Chester’s homegrown youngsters performed admirably but were ultimately outclassed by 10-man Maidstone United.

Caretaker boss Calum McIntyre handed full debuts to three teenagers – including 17-year-old Cain Noble who rewarded his manager’s faith with a headed goal on the hour mark – but the Kent visitors made sure they would be playing National League football next season thanks to goals from Blair Turgott, Michael Phillips and Josh Hare.

Alex Wynter saw red for the visitors on the stroke of half-time but it was a comfortable afternoon for Jay Saunders’ side. However, it was a proud day for Chester’s academy, with six players involved coming straight off the Blues’ production line.

Defeat brought an end to a torrid home campaign for Chester, who have won just five matches at the Deva all season, and the already-relegated Blues now focus on this week’s imminent appointment of a new manager, who could be installed by the end of the week.

Rookie boss McIntyre had promised to blood his young guns and gave full debuts to Noble, and 18-year-old duo Nathan Brown and Matty Thomson, a proud day for the trio, while fellow academy graduate Rhain Hellawell was named among the subs. Shaun Hosbon (returned to parent club Bournemouth), Harry White, Myles Anderson and Dominic Vose all dropped out, Jordan Gough and Andy Halls recalled.

James Akintunde broke the offside trap in the third minute and raced through but got the ball trapped under his feet at the vital moment.

Halls broke through midfield and played a fine through ball into Noble’s path and the teenager thought he’d marked his debut with an early goal, but the linesman’s flagged halted the premature celebrations.

The Stones were shambolic defensively in the first 10 minutes and a mix-up between keeper Lee Worgan and left-back Seth Nana-Twusami nearly presented Craig Mahon with an open goal but he was fouled to prevent any further damage. Ryan Astles’ looping header sailed over the bar from the resulting Brown free-kick.

Jay Saunders’ visitors – needing a win to secure their safety – went close on 16 minutes as Michael Phillips headed narrowly wide from eight yards out.

Despite a shaky start, Maidstone had grown into the game and grabbed the lead on 19 minutes from the penalty spot. Jamar Loza was adjudged to have been brought down in the box by James Jones, and Turgott tucked the spot-kick into the left-hand corner. Jones did win the ball but went through Loza first.

Mahon tried his luck from 30 yards but dragged his effort wide, before Andy Firth produced a brave piece of goalkeeping at the other end to deny Wynter from close range, who was cautioned for subsequently going in late on the keeper.

Just two minutes later and the Blues were architects of their own downfall as Phillips doubled the visitors lead. Gough’s back-pass led to Firth playing a 30-yard ball down the middle to Tom Crawford, but the teenager was robbed of possession by Phillips who dribbled round Firth and stroke the ball high into an empty net. It was a hospital-pass from Firth who had clearly been instructed to play out from the back all afternoon.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half-time as Wynter caught Crawford 35 yards from goal and was shown his second booking of the afternoon. Referee Matthew Dicicco had little option but to send Wynter off.

Reece Prestedge was cautioned just 40 seconds after being introduced at half-time, with Mahon’s cross drifting inches wide of the far post.

Halls was having a decent game and he swung a dangerous ball across which Akintunde headed goalwards, Worgan tipping over.

The Blues hauled themselves back into the contest on 58 minutes as Noble made it a dream debut. Mahon swung in an excellent cross to the back post and the debutant headed home powerfully past Worgan, wheeling off to celebrate with the Blues’ supporters behind the goal.

Brown’s neat turn and shot from 25 yards brought roars of approval from the home faithful who were seeing plenty of their homegrown lads give as good as they’d got against experienced non-league footballers.

There was another anxious moment for Firth who flapped at Andre Coker’s right-wing cross, Jordan Archer came on to replace Akintunde, but it was soon effectively game over as Hare restored Maidstone’s two-goal lead.

Astles felt he’d been fouled on the edge of the area and Chester all-but stopped playing, but the whistle didn’t sound and the visitors played on, squaring the ball to Hare 25 yards out, who blasted a low effort goalbound which squirmed underneath Firth and crept into the far corner.

In truth, the game went flat after the Stones extended their lead, happy to defend what they had as Chester’s young pretenders tired late on. Turgott was cautioned for a poor tackle on Mahon.

Archer took a header away from Astles’ path and was foiled late on by the alert Worgan, as Chester a 25th defeat of what has been a season to try and erase from the memory.

Chester: Firth, Thomson, Jones, Astles, Gough, Halls (Hellawell 79), Crawford, Noble, Mahon, Brown, Akintunde (Archer 72); Subs: Anderson, Cunningham, White.

Maidstone: Worgan, Hare, Finney, Wynter, Loza (Prestedge 45), Lewis, Anderson, Nana-Twumasi, Turgott, Coker (Wraight 59), Phillips (Reason 85); Subs: Paxman, Luer.

Goals: Turgott (19), Phillips (32), Hare (74); Noble (58)

Red card: Wynter (44)

Man of the match: Andy Halls

Referee: Matthew Diccico – 7/10 - Had a decent game and left with little option but to send Wynter off.

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