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Head of youth development David Wilkes took charge of the youngsters as regular youth team coach Billy Barr travelled with the first team to deepest Gloucestershire.
The young Blues started brightly and took the lead in the third minute through Rob Bainbridge. The Carlisle-based striker ran onto a pass over the top from right-back Martin Graham and coolly slipped the ball under advancing Chester keeper Paul Armstrong and into the net.
The visitors defended well for the rest of the half and the performance of their solid back-line partnership of Kevin Roberts and Mark Cadwallader meant they were able to put the United youngsters under prolonged spells of pressure at the other end of the pitch.
In the 23rd minute Adam Bradley made a superb double save as he first pushed away Paul Rutherford's 25-yard drive and then got up to block the rebound from Chris Holroyd. Rutherford clipped the outside of the post and Karl Noon shot narrowly wide as United were forced onto the back foot, although the Blues could easily have gone in at the whistle two goals to the good as Bainbridge missed a good chance, the ball being deflected away for a corner.
After the half the young Blues defended strongly and did well to keep the visitors at bay until Chester finally found their equaliser in the 70th minute through a penalty. The ever-dangerous Rutherford ran deep into United territory and played a lovely pass through for Graham Mealand to charge onto and hit a shot which was well saved by Bradley only for the ball to rebound back out onto the arm of a Blues defender, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Noon easily dispatched the spot-kick home past Bradley's right-hand to level the scores.
Amazingly Chester threw all their hard work away just 30 seconds later as Ferris regained the lead for United. Carlisle's right-winger latched onto a long ball up the field and, after a slight mix-up between Chester keeper Armstrong and centre-half Roberts, Ferris finished well at Armstrong's near-post to leave the visitors scratching their heads in disbelief.
Chances were far and far between in the closing stages as United held on to their one goal lead to claim an excellent if slightly undeserved victory.
United line-up :
Adam Bradley, Martin Graham, Matty Bell, Dan Kirkup, Matthew Blake (Ashley Combe 85), James Earl (Richard Hoban 70), Shaun Vipond (Mike Stewardson 75), Paul Gardiner, Pete Ferris, Rob Bainbridge, Andy Hardman.
Sub not used : Martin Stewart.
Chester line-up :
Paul Armstrong, Neil Carroll (Graham Mealand 56), James Wilson, Kevin Roberts, Mark Cadwallader, James Scales (Nick Linford 46), Paul Rutherford, Adam Wade, Karl Noon, Chris Holroyd, Robert Marsh-Evans (Freddie Potter 55).
Sub not used : Sean Newton.
Updated Youth Team Results : Click here
Updated Youth Team Table : Click here