BIGNOT STOPS THE ROT, FINALLY!

MARCUS Bignot got his Chester reign off to a dream start, masterminding the club’s first home victory of 2017.

The former Solihull and Grimsby boss took over from Jon McCarthy earlier this week and immediately lifted the gloom at the Deva Stadium as goals from Ryan Astles and a Ross Hannah penalty saw off Maidenhead.

“It was very pleasing,” Bignot beamed. “It’s all about results, I am absolutely delighted with the performance.

“It was more than a 2-0 performance, and it was also a clean sheet performance which is extremely pleasing.

“The man-ofthe-match was definitely the supporters, who created an atmosphere which was excellent.”

Although Bignot singled out the fans for their role, he would have also raved at the performance of centreback Astles, who set the tone for victory with a sixth-minute opener, rifling home a 15-yard effort from James Akintunde’s cross, via a slight deflection.

Hannah and Akintunde missed chances towards the end of the first period, and it was a similar story in the second as Chester dominated.

Magpies keeper Carl Pentney made a tremendous save to push away a Dawson pile-driver but then Chester doubled their advantage when referee Matthew Donohue spotted a hand ball in the box on 73 minutes and Hannah sent Pentney the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Chester could easily have added a third in the dying moments, Astles flashing a header narrowly wide, and Hannah was unlucky when a snap shot from 15 yards flew just over.

Maidenhead boss Alan Devonshire conceded: “We were poor all over the park, from one to 11 they outplayed us.

“Chester got a reaction from their new manager and they outplayed us pure and simple.”