THERE was as a certain predictability about the final outcome of a match, which saw the Coca-Cola League Two leaders facing a team 19th in the table.

However, nobody could have predicted how much influence referee Carl Boyeson would have had on the final scoreline. The official was the centre of controversy from as early as the 12th minute when he awarded a free-kick to Yeovil following an innocuous challenge by Bolland on Johnson.

From the resulting free-kick, Edmondson ball-watched as Aaron Davies picked his spot following Tarachulski's flick on.

There was more controversy seven minutes later, when Tara-chulski viciously elbowed Drummond on the halfway line.

Boyeson consulted a linesman about the incident before issuing a mere yellow card to the Polish striker, when another official would surely have meted out a more severe form of retribution.

He then made himself more unpopular with the home faithful by awarding a dubious penalty to the visitors after 32 minutes.

Richard Hope made what looked like a fair challenge on the former Everton striker Phil Jevons but Boyeson pointed to the spot.

Jevons, who had been the subject of an inquiry from Chester earlier this season, duly dusted himself down and sent Wayne Brown the wrong way from the penalty kick.

There was more controversy 11 minutes into the second half, when Chester's Ben Davies surged into the visitors' area and had his ankles clipped by Darren Way, but on this occasion the official waved play on.

Chester's miserable and frustrating afternoon was complete 10 minutes from the end when Darren Edmondson received a second yellow card following a clumsy challenge on Davies, and was invited to take an early bath.

For once Mr Boyeson got his decision correct. Edmondson's tackle was late and thoroughly deserved the retribution it received.

On the positive side Chester gave a full debut to Liverpool's Robbie Foy and midfielder Ashley Sestanovich who came on as a second-half substitute.

Both did well, Foy was man of the match, and provided City's main attacking threat, bringing out good saves from Weale with three late efforts.

Sestanovitch gave the side an option on the left hand side, which had been missing in the first period, he also looks an excellent prospect.

However, City will be without central defender Phil Bolland for at least two weeks after a first-half ligament injury.

Chester manager Ian Rush said: "The referee lost it. We played really well but it was just a couple of lapses, and the ref that cost us the game.

"We tried to play football but didn't get the breaks. I think that for a 30-minute period the referee lost it, and he has probably cost us a point."

Rush added: "Robbie Foy was excellent for us, and Sestanovitch showed how good he is when he came on. He didn't give a single ball away."

CHESTER CITY: W Brown, Edmondson, Hope, Bolland (Elokobi 46), Hessey, Drummond, Carden, B Davies, M Brown (Sestanovitch 46), Foy, Atieno (O'Neill 66). Subs: Mackenzie, Vaughan.

YEOVIL: Weale, Lindegaard, Guyett, Miles, Rose (Amankwaah 21), Rose, Gall, Way (Stolcers 80), Johnson, A Davies, Jevons (Terry 70), Tarachulski. Subs: Lockwood, Collis.

REFEREE: Mr Carl Boyeson. (East Yorkshire) ATT: 3,072.