Chester picked up all three points on the road at a cold Buxton after a 4-2 victory at The Silverlands Stadium
After snow and freezing temperatures volunteers worked hard to get the game on throughout the week.
And the home side was on the front foot putting the ball in the back of the net after 6 minutes however the linesman ruled it out for offside.
Nathan Woodthorpe had the first attempt for the visitors after seeing an opening at goal but fired it over the crossbar.
Charlie Caton looked lively for The Seals and after 15 minutes he forced Grant into a diving save after a powerful shot.
Buxton took the lead after a well-worked corner routine found Ethan Fitzhugh and he managed to squeeze in through the crowded box into the corner to make it 1-0 after 18 minutes.
They weren’t ahead for long though with Chester responding just moments later when Caton got on the end of a goalmouth scramble to tap in from six yards.
The referee awarded a penalty to the home side in the 26th minute when Buxton-born Jimmy Storer brought down Tommy Elliott in the penalty box. Luke Brennan stepped up to the spot and despite the keeper guessing the right way fired them into a 2-1 lead.
Roles reversed though when Chester were given a penalty with Liam Ravenhill adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. Caton put in the equaliser from 12 yards out for his second goal of the game in the 38th minute.
The Seals took the lead for the first time just before the break, Declan Weeks corner was flicked on on and saved by Grant with Harrison Burke there to follow up with a volley and make it 3-2.
Chester extended their advantage after 13 minutes with Jack Bainbridge’s low-driven effort which gave goalkeeper Grant no chance as he made it 4-2.
One of Buxton’s late chances came in the last ten minutes of the game with a goalmouth scramble from a corner being claimed by Storer in goal.
Ben Sault flashed the ball across the goal late on looking to find substitute Ryan Viggars who couldn’t get on the end of it.
With Buxton still pushing to get back in the game Diego De Girolamo had the ball in the back of the net however the flag was swiftly up for offside.
Despite the late pressure from Buxton, they could not find a way back into the game, with their first game of 2025 ending in defeat.
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