Chester lose 1–0 to Hednesford after a second yellow card at the start of the second half

Sunday 1 November 2026 · By Glen Marsland

Chester lost 1–0 at home to Hednesford Town on Saturday after Connor Murphy was shown a second yellow card at the start of the second half. Aaron Jarvis scored the only goal in first-half stoppage time, and Chester are now ninth in the Enterprise National League North, one point outside the play-off places.

Jarvis headed in a cross from the right in the 45th minute plus two, beating goalkeeper Luke Hewitson, according to the BBC. The BBC has Murphy’s second booking at 46 minutes, while Chester’s own report says it came “within the first 30 seconds” of the second half and calls it “harsh”. The club’s account says “Parkinson’s 10 men battled hard”, and Hednesford’s live text also describes Chester as pressing for an equaliser. Chester’s Woodthorpe cleared a Hednesford shot off the line and had a chance at the back post. No attendance was found.

Chester’s line-up was Hewitson, Burroughs, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Griffin, McHale, Murphy, Foley, Abreu, Moore and Reed.

Hednesford, whose form reads W W W W L W, have won five of their last six league games and moved level with Lynn on 24 points. Chester’s form now reads L W W L W L, meaning they have lost two of their last three. They are on 23 points from 14 games, with seven wins, two draws and five defeats, and they have scored 17 and conceded 14, a goal difference of plus three. Their home record is five wins and three defeats, and none drawn.

That leaves them level with Morecambe, who have a game in hand. Sixth-placed King’s Lynn and seventh-placed Hednesford are on 24, both of whom have played a game more. Only the champions are promoted automatically, with second to seventh going into the play-offs, and the bottom four are relegated.

Chester announced on Thursday 29 October that centre-back Jack Kenny, 21, had joined Avro on a permanent transfer, after loan spells at Hyde United and Stalybridge Celtic. Manager Phil Parkinson said: “Returning to Avro is something Jack wants to do, and I completely respect and support that decision.” Chester go to Avro in the FA Trophy second round on Saturday 14 November, with kick-off at 15:00 GMT.

The club also marked remembrance at the Hednesford game, and supporters were asked to be in the ground by 2:45pm.

Chester’s next game is at Brackley Town on Saturday 7 November, with kick-off at 15:00 GMT. After the Trophy tie at Avro, they travel to Spennymoor Town on Tuesday 17 November, kick-off 19:45 GMT. Spennymoor are bottom of the table on 10 points, but they beat Chorley 2–0 on Saturday. Chester then host Macclesfield on Saturday 21 November. Chester then travel to Harborough Town on Tuesday 24 November.

Parkinson’s task is to bring Chester back to winning form on the road, with the play-off places only one point away.