The Linnets travel to the Deva Stadium tomorrow, Saturday 15th August, to face Phil Parkinson’s Chester, in our first game on the road this season.
The Seals kickstarted the new campaign away at Chorley in a game that had everything you would expect from a big clash on the opening day, including a goal-of-the-season contender and late drama. Ma’kel Campbell opened the scoring on the day, firing the ball from range into the back of the net past Taylor between the sticks for Chorley, in what was a disciplined and controlled first-half performance from the visitors.
The second half started in much the same fashion, but Chorley grew further into the game, eventually working their way forward down the right-hand side. Elliott Taylor outmuscled the Chester left-back, let the ball bounce and fired a delicious outside-of-the-boot volley across Lewis Hewitson and into the side-netting.
Chester took control in the final 15 minutes, putting all the pressure on Chorley’s backline. Towards the dying embers of the game, it seemed like it was going to end in a stalemate. That was until a lifted ball from midfield split the Magpies’ defence, giving Chorley the opportunity to fire the ball across goal for Billy Waters to tap home the winner, on his debut, for his first Seals goal.
Pre-season was one of mixed results for Chester, winning four, drawing one and losing two. Those four wins came against Nantwich Town, Hyde United, Warrington Town and Vauxhall Motors. They drew 0-0 in their final game of pre-season against Crewe Alexandra, lost to Fleetwood Town on 14th July, and then lost 1-0 to Stoke a week later after Chinonso Chibueze scored in the 78th minute.
The last time these two sides met was on the final day of last season, when Lynn needed at least a point for survival, while Chester were fighting for a place in the play-offs. Lynn were written off, with “already down” being what we were labelled as going into the final day. We came out of the game with a 0-0 draw, putting bodies on the line and whacking the ball 40 yards when needed. But we got the point, got the job done, and here we are today.
We head to the Deva Stadium hoping for more joy in Chester. See you there!
Up the Lynn!!