Another Goal Feast For City As Leigh Are Hit For 6
By Simon Dutton January 5 2004
Chester began 2004 in style as they defeated Leigh RMI 6-2 at Hilton Park, Clare boasted another hat-trick, Stamp netted twice and a superb Smith free kick secured the points.
By Simon Dutton January 5 2004
Chester began 2004 in style as they defeated Leigh RMI 6-2 at Hilton Park, Clare boasted another hat-trick, Stamp netted twice and a superb Smith free kick secured the points.
The scoreline suggests that it was a walk in the park but City were made to work for their three points courtesy of some defensive naivity which allowed Leigh hope of snatching a point.
Wright fielded Collins, Guyett and Ruffer in the central defence positions who were supported by McIntyre and Regan on the wings. Smith, Carden and Carey were in the City engine room which again forced Ben Davies to sit out. And the lethal Clare and Stamp began the game in a hunt for goals to continue their red hot form.
But the opening exchanges suggested that this encounter would be a tougher proposition than the Boxing Day walk over. Carey went close with an effort early on and Smith was doing his best to weave some magic but the Leigh rearguard remained resistant. The Railwaymen rarely threatened but ex-Chester striker McNiven saw his shot flash wide of the goal.
Chester had a marvellous chance to open the scoring in the 31st minute, Martyn Lancaster who of course used to play for City handled in the area which provided Clare with an opportunity to net fromm the penalty spot. But the ex-Boston striker shot straight at the Martin in the RMI goal who parried the ball wide of the goal, the ball fell to Clare again who attemped a cheeky backheel to make amends but succeeded only in acquiring a corner.
However, Clare made no mistake two minutes later, he latched on to a hanging Smith cross and lashed the ball into the roof of the net to give City the lead.
Stamp, Clare's partner in crime, went close with a free kick but he did score two minutes before the break, he picked up the ball just inside the area and powered a goalbound volley which took a deflection off an RMI defender to find the back of the net.
Mark Wright will have been satisfied with his team's two goal lead but will have been eager to see more goals in the second period to cement the three points.
Phil Starbuck saw his men slide even further behind seconds after the re-start, McIntyre whipped a corner into the area which looped in the air and Darryn Stamp rose unmarked to nod the ball home to punish shoddy defending by the Hilton Park outfit.
Chester should have extended their lead on 54 minutes when Smith could only fire a shot at the crossbar with the goal beckoning.
Wright made changes midway through the second half, Guyett received a blow to the face and was replaced with Bolland and McIntyre made way for Twiss who was playing against his old employers.
Rickers came close for RMI on 59 minutes, he had McCaldon beaten but his shot struck the post. The Blues became slack and took their foot off the pedal which allowed the Railwaymen to creep back into the game. Mario Danial rounded off a slick attacking move to slide the ball past McCaldon therefore giving the home side a light at the end of the tunnel. The goal was greeted by an eerie silence as only about 400 of the 2002 crowd were Leigh fans!
Any thoughts that RMI would roll over and die were diminished on 78 minutes when Warren Peyton picked out the bottom corner following calamity in the City back line.
A nervous 20 minutes followed as Chester clung onto their lead. But somewhat against the run of play they scored three times in injury time. Daryl Clare scored his second when he arched his neck to power home a header at the near post which gave the 1600 fans a sigh of relief. And Clare secured his second hat-trick in three games when he superbly brought the ball down with his chest and beat advancing Martin when he delightfully used the outside of his right foot to slide the ball in the back of the net.
Smith rounded things off when his 30 yard free kick curled into the top corner, it was a strike which would grace any game. That made it 6-2 which was to become the final score. City deserved to win but perhaps six goals was a little harsh on Leigh who battled well to give themselves a chance of acheiving a point from the contest.
Chester have now scored 16 goals in three matches including three hat-tricks in three games, it's an impressive burst of form at an important time of the season. Hereford unfortunately grabbed three points at Exeter to maintain the pressure but still find themselves six points behind the Blues. Gravesend arrive at the Deva on Saturday as Mark Wright will be looking to gain revenge on the team who knocked City out of the FA Cup in November.
Wright fielded Collins, Guyett and Ruffer in the central defence positions who were supported by McIntyre and Regan on the wings. Smith, Carden and Carey were in the City engine room which again forced Ben Davies to sit out. And the lethal Clare and Stamp began the game in a hunt for goals to continue their red hot form.
But the opening exchanges suggested that this encounter would be a tougher proposition than the Boxing Day walk over. Carey went close with an effort early on and Smith was doing his best to weave some magic but the Leigh rearguard remained resistant. The Railwaymen rarely threatened but ex-Chester striker McNiven saw his shot flash wide of the goal.
Chester had a marvellous chance to open the scoring in the 31st minute, Martyn Lancaster who of course used to play for City handled in the area which provided Clare with an opportunity to net fromm the penalty spot. But the ex-Boston striker shot straight at the Martin in the RMI goal who parried the ball wide of the goal, the ball fell to Clare again who attemped a cheeky backheel to make amends but succeeded only in acquiring a corner.
However, Clare made no mistake two minutes later, he latched on to a hanging Smith cross and lashed the ball into the roof of the net to give City the lead.
Stamp, Clare's partner in crime, went close with a free kick but he did score two minutes before the break, he picked up the ball just inside the area and powered a goalbound volley which took a deflection off an RMI defender to find the back of the net.
Mark Wright will have been satisfied with his team's two goal lead but will have been eager to see more goals in the second period to cement the three points.
Phil Starbuck saw his men slide even further behind seconds after the re-start, McIntyre whipped a corner into the area which looped in the air and Darryn Stamp rose unmarked to nod the ball home to punish shoddy defending by the Hilton Park outfit.
Chester should have extended their lead on 54 minutes when Smith could only fire a shot at the crossbar with the goal beckoning.
Wright made changes midway through the second half, Guyett received a blow to the face and was replaced with Bolland and McIntyre made way for Twiss who was playing against his old employers.
Rickers came close for RMI on 59 minutes, he had McCaldon beaten but his shot struck the post. The Blues became slack and took their foot off the pedal which allowed the Railwaymen to creep back into the game. Mario Danial rounded off a slick attacking move to slide the ball past McCaldon therefore giving the home side a light at the end of the tunnel. The goal was greeted by an eerie silence as only about 400 of the 2002 crowd were Leigh fans!
Any thoughts that RMI would roll over and die were diminished on 78 minutes when Warren Peyton picked out the bottom corner following calamity in the City back line.
A nervous 20 minutes followed as Chester clung onto their lead. But somewhat against the run of play they scored three times in injury time. Daryl Clare scored his second when he arched his neck to power home a header at the near post which gave the 1600 fans a sigh of relief. And Clare secured his second hat-trick in three games when he superbly brought the ball down with his chest and beat advancing Martin when he delightfully used the outside of his right foot to slide the ball in the back of the net.
Smith rounded things off when his 30 yard free kick curled into the top corner, it was a strike which would grace any game. That made it 6-2 which was to become the final score. City deserved to win but perhaps six goals was a little harsh on Leigh who battled well to give themselves a chance of acheiving a point from the contest.
Chester have now scored 16 goals in three matches including three hat-tricks in three games, it's an impressive burst of form at an important time of the season. Hereford unfortunately grabbed three points at Exeter to maintain the pressure but still find themselves six points behind the Blues. Gravesend arrive at the Deva on Saturday as Mark Wright will be looking to gain revenge on the team who knocked City out of the FA Cup in November.
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