Match Report -
Not at the Chester Races, but still canter to a win
By Iain Benson
Celtic started slowly, and finished disjointedly, but in between played some good stuff against a good solid Chester side that look like they will be tilting for promotion this season.

Chris Simm got an early chance that was well saved by Jan Budtz, but Chester couldn't convert the corner. Whilst Celtic struggled to gain fluidity, Simm got another chance, producing an even better save from Budtz, but again Chester couldn't make anything of the corner as Celtic defended well. The good defending allowed Celtic the time to get into gear.

After Jennings had smashed the ball into the side netting after beating his marker to the ball, Hobson was then brought down by keeper John Danby. Danby made amends with a fine save, Adam Kay and Hobson combining to lift the ball over Danby and the bar. Celtic were making some good plays now, rampaging around Chester, and a goal only looked a matter of time. It came when Kay released Jennings to bear down on Danby. Jennings showed great composure and gave Danby no chance for the opening goal.

Some great one-touch passing saw Celtic move the ball from the back with Rhys Meynell instrumental throughout the move, until at the edge of the box he laid the ball off to Llloyd Ellams who curled a twenty yard shot well beyond Danby's fingertips and in at the corner of the bar and post to double Celtic's lead.

It could have been three but for another fine save from Danby as Greg Wilkinson interchanged with Hobson, Jennings following up was offside. At the other end, Simm was the main threat for Chester, but he was constantly thwarted by Budtz who denied him a third time on the half hour, but the play was mainly coming from Celtic as the half came to a close, Kay scuffing a shot for Danby to collect.

The second half saw a lot of substitutions, which improved Chester and made Celtic less fluid. Robbie Booth for Chester looked lively and most likely to score, with Jan Budtz called on to keep him out with an excellent save. Despite the increasing pressure from the visitors, Celtic managed to break, Jennings chasing down a lost cause, turning his man inside out, and selflessly firing across the face for Phil Marsh coming in at the back post for a tap in with Danby stranded.

Chester kept going, and did look worthy of a goal, Booth first firing well wide when he should have done better, before Budtz had to block Booth's powerful drive. A mix up between Tom Buckley and Budtz gifted Chester a great chance, with the decision being that Budtz had picked up a back pass, but Simm struck the free kick well wide of the mark.

Chester got the goal their second half performance deserved when Robbie Booth released Mark Reed to race one-on-one with Budtz, and the Chester substitute judged his shot perfectly, reducing the deficit. With only a few minutes left on the clock, there was no time for Chester to add to that goal, and it remained 3-1.

1Danby, John  
2Brownhill, Liam  
3Marsh-Evans, Rob  
4Horan, George  
5Taylor, Mike  > 45
6Williams, Ashley  > 45
7Wright, Jerome  
8Pilkington, Daniel  > 45
9Simm, Chris  
10Gall, Kevin  > 45
11Baynes, Wes  > 45
12Powell, Mike  < 57
14Stones, Greg  < 45
15Howard, Iain  < 45
16Booth, Robbie  < 45
17Brown, Alex  < 45
18Reed, Mark  
19Judge, Adam  < 45