Bradford Park Avenue 2 Chester FC 1: Injury-time winner ends Blues’ unbeaten run

Nov 2 2011 by Paul Wheelock, Chester Chronicle

CHESTER’S 12-match unbeaten run came to an end in the cruelest of fashions as a last-gasp wonder strike condemned them to an undeserved defeat at the rain-soaked Horsfall Stadium.

There were just seconds left on the clock when debutant Adnan Ahmed unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard shot into the top corner to settle a match in which the Blues created but failed to take a string of gilt-edged opportunities.

Neil Young’s second-placed side, who would have gone top for the first time this season had they won, trailed at the interval to Richard Marshall’s instinctive 41st-minute finish.

That, however, would not have been the case had they converted one of three glorious chances they fashioned in the first half.

The first came in the sixth minute when Robbie Booth burst into the box and attempted to dink the ball over the onrushing John Lamb. The Bradford goalkeeper spread himself to deny the winger and did even better to get a hand to Matty McNeil’s 10-yard follow up.

The recalled Booth – one of five changes to the team which started Saturday’s frustrating Frickley Athletic draw – passed up an even better opening in the 28th minute.

A lovely move ended with Chris Simm cushioning a header into his team-mate’s path. With just Lamb to beat, Booth had the time to pick his spot. Instead he rushed his attempt and his first-time effort sailed harmlessly over the bar.

Avenue, in confident mood after qualifying for the FA Cup first round proper, gradually began to work their way into the game and George Horan had to make a brave block to prevent Aiden Savory from scoring.

The hosts were looking dangerous from set-pieces and they broke the deadlock four minutes before the break when Marshall cleverly nudged the ball past John Danby after Boshell’s corner was never cleared.

Chester came desperately close to an instant equaliser when Horan’s 10-yard header from a whipped Iain Howard centre dropped inches past the post.

But parity was restored six minutes after the restart when Howard’s sweeping crossfield path found Booth in space on the right.

The former Southport man took a touch before rifling a well-struck 20-yard shot past Lamb at his near post.

Booth turned provider seven minutes later when his cross from the right found Simm in space in the area. But the ball dropped behind the striker and he got his technique horribly wrong.

That was Simm’s final contribution before he was brought off along with strike partner McNeil.

Michael Wilde and Jamie Rainford were the men to come on and within minutes of their arrival, the latter tamely volleyed an excellent chance wide from the former’s hooked cross.

But Rainford nearly made amends five minutes from time when he found space on the edge of the box and forced Lamb into a fine stop.

Although Lamb’s opposite number was a virtual spectator for the most of the match, the alert Danby proved his worth late on, producing superb close-range saves from Billy Law and Tom Greaves as the game opened up.

In a thrilling finale Howard thumped an 18-yard thunderbolt against the post. But the winger blotted his copybook when he needlessly lost possession and former Tranmere Rovers midfielder Ahmed hammered home a screamer in the fourth and final minute of injury-time.

Bradford: Lamb, Clayton, Drury, O'Brien (Ahmed 68), Iqbal, Riley, Daly, Hotte, Marshall (Law 81), Savory, Boshell (Greaves 68). Subs: Knowles, Noteman.

Booked: Riley 33.

Goals: Marshall 41, Ahmed 90.

Chester: Danby, Brownhill, Horan, Taylor, McGinn, Booth, Brown (Baynes 90), Powell, Howard, McNeil (Wilde 74), Simm (Rainford 74). Subs: Wright, Smith.

Booked: Simm.

Goal: Booth 51.

Referee: Paul Cook (Hull).

Attendance: 604.