MATCH REPORT: FC ISLE OF MAN 2 – 5 CHESTER FC

Chester FC secured their first win of pre-season by comfortably beating an energetic FC Isle of Man team at The Bowl.

After a tense opening ten minutes, Iwan Murray put the Seals ahead with his controlled shot which, after good work from the lively Tom Peers, found the bottom corner.

The home side equalised just before the half-hour mark when Dean Pinnington broke through quickly and lifted the ball delicately over Cam Mason.

A quick double just before half time saw Calum McIntyre and his team regain control at the break. Declan Weeks’ close range finish under pressure put the Yellows back ahead, and less than 90 seconds later Tom Peers was played through Weeks and finished with aplomb to double our advantage.

After a lot of changes at half time, it was the home side who scored next, Charlie Higgins breaking through and reducing the deficit for the Ravens with a shot that went into the corner.

But the joy on the Isle of Man was short-lived as Tom Peers doubled his tally on the day in magnificent fashion. Second-half substitute Reece Daly set up the striker, who curled the ball delightfully into the keeper’s side netting.

Summer signing Dan Turner completed the rout, scoring his first goal for the club, with Cam Mason providing an improbable assist. Our No.1 cleared the ball upfield and a miscommunication at the back turned an unmarked save into a defence-splitting pass.

Turner still had some work to do as he headed towards goal, but he made no mistake and fired the ball into the net.

But McIntyre and his players have no time to rest on their laurels, with their next game in less than 48 hours, against Lancaster City at the Bowl on Sunday morning.

Match report by Jude Deedigan.

CHESTER: Mason, Hunter (Burke 46), Rawlinson (Williams 46), Pollock (Roberts 46), Heywood (Woodthorpe 46), Bainbridge (Rosenblatt 46), Hancox, Weeks, Murray (Daly 60), Caton (Turner 46) Peers .

UNUSED GRANTS: Brown.

GOALS: Pinnington 28, Higgins 60; Murray 13, Weeks 37, Peers 39 and 62, Turner 68.