Coca-Cola League Two: Chester 3, Shrewsbury Town 1

Oct 8 2007 by Neil Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

THREE Chester goals in a 12- minute spell midway through the second period lifted City up to third place in the Coca-Cola League Two table.

The victory sent a message to all the other clubs in the division that the Saunders Honda Stadium outfit are in much better shape than they have been since they returned to the Football League just over three years ago.

City have now won their last three matches, but more pleasing is the style of football that is being played week after week.

Manager Bobby Williamson is a keen advocate of wingers, and it was one of his flyers who set the side on their way to victory yesterday, Ritchie Partridge rifling home a stunning goal from 20 yards after 62 minutes.

It is early days to start talking about promotion, but Chester’s refreshing approach is taking a number of clubs by surprise and if injuries to key players can be avoided, there is no reason why a second promotion in four years can’t be achieved.

The first half yesterday was a fairly even affair, with the highlights being a Kevin Ellison effort that hit the outside of the Shrewsbury post, a good save from Garner that denied Hughes’s 20- yard thunderbolt and a clearance from Paul Butler that thwarted Kempson’s goalbound effort.

Then all four goals came in a frenetic period midway through the second half.

Former Liverpool winger Partridge opened City’s account, cutting in from the left and then unleashing an unstoppable shot from just outside the Shrewsbury area.

Six minutes later former City player Darren Moss restored parity for the Shrews, when he headed a free-kick from the right past Danby.

John Murphy, who scored for the third consecutive game, eased City in front again after 72 minutes. Kempson and Langmead, who were far from convincing in the heart of the visitors’ defence, got into a dreadful mess as they went for a through ball from Dinning which allowed Murphy in to fire low past Garner.

Substitute SimonYeo then wrapped the scoring up after 74 minutes, latching on to another through ball from Dinning which should have been cut out by the visitors’ defence, but the former Lincoln City hot-shot did well to fire past the overworked Garner.

Chester gave a Football League debut to another of their promising youngsters after 83 minutes, 17- year-old striker Paul McManus becoming the second teenager in eight days to be given his opportunity, following Neil Carroll last weekend.

After the match an upbeat Williamson reflected: "I am naturally delighted with the win – we have now won our last three matches, which is very encouraging.

"We were put under a lot of pressure in the first half, but I was pleased with the way we played in the second half. The goal from Ritchie Partridge was outstanding."

Match Facts

CHESTER CITY: Danby, Marples, Butler, Linwood, Wilson, Partridge (McManus 83), Dinning, Hughes, Ellison, Murphy, Sandwith (Yeo 63). Subs: Palethorpe, Rutherford, Holroyd.

SHREWSBURY TOWN: Garner, Moss, Ashton, Drummond, Kempson, Hunt, Langmead, Hibbert, Symes (Nicholson 82), Herd, Murdock (Pugh46, Ryan 76). Subs: Hall, Esson.

REFEREE:  Chris Foy (St Helens).

ATTENDANCE: 3,057.