Following Saturday’s 4-1 drumming at Spennymoor Town, a loss that saw Chester exit the FA Cup at the third qualifying round stage, manager Phil Parkinson was honest in his appraisal.
“If I had the money in my bank to reimburse all the travelling fans, I certainly would, because I know that’s how they’ll feel about that, that they’ve been let down,” the Blues boss told club media.
It was a chastening afternoon in the North East as Chester saw their hopes in a competition that can provide enormously valuable off-budget funds through success ended by a team sitting second bottom in the National League North.
A ten-minute spell midway through the first half, where the hosts raced into a 3-0 lead, meant that the contest was all but over by half time, and the Blues were faced with a long coach journey home to reflect on what was, with fans faced with the same arduous journey without a shred of joy to emerge from the trip to Brewery Field.
Football moves quickly, and the focus for Parkinson this week has been to ensure that Chester are adequately prepared to take three points in the league at the Deva Community Stadium this weekend.
On Monday, however, there was an inquest.
“After a result like Saturday you come in and go over things with a fine tooth comb,” Parkinson told The Seal.
