Chester turned in another woeful performance to crash out of the County Cup when they went down 6-2 at home to Ryton. Chester started well with Nathan Fisher hitting the bar after only 3 minutes. Chester took the lead after 11 minutes. Robbie Bird hit a low cross into the middle from the right where Rob Draper's challenge saw to ball break to Nathan Fisher who fired in. However, Ryton were level within two minutes when keeper Josh Carmichael failed to cut out a cross from the left and it left Andrew Barclay with a simple header. Ryton then took full control. After 15 minutes, Dale Burrell fired in a shot which beat Carmichael but came back off the bar. Ryton went in front after 24 minutes when Carmichael could only palm out a low cross from the right. The first shot was blocked but Barclay rammed home the rebound. Ryton increased their advantage after 33 minutes when Alex Benjamin fired in through a crowd of players. Chester nearly pulled a goal back after 37 minutes when Rob Draper controlled a ball from the left but his shot on the turn came back off the bar. After 42 minutes a long clearance was controlled by Nathan Fisher on the left and he hit a great cross field pass to Craig Price but his shot was well saved by Gareth Powell. Chester did pull a goal back just before the interval when Andy Armstrong powered in a header. Ryton began the second half well and soon established a two-goal margin after 50 minutes when Richard Logan fired in. Ryton went further ahead when Logan fired in a free kick which hit the inside of post and bar but the assistant flagged that the ball had cross the line. On minute later, Ryton broke clear through the middle and Barclay raced through to complete his hat-trick. After 85 minutes, Craig Price fired in a free kick which Powell saved at full stretch. The ball was returned into the middle but Rob Draper saw his header go just wide of the post. A very disappointing result but our performance deserved nothing more.
Team: Josh Carmichael, Luke Gilhespy, Robert Palmer, Nicholas Kane, Andy Armstrong, Ian Dixon, Robbie Bird (John Murray, 80 mins), Craig Price (Kyle Bird, 89 mins), Nathan Fisher, Rob Draper, Ben Johnson (James Ellis, 80 mins). Subs Not Used : Colin Wake, Ian Aitken.
Crowd: 49
Referee: Mr. N. Sharp, Hartlepool
Assistants: Mr. G. Hopper, Gateshead & Mr. R. Clementson, Hartlepool