The Chester FC U13's played their first game under floodlights at the Runcorn Linnetts Stadium on Wednesday night. Having made a great start in winning their first four games, the young blues were delighted to be invited to Runcorn to play the Halton and District League representative team.

This game saw Halton start at a real pace and control the first 5 minutes forcing Kane, Drury, Ditchfield and Williams in defense and Sherman in goal to be busy in their play. After weathering the storm the Blues started to get on the ball more, with Ainscough shooting over from the edge of the box and the keeper saving from Rowbottam.

On 14 minutes Halton took the lead, a lovely curling free kick from the edge of the box flew over Sherman's reach and in to the net. The blues bounced straight back from this when Wakefield put Beaumont through who laid back the ball to Coppack who's long range shot was well saved by the keeper. The blues continued to press, and equalised on nineteen minutes. After some good work between Beaumont and Pulford on the right, the ball was fed in to Rowbottam to slot the ball past the advancing keeper.

With Deponeo and the debutant Mulraey entering the fray on 20 minutes the blues continued to press and it wasn't long before these two played some nice passing to set through Beaumont who finished coolly to put the Blues 2-1 up. The blues were now in full flow and Mulraey and Deponeo combined well in the 29th minute to allow Deponeo in to score his first goal for the club to leave the Blues 3-1 up at half time.

In the second half the young blues continued to press and went close after some great link play saw Ainscough hit the post, before when, in the 50th minute Halton broke down the left. After some good work on the wing, the ball fell to the home forward who slotted home for 3-2.

The blues continued to attack, and following a quick throw in Rowbottam found some space in the middle of the box to coolly put the ball past the keeper to make the final score Halton & District 2 - 4 Chester FC U13's.

Manager Russ Martin was very impressed with his squad, "That was the best we have played from start to finish in a game. We played some excellent football against a very strong Halton team. There was a lot of players who had their best game in a Chester shirts for us tonight, Kane, Williams, Coppack, Wakefield, Rowbottam and Deponeo really stepped it up a level. Again a special mention for Owen Pulford who played half the game at centre half covering for the injured Drury (Owen is naturally a wide midfield player), Mulraey on his debut was excellent in midfield but I gave the man of the match to Eddie Ditchfield who was a pillar of strength in the centre of defense."

Chester FC would like to thank the coaches, management, parents and players of the Halton and District League for their invitation and hospitality at Runcorn Linnets FC. The game was excellent, and was played in a great spirit.

Chester Team: Cory Sherman (Gk), Ryan Kane, Cameron Drury, Eddie Ditchfield, Niall Williams, Owen Pulford, Nicky Wakefield, Lewis Coppack, Owen Ainscough, Keenan Beaumont© and Conor Rowbottom. Subs: Nick Jones (Gk), Nial Mulraey and Harry Deponeo