Neil Young delighted to end January curse

NEIL Young was delighted to give Chester fans what they have waited nine long years for - a home win in January.

A wretched run stretching back 24 league and cup games was ended yesterday as a hat-trick of headers from Bradley Barnes, Michael Wilde and Robbie Booth swept Young's table-toppers to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Wakefield.

With Chorley not in action, the result moved the Blues five points clear at the Evo-Stik League First Division North summit.

Boss Young said: "They'll say the sending-off changed the game, but you can only beat what is in front of you and overall I thought we played quite well.

"It was difficult as once they had the man sent-off they shut up shop and tried to stop us from playing and scoring, which you can understand. But we coped with it well.

"So I'm glad to put an end to the January curse. More importantly it puts us five points clear, although there's a long way to go yet."

Chester had failed to win any of their previous three matches at the Exacta Stadium, but there was never going to be a doubt over the final outcome after Denton was stupidly sent-off in the 12th minute for swinging a punch at George Horan.

However the Blues had to be patient and it was not until first-half injury-time that they took the lead as Bradley Barnes glanced in his eighth goal of the season from the recalled Kyle Wilson's cross.

Barnes and Iain Howard were excellent in midfield, but it was impressive new boy Ashley Williams who was named the sponsors man of the match on his first full start for the club following his move from Airbus UK Broughton.

Young said: "I thought Ashley was absolutely outstanding. His touch, his passing, his overall play was first class - he really dictated the game.

"He's someone we've took our time with as we've watched him on four or five occasions. I thought sometimes he played within himself at Airbus, but I thought today he showed us what he can bring."