Stockport County 1 Chester City 2

Oct 21 2007 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

TWO stunning goals from Richie Partridge dragged Chester back from the brink against a battling Stockport County.

In his pre-match notes County manage Jim Gannon rather dramatically likened his plight to those of JKF, Ghandi and Jesus. While fighting relegation and conceding 23 goals already this season may not warrant such comparison, it is fair to say that the Hatters imploded in the second half.

Chester fell behind to a dubious decision after County, who had had almost every attack they launched flagged offside, were handed a goal by the linesman after Paul Tierney lashed a shot at Danby which he fumbled slightly but gathered on the floor.

The Chester stopper had his back to the linesman so the official could not have seen it clearly but he still flagged the goal.

Chris Holroyd started the match and while he showed flashes of his potential, he dropped too deep and played more as a midfielder instead of supporting John Murphy.

At half-time there were concerns about John Danby and Paul Butler as both turned their ankles in the rugby post-holes from the previous night's Sale Sharks match, but both re-emerged for the second half.

Just seven minutes after the half-time interval Chester were back on terms. Kevin Ellison - on the right - switched play to Partridge who cut in from the left and drove a shot into the roof of the net.

Chester continued to build pressure and Stockport were buckling, resorting to physical tactics and losing their temper with each other.

The waves of Chester attacks paid off in the 80th minute when former Stockport midfielder Tony Dinning spotted Partridge in acres of space and played a beautiful cross-field pass to him.

The little winger jinked past Michael Bowler and curled a majestic effort over keeper Conrad Logan to seal the points.

Stockport: Logan, Taylor, Williams, Dicker (Tansey 58), McNeil, Griffin, Raynes (Proudlock 75), Pilkington, Tierney, Dickinson (Elding 62), Bowler. Subs: Thompson, Blizzard.

Chester: Danby, Marples, Butler, Linwood, Wilson, Partridge, Hughes, Dinning, Ellison, Murphy, Holroyd (Rutherford 74). Subs: Palethorpe, Sandwith, Roberts, McManus.

Attendance: 5,556

Referee: Mike Russell (Hertfordshire).