CHESTER FC (Deva Stadium)

CONFERENCE NORTH, CHESTER 4-1 STALYBRIDGE CELTIC, ATTENDANCE: 2,095

No new ground this weekend, but thanks to the sterling efforts of volunteers in getting the pitch clear, I was able to take a seat at The Deva to watch Chester's continued march towards the title.

The ground didn't completely escape and only the seated areas of the ground were open today as the Harry Mac terrace was icy underfoot.

In what was a comfortable half for the homesters, goals from Nathan Jarman (11) George Horan (27) and Marc Williams (43) gave Chester a 3-0 interval lead. If it wasn't for the heroics of Ashley Woodhouse in the Celtic goal the scoreline would have been more.

Stalybridge made a better fist of it in the second half and dominated for large periods. A Jack Laird free kick (65) reduced the arrears and if they could've added a second things may have got interesting. As it was a Wes Baynes 30 yard screamer made certain of the points with a minute remaining.

Post match "analysis" took place in the usual haunts such as The Brewery Tap, Old Harkers, The Cellar and also in the newly opened Architect, up by the roodee, which has 5 ales on tap.

Hopefully the weather will have settled down by next weekend and my planned Northern Ireland double header goes ahead.