Dag & Red v Chester 04/02/17 Match Thread

So so cruel. We didn’t deserve that, not by a long shot. We deserved to win, without question. I was walking back to the tube station after the game and Dagenham fans walking alongside us were actually apologising to us, they felt guilty.

I did fear the worst when seeing the team news, I haven’t seen enough from Joyce to suggest he’s good enough and I’ve never been convinced about George either. We started brightly though shaving the post through George after about a minute. The first half theme was pretty much ourselves with a lot of efforts just off target from on the edge of the box. Dagenham’s penalty in the first half was at the other end but it appeared the correct call. Okenabirhie was causing Vassell some problems and skipped past him before Hudson brought him down. Fair play to Roberts though who saved it well. Their opening goal came just before half time when Sheppard cut in from the right and fired a tame looking shot past Roberts at his near post. It looked a soft one to concede from where I was but stand to be corrected on that.

Credit to our boys we came out in the right frame of mind after the break, a heavy ball was played out to the left and Horwood did extremely well to keep it in and play it back across before George fired In powerfully from straight on. The second followed not long after when I think Vassell and Horwood combined to tee up Shaw who curled the ball in from the edge of the box. Other than a near own goal later on from Hunt I thought we were comfortable enough. It all changed with five minutes left when Shaw committed a needless foul by the corner resulting in a free kick latched on to with a header goal bound when Hunt put his arm out to stop it. Can’t blame him, it was instinct and was certainly going in. The winner came in the 95th minute when Benson headed a cross in on to the bar only for Maguire-Drew to mop up and slot home.

Thought the ref was poor, he was physically breaking our attacks up at one point but he got the big calls correct. Stupid foul by Shaw in the corner and Hunt definitely handled it. I’m not sure why he felt kicking the ball away was only an offence in added time though, Astles was rightly booked for kicking the ball out of the ground but Dagenham were at it all first half and escaped punishment. He also let the Daggers players hassle him when trying to send Hunt off. He already had the red in his hand and yet still they were moaning and waving their arms around like silly kids wasting time, something their fans are having a go at us for!

That was Luke George’s best performance in a Chester shirt by some distance, he looked really up for it and to be fair Wade Joyce knocked the ball around well too. I also thought the likes of Horwood, Durrell and Alabi stood out. I wouldn’t say anybody was poor though.

It’s hard to take and I’m gutted. It’s been a frustrating week, we’ve trekked miles and I feel we’ve outplayed two sides in the play-offs away from home only to get beat twice, on the second occasion in the cruellest fashion to boot. Hopefully Macca and Chris can keep the lads heads up as the performances are more than fine, we’re just not getting the luck.

I was down at Dagenham myself Anders so l thank you for a brilliant synopsis of the match, never mind who did what and when on the day fellow deva chatters, l was so emotional and proud of our lads and their tremendous effort to win that match against a pretty good outfit, that l, too was gutted when the game finished. The lads never dropped their heads throughout the match and worked their socks off to win it! We have a team of players who are getting better every game that l go too,( l attend most of the away fixtures) so thanks to our manager and to all the players. By the way after the game l spoke to a few Dagenham fans who said they were lucky to win and didn't realise what a good outfit we were! So keep your heads up fellow Chester FC fans we are getting there.

A refreshingly honest interview, yes, but I would like to know what Astles and Durrell made of it!!

Possibly a tiny bit generous on the back four in my opinion. Vassell was good going forward but got caught out a few times for example. Hudson gave away the first pen and often hoofed it anywhere. Hunt did what he did and nearly put through his own net etc etc.

If I'm to be pedantic, probably more like 6/6.5 with them IMO.