Chester City 0 Mansfield Town 1

Jan 12 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

A SOLITARY strike by Matt Hamshaw condemned the Blues to a demoralising defeat at the Deva Stadium this afternoon.

Mansfield – fighting for their lives at the bottom of League Two – were rarely troubled by Bobby Williamson’s men, who slipped to their fifth loss in seven matches.

Neither keeper was seriously troubled during the first half, although Stags stopper Carl Muggleton had to react quickly to keep out a low drive by Kevin Ellison from the edge of the box on 26 minutes.

The visitors bagged the only goal of the game four minutes into the second half when Simon Brown played in Hamshaw, who brushed aside a challenge from Laurence Wilson before firing a low shot past John Danby.

City camped out in Mansfield’s half for the remainder of the game but they struggled to carve out clear-cut chances and looked vulnerable to counterattacks.

Muggleton kept out a close range drive from Kevin Roberts on 59 minutes and pulled off the save of the match from an Ellison header late on to ensure the Stags pocketed the three points.

Chester City: Danby, Vaughan, Kelly, Linwood, Wilson, Partridge (McManus 70), Hughes (Rutherford 76), Roberts, Welsh, Ellison, Holroyd. Subs: Palethorpe, Marples, Newton. Booked: Linwood.

Mansfield Town: Muggleton, Wood, Jelleyman, Mullins, Martin, Hamshaw, D’Laryea, Dawson, Bell, Brown, Holmes (Boulding 76). Subs: White, Goward, Arnold, Sleath. Goal: Hamshaw 49.

Attendance: 2,092.

Referee: D McDermid.