NEIL YOUNG reserved praise for goalscoring debutant Danny Williams after watching his side secure a comfortable 3-0 derby win at Vauxhall Motors on Tuesday night.
The Chester boss admitted he had been impressed with the 24-year-old winger who has signed a loan deal from Kendal Town until the end of the year.
“Danny took his goal well at the back stick, but he also had a header, a shot that went over the bar, and he played two balls into the box in the second half and always looked dangerous,” Young said.
“He hasn’t played a lot of football because he has been out with an injury, but he was involved in most things we did on Tuesday. He provides us with another option in terms of his pace and I think he is intelligent and has a lot to offer.
“He came off on Tuesday night a bit battered and bruised and his shirt was torn, but I think he enjoyed his debut.
“It was the highest level of football he has played in his career and hopefully he’ll improve as we go forward.”
Young revealed he was happy to see his club back at the top of the Conference North league table, but he believes his team still have room for improvement.
He added: “At the top of the league table is the only position we want to be in, but I still don’t think we’re firing on all cylinders.
“I don’t know whether it’s a mental thing, but I think we’re just crawling along and getting the job done.
“To come into a new league and chalk up 11 league wins is good, but it’s always important to keep putting three points on the board and we do play some good stuff at times.”
Young watched Williams and Sean Clancy both score against Vauxhall and move Chester one point clear of Guiseley and Brackley Town, who are second and third respectively on goal difference.
He said: “Vauxhall having a player sent off didn’t help Tuesday’s game because it was always going to be difficult for them.
“I watched Vauxhall play recently in their 2-1 home win against Oxford and they played with 10 men for most of the second half.
“To be fair to Vauxhall they have a good, young side, they keep a good shape about them, they work very hard for one another, but it was probably a hard enough task for them to begin with against us.
“I didn’t think we passed the ball enough in the first half and I didn’t think we got wide enough, but that was why I made changes and it was good to see the substitutes come on and do the business.
“I thought we were very sloppy on Saturday in our 2-1 home win against Histon and that’s why I thought I needed to give players a little bit more impetus on the pitch against Vauxhall.
“Antoni Sarcevic proved that we don’t always have to play two up front by getting into the hole and by giving Danny (Williams) and Dave (Hankin) more licence on the ball in wide areas.”
Young also confirmed that Michael Powell and Michael Taylor were still Chester players.
He added: “Michael Powell is banned at the minute so nobody is going to come in and take him and pay his wages while he is banned. But I am expecting something to materialise after this weekend.
“Michael Taylor is still a Chester player, but AFC Fylde have made him an offer that suits him and I don’t think the clubs are far apart about a deal.
“But if AFC Fylde want to do something ahead of a big game for them this weekend then I know who I would like in my ranks in a cup tie like they face.
“When the chips are down I would want Tayls in my backline, but it’s now up to AFC Fylde.
“Michael Taylor is still our player and he’s a 120 per center.
“There are no issues with Michael at all and would expect him still to be with us on Saturday unless AFC Fylde come up with an offer that everybody is happy about.”