CALUM MCINTYRE hopes the midweek FA Cup efforts haven’t taken too much out of his players ahead of tomorrow’s return to National League action.

The Blues, who defeated Stockton Town 1-0 in the cup replay at The Deva Stadium, have home advantage versus Farsley Celtic.

Chester played almost the entire 90 minutes a player down after the early dismissal of Connell Rawlinson in the replay, but a second half strike from Harrison Burke (pictured above) saw them through.

Manager Calum McIntyre told Chester FC TV: “I want this to be the year we do something. I remember the club that I came into and the position it was in and along the way, we’ve tried to give the supporters some really good moments and some good experiences and some good memories, and the cup allows you to do that.

“We had to make that important to us tonight with 10 men when it’s going to penalise us on Saturday.

“We’re going to be thin on the ground. That is an exhaustion we didn’t need, but fundamentally, we’ve been determined to reward those supporters... that stick with us.”

Chester are second in the table going into the weekend and they are unbeaten in 10 matches.

Leaders Scunthorpe United play host to Oxford City, while third-placed Curzon Ashton pay a visit to Buxton.

Other fixtures: Alfreton v Hereford; Chorley v Warrington; King’s Lynn v Darlington; Leamington v Scarborough; Marine v Radcliffe; Needham Market v South Shields; Peterborough Sports v Rushall; Southport v Brackley; Spennymoor v Kidderminster.