Rewind a few years and Chester away wins were collectors' items.
In fact I once went 19 games, spanning three seasons, without witnessing one. When they did come along they were all the more precious and Tuesday night at Woking felt just like the old days. You could see by the reaction around me that it meant exactly the same to the 150-or so Exiles and diehards who had made the trip from Chester.
What made it all the more gratifying was that this was no smash and grab. It's taken more than half a season but we finally look like a decent side. With more composed finishing it should have been three or four and even Woking's manager had no complaints.
In particular it was great to see a couple of players who have suffered some stick this season - Jamie Reed and Jason Jarrett - do well. Reed's hold-up play and running into the channels was excellent and we hope we are finally seeing the player we thought we had signed. There was one passage of play when Jarrett won about three 50-50 balls.
At the back big George and Ross Killock were dominant and Woking hardly got a sniff. Jamie Menagh and John Rooney gave us pace and creativity. The goal was a classic breakaway - pinpoint through ball, cut back inside the full back and superb curled finish off the post.
As the game went into added time I had my head in hands, convinced that our profligacy would cost us. It's happened so many times this season that it seemed inevitable. A Woking fan turned round and told me not to worry. So, we perhaps shouldn't get too carried away. Woking were pretty dire, but even before the new manager arrived there were encouraging signs.
Two wins in a week and we're out of the bottom four and have at last amassed more points than games played. We've also dragged Woking and Lincoln back into the mix.
Steve Burr has barely got his feet under the table, let alone got to know the players. But sometimes a fresh face and a few new ideas can have that immediate effect. I haven't spoken to anyone who was not delighted by the appointment and it should be the catalyst for everyone at the club to pull together.
The Exiles look forward to meeting the new manager officially but he's already winning admirers. In particular one Exile who after the Woking game happened to stop at the same petrol station as the team coach. She reports that despite the late hour Steve took time to chat, pose for a photograph and was a thorough gent!
On behalf of the all Exiles, welcome to Chester Steve. Long may the honeymoon continue.
Adrian Lee
