chester

Chester 1 Gateshead 0

Swansway Chester Stadium… Saturday November 15th… 3pm

Attendance: 2,308

Only the second chance I’ve had this season to watch Gateshead; a reasonably short trip to Chester (even if it did require 3 trains). As I’ve mentioned before, I felt like a bit of a gate crasher at Wembley last season, so this was my second repayment for the day out that Newcastle United are unlikely to offer anytime soon…

My first trip to the Swansway Chester Stadium (catchy name), functional would sum it up, albeit without a standing area for away supporters and therefore an £18 admittance charge to the segregated seating area…

Swansway Chester Stadium: Outside…

The match itself was fairly similar to the Kidderminster game, with the exception of the weather, it was rather colder today. Gateshead dominated the first half (a strong penalty appeal turned down in the opening minutes, post hit) but were unable to turn the possession into goals; they still need a goal scorer.

The second half was rather more even, John Rooney giving Chester the lead at the mid-point with a long range effort. A late flurry of Gateshead pressure (crossbar hit, point blank save by Bartlett) failed to deliver an equaliser and Gateshead came away with nothing. To add insult to injury there was still time for James Curtis to get himself sent off in injury time…

Swansway Chester Stadium: Inside…

And then things started to go badly wrong…

My phone ran out of charge on the way back to the station (I’m lost without Google Maps), fortunately managed to navigate in the dark without too many mishaps… That was the highlight of my most difficult journey home yet (although in this case sadly unavoidable). The Birmingham train was taken out of service at Shrewsbury, ended up being diverted back to Crewe, missed a connection due to a late running train to New Street and ended up on the 22:22 back to Hinckley, home for 23.20….

A long day…

Chester; Worsnop, Heneghan, Brown (YC), Charnock (Kay 93), Roberts, James, Rooney, Mahon, Hobson (Touray 46), O’Keefe, Oates Not Used; Roberts, Menagh, Peers

Goals; Rooney (68)

Gateshead; Bartlett, Ramshaw (Heardman 66), Curtis (RC 90), Clark, Anderton, Oster (Finnigan 71), Baxter, Turnbull, Rodman, Pattison (YC), Wright (Shaw 76) Not Used; Jones, Rankine

Goals; None

As usual, more pictures on flickr…