Chester FC went down to their first defeat of the Evo-Stik Premier League season at Keys Park on Saturday, after a late goal completed a bad day for the Blues after losing Ashley Williams to a serious collarbone injury.
Chester’s midfield dynamo was injured in a collision during the first half, and was taken straight to hospital where he remained until late Saturday night, and will need surgery this week at Chester.
Chester struggled to impose themselves on a Hednesford team that had won their opening two games, this following early optimism from some decent attacking play.
The home team went close to opening the scoring after Cheyenne Dunkley headed against the bar from a free kick, and further efforts from Mark Danks and Nick Wellecomme went close to breaking the deadlock.
The Blues did try and unlock the Hednesford back doors, and Matty McNeil came close following a Wes Baynes corner, but then Chester almost produced a clanger when Christian Smith came close to scoring a calamitous own goal with a mis-directed header.
It appeared that the game was petering out for a draw, but the home team didn’t read the script, and up popped substitute Jamey Osbourne, who slotted home a rebound following Wellecomme’s shot which Danby could only parry, and the Chester defence were slow to react and Osbourne took full advantage to seal the win.
Chester drop to 9th in the table with the defeat, and was the first time that the Blues have failed to score in an away League game since they reformed.
The Blues are next in action on Wednesday night against FC United of Manchester at the Exacta Stadium, kick off 7.45pm.
Hednesford: Crane, Haynes (Gomes 89), Monteiro, Shaw, Dunkley, Campion, Denny, Clements, Clarke (Osborne 81), Wellecomme, Danks (Quinn 65). Subs: Bailey, Grice.
Booked: Clarke.
Goal: Osborne 88
Chester: Danby, Stones, Horan, Smith, Brownhill, Baynes (Booth 74), Williams (Powell 19), Brown, Wright, Rainford (Simm 58), McNeil. Subs: Marsh-Evans, Reed.
Booked: Wright.
Referee: Alex Harvey (Nottingham)
Attendance: 1,009
