Leigh RMI 0, Chester City 1

Apr 19 2001 by Neil Turner

A SCORCHING 25-yard effort from striker Darren Wright after 25 minutes earned Chester City a 1-0 victory last night, against a Leigh side who hadn't failed to score in a Conference fixture since November.

Wright's stunner left the home keeper Craig Dootson rooted to the spot for one of the best goals Chester have scored this season.

The game started in lacklustre fashion with neither side creating any worthwhile chances.

The first real effort came after 18 minutes when City's young midfield player, Chris Blackburn, tried a speculative shot from the edge of the area that Dootson did well to push onto the bar.

A minute later the home keeper was called into action again to pull off an excellent save from Ruscoe.

Wright's goal had the effect of shaking Leigh into action and they came forward with Black and Jones both going narrowly wide with close-range efforts.

Tony Black, the former Wigan Athletic striker, was unfortunate after 54 minutes when his low shot went across the face of the Chester goal.

City came back well and skipper Neil Fisher was unlucky when a 25-yard free-kick rattled the upright with Dootson well beaten.

The well-deserved win provided Chester with their second away win in three days, following their 2-1 victory at Stevenage Borough on Monday.

After the game a delighted City boss Graham Barrow said: "It was a pleasing performance particularly on the back of Monday's result.

"I thought we thoroughly deserved the win and some of the younger players showed the sort of form that I've been expecting of them.

"Of course Wright's goal was something special."

LEIGH RMI: Dootson, Trees, German, Durkin, (Spooner 54), Farrell, Swan, Monk, (Hayder 82), Ridings, Kielty, Black, Jones. Subs: Gardner, Connolly, Felgate.

CHESTER CITY: Brown, Lancaster, Doughty, (Gaunt 85), Woodyatt, Woods, Fisher, Carden, Blackburn, Wright, (M Beesley 65), Whitehall, Ruscoe. Subs: Moss, Haarhoff, Priestly.