Chester City 0 Notts County 1

Feb 16 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

YET another lacklustre home performance saw the Blues slip to their 10th defeat in 12 League Two matches this afternoon.

City rarely troubled an out-of-form Notts County side, who picked up their first away win since November thanks to Danny Crow’s second-half header.

Crow – signed on loan from Peterborough yesterday – should have put the visitors ahead after only 15 minutes, but he somehow sliced Myles Weston’s left-wing cross wide with the goal at his mercy. But the striker made no mistake in the 69th minute when he rose unmarked to head home Ali Gibb’s right-wing cross.

Six minutes from time, Blues sub Chris Holroyd had the chance to draw Chester level – but he dragged his shot wide of the target from eight yards to cap another demoralising day for the Blues.

Boss Bobby Williamson revealed after the match that Kevin Ellison – who was expected to return to the squad today following a three-match ban – missed the game because he was suffering from a hamstring injury picked up in training.

Laurence Wilson went off with a foot injury and is now battling to be fit for Tuesday’s daunting trip to Darlington.

Chester: Danby, J Vaughan, Butler, Linwood, Wilson (Sandwith 57), Partridge, Dinning, Hughes (Rutherford 83), Roberts, Murphy, Lindfield (Holroyd 60). Subs: Palethorpe, Grant.

Notts County: Pilkington, Canoville, Tann, Edwards, Mayo, Gibb, Butcher, Smith (Silk 81), Weston, Jarvis (Weir-Daley 84), Crow (Lee 74). Subs: McCann, MacKenzie.

Goals: Crow 69.

Attendance: 1,798.

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).