By Chris Thompson
March 19 2005

A report from this afternoon's game at the Saunder's Honda Stadium, as Chester run out comfortable 3-2 winners. Branch grabs a double, and Drummond scores the other. Thank goodness for that. Chester ended another poor series of results with an encouraging win against an out of form, and struggling Notts County side. The score-line may be seen as to have flattered County, as Chester dominated for most of the 90 minutes, with Ben Davies, Michael Brown and increasingly impressive striker Branch in great form for the blues.
There will be a number of positives Ian Rush will take from the game. Most likely topping that list is the rediscovered ability to score goals. Between Davies, Foy and Branch, City can boast an exciting attacking trio, with between them attributes of flair, rifling shots, and pace in another class. Importantly though, they are the foundation on which Chester have been able to sustain a goal tally of 6 from their previous 3 matches. Not too many, but a massive improvement on what the blues had achieved previously, having not scored a goal in 8 of their last 10 league games prior to the 2-2 draw against Southend.
On an negative note however, City have failed to register a clean sheet in their last 6 games, as the defence have appeared to falter as the City attack appear to have found that goal scoring touch once again. The 5-0 defeat at Shrewsbury was a classic example of their growing inconfidence, and a poor, defeatist mentality, however Andy Nicholas and Carl Regan were on hand to push for places on a defence which until now has been barely changed because the lack of depth in the squad.
Over the next week, Chester will have to work on counterbalancing it all out, and it is possible with the expertise of former Welsh internationals, attacking minded Ian Rush and the defensive thinking Mark Aizlewood.

Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, it was Notts County who began the much brighter side on Saturday in front of a home crowd of 2, 324. The visitors, like City, are attempting a late move to push out of the relegation area, starting with a win against Chester. Unfortunately, such a happening would have resulted only in Chester taking on that role, and Chester’s worries would surely have started piling on as Chester conceded the first goal of the afternoon on 24 minutes. Looking the better side, County’s Glynn Hurst touched the ball in from close range after Mark Stallard had first headed the ball goalwards to give his side a deserved 1-0 lead, and pile the pressure on manager Ian Rush.
Luckily, it took just 5 minutes for Chester to find a way back into the game, as the teams switched dominance on the pitch, and Chester progressed to give a promising performance for the remainder. Stuart Drummond’s 28th minute, 12 yard rifle forced a 1-1 draw after full-back, David Pipe made a hash of his possession on the ball for Drummond to score a simple and gifted equaliser.
It was the catalyst for Chester to unleash a hurl of chances before the first half interval. Ben Davies was first on hand to beat Eliot in the Notts County goal with a trademark, 25-yard stinger, which was unlucky to skive the top of the bar. Just 2 minutes later, Stuart Drummond met a cross courtesy of on-loan Robbie Foy, but his header agonisingly hit the bar, as for the remainder of the half, Chester looked and pressed for a goal that would gift them the lead as half time approached.
But a series of corners was the best Chester could deliver, as the side walked into the changing rooms full of confidence after the referee blew for half time.
Chester began the second half, to the relief of the home support, just where they had left it, live and kicking with blocked efforts from both Michael Branch and Ben Davies in the opening encounters. It took the persistent blues then just 13 minutes before they opened up the Notts defence once again, for Michael Branch to side-foot home his third goal in two matches on 58 minutes. A neat header by Robbie Foy allowed a very lively Ben Davies acres of space to meet a fine pass with Branch, who was left with, and joyfully accomplished the task of scoring past Eliot in the away team’s net. Chester had overturned the deficit, and led 2-1 going into the final third of the match.
The game seemed, to the blatant joy of the City fans, to be over on 77 minutes.
The industrial Ben Davies continued his fine performance, as he played in another ball for Michael Branch, whose pace led him through a statuesque County defence before his shot from 18 yards fired Chester into a 3-1 lead.
Prior to the goal, Ian Richards moved into a more attacking formation, replacing Shaun Harrard with Paul Bolland, and later gave a start to new boy, Ruben Zadkovich but Chester continued to press, with chances most notably coming from Michael Branch and Ben Davies.
Very much against the run of play on 82 minutes, Chester were given a scare which nearly stole them of three, very badly needed, points. A cross from David Pipe found its way to Glynn Hurst, who forced a fantastic save from Chris MacKenzie, who tipped the ball around the post. The corner from Stef Oakes found it's way to Zadkovich, who shot home for a debut goal from the edge of the area for 3-2
The last few minutes were a slightly nervous affair for Chester. Thankfully, the Chester defence managed to hang on, and move 8 points from the dreaded relegation zone, which presently houses the rebelling duo of Cambridge and Kidderminister. As Notts County continue their free-fall, Chester can only hope that as per usual, today’s result is not just a one off, but a sign of things to come.
Chester’s match next week will see the welcomed return of captain Paul Carden, which alongside Ben Davies may mean good things as City next entertain Mansfield on March 25th.