Chester FC 3 Lincoln City 3

It was an all too familiar tale as another late goal conceded and another peculiar refereeing performance denied Chester FC three precious points.

Blues boss Neil Young insists he does not enjoy talking about the man in the middle but match official Wayne Barratt left him with little choice after this captivating contest.

An inexplicable penalty call, a contentious sending off, seven bookings and a series of baffling decisions eclipsed what was a gripping game.

Young made four changes with captain George Horan, Jason Jarrett and Jamie Reed coming into the starting side and Jamie Menagh handed his debut.

With both sides in poor form and desperate need of points, the game was hard fought from the outset and the first chance fell to the hosts on two minutes but Jamie Reed scuffed wide.

On eight minutes the Blues went in front with a fine strike from Menagh. Joe Heath's hopeful cross was half cleared and the midfielder took two touches before lashing into the bottom right corner from the edge of the area.

Things got even better two minutes later when Menagh cut in from the right side, and whipped a left footed cross straight into the car corner.

Menagh and the Blues were in dreamland but the imposing Imps came back into the game and pulled one back on 19 minutes.

Right back Tom Miller swung the ball into the area and Bohan Dixon sent a looping header over John Danby.

Some heavy challenges ensured there was no love lost between the sides and tempers boiled over on the half hour mark.

Gareth Seddon and Tom Miller clashed near the touchline and the latter claimed to have been kicked in the face, although his dramatic performance was more suited to the stage than a football field.

Most inside the Swansway Chester Stadium were unsure exactly what had occurred but Mr Barratt – who initially appeared as uncertain as anyone – dismissed Seddon having consulted his assistants.

The red card interrupted the flow of the game and the contest descended into a scrappy battle with

Mr Barratt continuing to puzzle, but there were no further goals as the Blues went into the interval ahead.

Any hope the half time break had given the official time to come to his senses vanished less than 50 seconds into the second period.

Danby collected a harmless looking cross with ease and began to seek out a target for his clearing kick only for the referee to stop him in his tracks.

Mr Barratt ruled a home defender had impeded an opposition attacker – the vagueries of that intro sum up the absurd penalty decision – despite no appeals and Imps skipper Alan Power fired the spot kick into the bottom corner to draw his side level.

With the home supporters still incensed, the referee added the visiting fans to his growing list of enemies three minutes later with another penalty call.

Blues midfielder Jason Jarrett was mid-shot when Sean Newton brought him down on 50 minutes and John Rooney stepped up to slot home for his first goal for the club since joining on loan from Bury.

Lincoln responded strongly with Ben Tomlinson missing a gilt-edged chance to level and Tom Miller firing over but the 10-man hosts were working tirelessly to keep their noses in front.

Young brought on teenager Tom Peers to freshen up the Blues and he showed some good touches once again while Reed sent a head the wrong side of the bar from close range.

With time running out, the visitors pressed hard as substitute Danny Rowe and Tom Miller went close before the game's final act.

Four-and-a-half minutes into time added on, Tom Miller drilled a low cross into the six yard box and the ball trickled into the net off a combination of Danby, Horan and Imps replacement Conor Robinson.

Three points would have been just reward for the Blues, who showed the fight, heart and desire that will be needed to survive.

As it was, the final outcome doubtless felt like two points lost and Neil Young is unlikely to be sending any Christmas cards the way of Mr Barratt.

Chester FC: Danby, Kay, Horan, Higginbotham, Heath (McIntyre 90), Menagh (Peers 65), Miller, Jarrett, Rooney, Seddon, Reed (Lindfield 90)

Subs: Mahon, Williams, McIntyre.

Goals: Menagh 8, 10, Rooney 50.

Booked: Rooney 30, Higginbotham 34, Danby 46, Jarrett 70, Horan 81.

Sent off: Seddon 30.

Lincoln City: Farman, Miller, Brown (Jordan 79), Foster, Newton, Dixon, Power, Fofana (Robinson 59), Tomlinson, Wright (Rowe 65), Sheridan.

Subs: Ward, Preece.

Goals: Dixon 19, Power 47, Robinson 90.

Booked: Newton 50, Tomlinson 64

Attendance: 1,850.