Match Preview by Leon Higgins

Curzon are looking to bounce back from last week’s league defeat to South Shields with a return to FA Cup action with a trip to the Wales/ England border.

In the second qualifying round, Mark Bradshaw’s side defeated Hebburn 4-1 looking to preserve the proud recent record in the FA Cup reaching the first round in the last three seasons.

Chester’s FA Cup journey also started in the second qualifying round, winning 2-1 away at Northern Premier League Division One West side Stalybridge Celtic, which featured a dramatic ending after a late 88th minute Jack Bainbridge winner.

In the Enterprise National League North, The Seals currently sit 17th after nine matches. Last time out Chester drew 1-1 at Darlington, after a 93rd minute equaliser from Josh Scott denied Chester a win in the North East.

Chester who formed in 2010 as the phoenix club to Chester City who were wound up following unsuccessfully trying to join the Welsh Premier League, have featured in the FA Cup every season since 2012. FA rules meant Chester were ineligible to compete in either the FA Trophy and FA Cup during their inaugural season in 2010 as they were required a minimum of one season of prior football to play in the FA Trophy, and two years before playing in the FA Cup.

Chester’s first ever match in the FA Cup was a 1–1 draw away at Gainsborough Trinity in the second qualifying round before winning the replay 2–1. The third qualifying round tie, at home to Halifax Town, was marred by crowd trouble, and finished in a 1–1 draw before Halifax won the replay 3-1. A best run in the competition came in 2014, reaching the second round proper before losing to Barnsley in a replay at home 3-0 after a 0-0 draw at Oakwell. The Seals also reached the first round proper in 2023 before once again losing a replay 2-1 at York City after another 0-0 at the Deva Stadium.

Head to Head:

Whilst Chester are familiar opponents in the Enterprise National League, this will be the first time the teams have faced each other in the FA Cup.

Management Preview:

Speaking ahead of the FA Cup game, Head Coach Mark Bradshaw shared his thoughts:

It’s a game to look forward to, we want to be in the competitions , we want to be looking up in the league not down, we want to go to Chester and take them on.

We’ve already been there (this season) and it was a good game, we know what we’ll get from Chester and they know what they’ll get from us, so it’s a game we want to go there and put on a show and get the right result this time.

Match Information: