CHESTER joint-manager Anthony Johnson feels that ‘unprecedented disruptions’ have hindered his side’s progress this season,

Bad weather forced the postponement of last weekend’s clash at National League North rivals Darlington and left the Blues without a league fixture for the 11th time in the 2018/19 campaign.

Water damage at Chester’s Swansway Stadium earlier in the season forced the postponement of three home matches, while other league games have clashed with cup fixtures and subsequently rescheduled.

An extensive injury list has also threatened to derail Chester’s play-off bid at times, with Johnson left to lament the club’s run of bad luck.

“Some of the supporters joke about there being a curse on the club, but it has felt like that at times this season,” said Johnson, who will take his side to Darlington for the re-arranged game next Wednesday.

“Disruptions are part and parcel of football and you have to adapt to circumstances, but what we’ve experienced has felt unprecedented.

“It’s almost as if we’ve got used to it now, but I’ve never known anything like it.

“As a manager you look for consistency and momentum, but when you find yourselves affected by 11 postponements in a season it’s just scandalous really. It’s effectively a quarter of the season that’s been affected.

“Obviously we’ve been knocked out of the cup competitions and then found ourselves without a game sometimes.

“That’s of our own making, but the rest of it has been beyond our control. It’s been such a stop-start season.”

Leaders Chorley, who will be the visitors to The Deva a week on Saturday, can extend the gap to seven points at the top if they beat Leamington at Victory Park. Third-placed Spennymoor, who lost 2-0 at home to Bradford Park Avenue on Tuesday, host Alfreton while Avenue head to Southport. Kevin Wilkin’s Brackley Town can do the Blues a favour by beating Kidderminster while Boston United will overtake Chester with a win at York City.

Other fixtures: Ashton United v Blyth Spartans; Curzon Ashton v FC United of Manchester; Hereford v Guiseley; Nuneaton v Darlington.