With this year’s Varsity in full flow, Salford’s first team are set to take on Chester at 14:30 at
Parkgate Road Campus.
A Salford supporter said: “The sun came out and it was a euphoric atmosphere, but overshadowed by the result.
“Especially after the chances in the first half, Salford should have won the game. Hopefully we can still win Varsity overall.”
16:30 – Chester complete the double over Salford in this year’s Varsity and end the dreaded home curse.
16: 28 – FULL TIME | Chester 4-3 Salford
90+5′ – Salford run down the Chester wing, but the referee brings it back for a Chester free-kick 25-yards out from their own goal (4-3).
90+4′ – Chester win a free-kick on the halfway line (4-3).
90+3′ – The free-kick falls into the hands of Simpson and Chester clear, but don’t make use of Salford’s goalkeeper being acres away from his goal (4-3).
90+3′ – Salford’s centre back is needlessly hacked down on the halfway line and Salford have one more opportunity to level the score. Brockbank comes up (4-3).
90+2′ – Chester continue to clear any incoming balls from their box (4-3).
90+1′ – CHANCE! Salford’s number nine slashes a potent strike from the edge of the Chester box, but it fizzes wide of Simpson’s goal (4-3).
90′ – Salford win the ball and advance it up the pitch, but fall short of the final third once more (4-3).
90′ – Chester understandably take their time with a corner (4-3).
89′ – This is not the time for clever flicks, as Salford’s number 15 just found out, wasting an attack by gifting the ball away to Simpson in Chester’s goal (4-3).
88′ – Salford try and push forward, but a miscommunication sees number nine pass the ball aimlessly out of play (4-3).
Despite the game entering the final five minutes and only a single goal separating the two sides, the atmosphere here at Parkgate Road Campus is dwindling (4-3).
81′ – HOW HAS HE NOT SCORED? Salford’s number 10 chipped the free-kick to the back-post, where number five was ready to equal the score, but somehow his header didn’t burst into the netting (4-3).
80′ – Salford win a lucky free-kick right on the edge of Chester’s box, as the already booked Chester number seven went to ground to win the ball (4-3).
74′ – The referee awards yet another free-kick as Salford are firmly on the front foot here (4-3).
70′ – GOAL! Salford’s number nine won the penalty and scored the penalty, as Chester’s lead is reduced to one! (4-3).
68′ – A short corner saw Salford’s number nine stroll into the box, where he then chipped the ball past the incoming Chester defender, who took him out. The referee then awarded the penalty as he pointed to the spot in a comical slow-motion fashion (4-2).
68′ – PENALTY TO SALFORD!
67′ – Salford are really piling on the pressure now, but Chester are currently standing firm (4-2).
61′ – CHANCE! Salford’s number seven went through on the Chester goal once more, but Simpson was quick to come out and smother the shot (4-2).
59′ – GOAL! – Chester’s nine squared the ball to number 15, who couldn’t miss from right in front of the Salford goal, as he restored the home side’s two goal lead. (4-2).
57′ – GOAL! Salford’s number seven pounces on a misjudged back-pass from the Chester centre back and curls the ball past Simpson in net! (3-2).
54′ – Salford’s number eight skids a volley over the Chester bar, after the initial corner was headed away (3-1).
50′ – GOAL! Chester slide the ball into the back of Brockbank’s net to double their lead (3-1).
49′ – Chester lift yet another free-kick into the Salford box, and Brockbank does well to catch Chester’s number six’s header (2-1).
Is this Chester’s new mascot?
15:33 – Salford commence the second half! (2-1).
The entertainment at the interval included a showcase from Chester’s cheerleaders and an impromptu game of American football on the sidelines; Varsity living up to its American spirit.
HALF TIME | Chester 2-1 Salford
45′ – Salford defend well as a united to clear a looping Chester free-kick (2-1).
40′ – The free-kick is skied into what would be Row Z at a stadium, but is instead the Students’ Union Car Park (2-1).
39′ – Salford win a free-kick on the edge of the Chester box (2-1).
36′ – Unlike the women’s game earlier, the referee is trusting the opinions of the coaching staff acting as linesmen, as he awards their offside decisions without question (2-1).
35′ – CROSSBAR! Salford’s goalscorer is again first to a lofted free-kick, but his header crashes against the crossbar and away from danger (2-1).
33′ – Salford’s number 12 is next to take a pop at the Chester goal, but Simpson easily laps up the ball into his arms (2-1).
31′ – We’re back underway and Salford’s number 11 is denied twice by Simpson in the Chester goal; spectacular goalkeeping (2-1).
29′ – Play is shortly suspended for a Salford injury (2-1).
26′ – The sun is starting to come out here, along with more and more supporters by the minute (2-1).
25′ – CHANCE! Salford somehow put the ball wide of the far-post in a one-on-one (2-1).
21′ – GOAL! Chester somehow put the ball in the net after pinball in the box (2-1).
20′ – A dangerous free-kick to Chester on the wing (1-1).
18′ – GOAL! Chester curve their free-kick into the bottom corner of Brockbank’s net to level the score (1-1).
17′ – Dangerous free-kick for Chester 19-yards out (0-1).
13′ – It was a striker’s finish from the centre back to put the visitors into the lead, following the lofted free-kick (0-1).
12′ – GOAL! Salford’s number 5 bundled the free-kick into the roof of Chester’s net! (0-1).
12′ – Free-kick to Salford just inside Chester’s lap (0-0).
7′ – Salford’s number 11 strides down the wing and gets a shot off, but Simpson catches the ball with ease (0-0).
3′ – Brockbank does well to claim the ball in his box under pressure from Chester’s forward (0-0).
14:39 – We’re underway!
In the first fixture between the two sides a week ago, Chester 2s were victors in a dramatic penalty shootout, seeing the visitors win 6-5 on penalties after sudden death.
Last year, it was honours even for the two sides, as both claimed away victories.
Salford claimed a dominant 5-2 victory in Chester, before the Rangers claimed their revenge in Greater Manchester with a last minute winner to claim victory by a single goal.
Chester Mens 1s Squad: Jake Simpson (GK), Matt Rees, Oli Brewer, Kyle White, Josh Cox, Jaden Allcock, Ben Richards, Lewis Dickinson, Lewis Adams, Brevin McCurdy, Mackenzie Scott, Alex Morgan, Amr Lakhdar, Joe McDonnell, Nathan Stephenson
Salford Mens 1s XI: Oliver Brockbank (GK), Rory Cormack, Joe Gordon, Matt Lunn, Alex Kerslake, Rhys Singleton, Leke Ajibode, Divine Amaefule (C), Fatbardh Hysaj, Jonathan Krakue, Mandel Shurkian.
Substitutions: Danny Holding, Alex Wallace, James Oluwatosin, Luiz Cruz
This is a live blog, please follow below for updates throughout the game.