Chesterfield 1 Chester City 1

Feb 3 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

CITY turned in a battling performance at Saltergate on Saturday afternoon and were rewarded with their first point since January 9.

With the experienced Tony Dinning delivering a man of the match display on his return from a long injury lay-off, the Blues were able to frustrate promotion-chasing Chesterfield for long periods.

The hosts took the lead nine minutes into the second half through leading scorer Jack Lester, who collected a cross from Jamie Ward and beat keeper John Danby with a neat chip.

But Chester’s response was swift and they drew level five minutes later when Mark Hughes crossed into the area from the right. Chesterfield’s defenders failed to clear their lines under pressure from the industrious Kevin Roberts, and John Murphy was on hand to smash the loose ball past keeper Barry Roche from six yards.

Hughes had the chance to win it for Chester in injury time but his 20-yard drive was well held by Roche.

Chesterfield: Roche, Downes, Kovacs, Gray (Jackson 46), Robertson, Moloney, Niven, Winter, Ward, Lester, Fletcher (Allison 84).

Subs: Jordan, Picken, O'Hare.

Booked: Kovacs.

Goal: Lester 54.

Chester: Danby, Vaughan, Butler, Linwood (Kelly 34), Sandwith, Dinning, Hughes, Roberts, Grant, Lindfield, Murphy.

Sub: Palethorpe, Partridge, Holroyd, Newton.

Goal: Murphy 59.

Attendance: 3,701.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).