Blues lead reduced to 3 points after nervy draw at Woodley
The Blues lead at the top of the Evo-Stik League First Division North championship was reduced to three points on Tuesday night when Neil Young’s men had to fight all the way to rescue a point at Woodley Sports, whilst nearest rivals Skelmersdale United won again.
Chester FC failed to take their chances in dominant first half display and were made to pay for an Adam Judge error after the interval when the hosts took the lead. The Woodley keeper, Higginbotham pulled off a string of excellent saves in the first half to deny Iain Howard, Greg Stones, Carl Ruffer and Jack Mackreth.
The hosts took the lead in the 67th minute through Nathan Neequaye. Judge struggled to clear his lines leaving Neequaye to take advantage with a superb first touch to lift the ball over the Chester keeper and into an empty net.
It took the Blues just eight minutes to retaliate with a well worked equaliser from substitute Chris Simm. Just four minutes after being introduced, he latched onto Michael Wilde’s through ball and smashed home an unstoppable drive to send the large travelling contingent delirious.
With the clock ticking down the game could have gone either way with Ben Richardson almost snatching a late winner. Fortunately for the Blues he saw his effort ricocheted off Judge’s crossbar, whilst at the other end Simm could have bagged the winner, but failed to keep the ball down, volleying just over the bar after combining well with Wilde.
Woodley Sports FC: Higginbotham, Russell, Band, Furnival, Richardson, Wellstead, Gee, Walker, Rothwell (Haslam 85), Neequaye, Woods (Blackshaw 60). Subs: Crank, Smith.
Chester FC: Judge, Taylor, Horan, Ruffer, Stones, Powell (Simm 71), A Williams, Howard, Booth, Wilde, Mackreth. Subs: Beck, Barlow, Barnes, Aspin.
Referee: Matt Walsh (Sheffield)
Attendance: 802
Man of the Match: Chris Simm
