational to Chester’s backline, never looked like being breached.

Chester sit fifth when it comes to form over the last five games, and victory this evening would give rise to some hope that a late charge for the play-off places could be on, although the Blues have left themselves with work to do given the games in hand the teams around them vying for the same outcome have. Chester are four points off the top seven having played 34 games, more than any of their fellow play-off hopefuls.

Striker Tom Peers missed the win over Leamington with a knee injury picked up in the win over Buxton and could well sit out once more, while Jack Bainbridge is also set to miss out due to a knee injury, one that could see him set for a spell on the sidelines for some time.

Lewis Leigh and Fin Shrimpton excelled against Leamington, as did Iwan Murray, who on a large pitch such as Sixways could find some real joy. Declan Weeks’ passing range may see him come back into contention after he was a second-half introduction against the Brakes in Warwickshire.

Dylan Mottley-Henry and Connor Woods both impressed at Leamington, although defensively McIntyre will have to make the call around whether or not he keeps faith with a back four that is heavy on age and experience but light on pace on such a large pitch. Kevin Roberts, who retires after March 7, Davies, Michael Kelly and the talented Phil Croker made up the rear-guard unit at the weekend.