By Thomas Kelly
Chester FC are one game away from a return to the National League after back to back playoff wins over Buxton and Kidderminster Harriers.
The Seals are on the cusp of promotion and will face off against Scunthorpe for a spot in the National League next season. Chester will have an up hill battle as the National League North playoff final is played at the ground of the side who finished higher in the league, with Scunthorpe finishing one spot above the seals.
The path to the final
Chester’s run to the final began with a dramatic win over Buxton in the quarter-final eliminator at home. Chester took the lead inside the opening minutes as Iwan Murray’s strike found the bottom corner sending the Deva Stadium into pandemonium. However Buxton would quickly strike back setting the tie on a knife edge for the remainder of the night, and the game would head to extra time as neither side could break the deadlock. With the game looking set to go to penalties one of Chester’s own Harrison Burke came up big with his twelfth goal of the season from centre back to send Chester to a playoff semi-final.
Chester travelled to Kidderminster for their semi-final clash and after a long midweek clash a game away at the side who finished second in the league looked like an uphill battle. It was the worst start for the away side as Kidderminster took the lead after twenty minutes but Chester dug deep and equalised after Connor Woods’ shot was parried into the path of Dylan Mottley-Henry, who slotted the ball home.
The home side could create nothing after their first goal as the Chester players were all over the home side and pressing for a winner. It would be a winner they would find as captain and long time servant of the club Declan Weeks controlled the ball at the edge of the box and bent the ball into the bottom corner to send the away end into delirium.
“We’ve proven we can win away from home”
Chester will face Scunthorpe for a shot at promotion and Chester midfielder Iwan Murray believes that the club will have what it takes, “We know it’s gonna be tough, but that’s been the playoffs. We’ve proven we can win away from home and really push ourselves. Scunthorpe’s a solid team, but so are we. We’re not just showing up to to make up the numbers, we’re going there to earn our spot in the next level.”
This is a moment that will mean everything for this club and Murray knows that having come through the academy, “It would mean the world to everyone to the players, the staff, but most of all, to the fans. They’ve supported us no matter what and have never let us down. We really want to show our appreciation for that loyalty. We’ve got one last push to make, and we’re going all out for it.”
The stage is set everyone seems to know what’s at stake it’s sure to be a well-supported affair. All eyes now turn to the playoff final on the 18th of May, with Chester looking to end their seven year hiatus from the fifth tier of English football.
