The right result arrived in the end, but good grief that was a frustrating watch.
Kofi Moore curled home a 20-yard effort on 89 minutes having been handed his first start for the club since his summer move from Bamber Bridge to earn Chester a valuable 1-0 win over Bedford Town and their dark arts at the Deva Community Stadium.
The 21-year-old, who was bright all afternoon, helped send the Blues into fourth in the National League North, four points behind league leaders Macclesfield. For a club that has felt a little gloomy these past few weeks after a challenging spell, to be in that position after 11 games played is a position most would surely have taken right now.
This was one of those games which raised the blood pressure. The visitors have their playbook, and it was pretty obvious from the get-go. Disrupt, delay and stifle any momentum. Don’t press, sit deep and seek to grind out the grimmest of draws.
To their credit, it almost worked. They had one or two talents who tried to get on the ball, such as Joe Castiglione, but this was a team who will set up in this manner on their travels many more times this season.
Chester boss Phil Parkinson had told The Seal earlier in the week that the Blues’ joy would come from being able to find a rhythm and counter their visitors. But Bedford didn’t allow for that, and when it came to trying to find a flow and momentum in the game, the constant theatrics and throwing to the ground, aside from the obvious injury that required a lengthy stoppage before Junior Gyamfi was stretchered off after coming off worse from a fair Moore challenge, meant that the game as a spectacle was hard to watch.
Referee Bilal Moosa failed to get a grip on proceedings at any point and allowed the nonsense to ensue, and when the final whistle sounded for the victorious Blues there was a sour end, with Eagles assistant manager Tony Fontanelle doing his best to try and give as many Chester players a piece of his mind as he could having riled up the home faithful with his own running battle in the second half with Chester’s kit man over some perceived shady goings on with the footballs.
But all of that was just noise and at least added some colour to a game that, while having some moments of quality, suffered terribly from a complete lack of rhythm.
With Gyamfi’s injury having added seen nine minutes of added time at the end of the 90, and with the prospect of ridiculously heavy traffic on the way home due to a road closure on Bumpers Lane due to a gas leak, Moore’s winner, which he conjured himself through hard work and tenacity before caressing a delightful finish in the bottom corner beyond the well-beaten Laurie Walker in the Bedford goal delivered smiles all around to end an afternoon that had largely been one of total frustration.
Chester had dominated the game, of that there could be no doubt.
Moore was sharp and willing to drive at his marker down the right flank from the off, while Sam Foley, who turns 40 next weekend, put in a strong display in central midfield. But it wasn’t a game where there was a host of man-of-the-match options, and while the sponsors nod went to Jefferson Abreu, who gave his award to Moore, it was really Moore and Foley who were in the running for the accolade.
The conditions didn’t help, with the swirling wind holding the ball up in the air and making it something of a lottery every time an aerial ball was played. Between that and the play acting, the moments of quality that had been on show in small bursts in the first half were largely forgotten. Ruben Butt, in what was his quietest game for Chester since signing on loan from Salford City, came close after he struck the bottom of the left-hand post from a central free kick outside the box midway through the first half.
Moore and Sam Reed were the strongest flank, with the two combining numerous times to good effect, something that bodes well for the rest of the season. It was a Moore/Reed one-two combination that put Moore in a great position in the first half inside the box, but his effort flew wide of the upright.
Billy Waters battled against the visiting tactics and the conditions, but he wasn’t able to find those pockets of space where he has managed to thrive since joining, with Bedford clogging their defensive areas to give little room for manoeuvre.
Neither Luke Hewitson or Walker had to make any real save, although Hewitson did well to hold a dangerous inswinging corner whipped in with pace in the swirling wind in the 99th minute, with the lack of work for the goalkeepers, allied with the low scoreline, demonstrating that this wasn’t a game filled with carefree attacking football. It was a slog for periods, but Chester came out on top, and after the 4-1 humbling at Spennymoor Town in the FA Cup last weekend, they needed a result.
The young defence that had done so well to concede nine goals in 11 games, eight less than title-favourites South Shields in fifth place, also looked pretty assured. The attacking unit for Bedford was cited by Parkinson as their key attribute, and they were nullified. A clean sheet and a competent performance in challenging circumstances will have helped grow confidence in the wake of a tough moment seven days previous. There had been talk about learning lessons, and it looked like some had been learned.
It also showed the promise of a squad. Foley is the elder statesman of this group, but when in central midfield he rarely makes the wrong pass and he helps bring an element of calm. Connor Murphy is the future and he has been excellent so far, but he needed a break and a little time out. It’s all part of development and nurturing his talent. Foley has shown he has a role to play this season, and a 99-minute stint at almost 40 in the centre of midfield shows he still has the engine.
Was it a performance that made you think that all that might have ailed Chester in recent weeks was all in the past? Probably not, no. But Chester got the job done in tough circumstances against a football team that tried to stop the football being played. These results are expected against opponents such as Bedford, especially at home, but you still have to go out and earn the right to win a game of football.
It’s also pleasing to see those given chances take them. Abreu recently, then Foley, and now Moore. The latter has had to wait for his chance but demonstrated he has a part to play this season, and is more than just an impact player for the last 10 minutes of games. It gives Parkinson a welcome headache.
We’re 11 games in and fourth. There are improvements to be made, but it does feel like this is a team that will develop and improve, largely due to its make up, as well as the additional time that is spent on the training ground and the greater support around the playing staff.
Let’s test the waters after 20 games. With a two-week break now and the chance to get some bodies close to fitness, and impactful ones too in the form of Ma’kel Campbell, Jack Bainbridge and Dan Ward, there are reasons for positivity. But sometimes, you just have to get the job done.
WHAT THE MANAGER SAID
Parkinson said: “The overriding feeling is really pleased for the players because we’ve had one or two games where we played really well and we haven’t got over the line. It was so important that we bounced back after last week and showed our fans that it hurt us. To get the result the way we did, obviously no coming back, even though the ref did his best to add as much time on as possible. Just the overriding feeling is pleased for the lads.”
“I thought we dominated the game like we do most games. I felt they disrupted the flow, which you’re going to do being the away team, we slowed things down. I really think Bedford have got some top players and we had to be on our defensive metal at all times, so we reduced them to very little. Out of a front line and attacking front line in this division, there won’t be many better than them.”
“That was the big concern for me. Obviously, emotions are high from last week. Desperate to maybe force the issue and we’ve done that at Buxton away where we should have held our composure and we didn’t in the second half and we got punished by going a little bit too gung‑ho. The lads are showing that they can take on information and learn from their situations.”
ON KOFI MOORE
“I’m so happy, because you love your players. All the players that are there and you’re desperate for them to do well. I know it’s been killing him not coming on or getting the minutes that he wants. All I asked him to do was show the best version of himself and I think it was a man‑of‑the‑match performance for me. I thought he was superb. He posed a real threat every time he went forward and if we were going to score it was going to come from that side. I’m so glad it was him that got the goal.”
ON WHERE CHESTER ARE AT
“Yeah, it’s just patience, isn’t it? I know football doesn’t have patience, especially when we’re at a club where we’re expected to win every single week regardless of obstacles in our way. We all knew what we were walking into coming here. Developing players is key and they’re two lads who are developing nicely and getting us the rewards that we need.”
“Yeah, I think that’s our fourth physically clean sheet in the league this season. I don’t think we kept any clean sheets at this point last season. So, a really big improvement. I think the team last season conceded 19 at the 10‑game mark. We’ve conceded nine, three clean sheets, four now. So, it’s a big improvement season on season. The lads are doing extremely well. It was topped off, obviously, being MBNA, 16‑year sponsors as well. That was a nice little touch for us to try and do that. It’s a big association for the football club. I felt it was important that we bounced back but also got that result for that kind of link.”
ON THE TWO WEEK BREAK
“We’re going to change the schedule slightly because we obviously have no games Saturday but going into Tuesday. So, where we’ve given them the Wednesday off, we’ll have a four‑day lead. It’ll be in Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday next week rather than Wednesday off and in Monday. Just changing it to get the most out of the lads who are coming back as well, to give them the best chance going into the Hyde (Cheshire Senior Cup) game on the following Tuesday, so we can load them up as much as we can without risking any injuries. Then, yes, we’ll hopefully be fully loaded, ready to go for the following week.”
ON THE FANS
“I thought the fans were really good today. I could really hear them. We need that, no matter what, win, lose or draw. I just want to say thank you to them for that. The few that stay behind to clap the lads, that’s huge as well. I’m trying to get that connection where we’re interacting more with fans, but we need them to give us what they gave us today and the lads will always give everything on the pitch. So a big thanks to the fans today.”
Aside from the view of the sponsors, no one can have attended today and voted Jefferson as MoM surely?
Really balanced report Dave and made me feel a bit better about feeling a bit grumpy when the league table tells a decent story. I didn’t enjoy the first half at all and there wasn’t a Twitter update for 20 mins after kick off.
Not sure why I feel so frustrated about this season. Lack of shots on target possibly, expectations built that it was going to be spellbinding season of wing play and attacking flair? I’m not feeling it.
What I do accept is fourth is good and we have key players to come into the fray. Let the good times roll.