Key Events
Macca remaining level
This is disappointing for us and this is disappointing for the fans. But our disappointment is two draws at home. It’s not seven defeats on the run. It’s disappointing but not disastrous.
He played with a cold
Jon McCarthy says Alex Lynch was under the weather before the match. You would never have guessed. ‘He didn’t deserve that,’ says Macca.
Macca reaction
Watch Blues boss Jon McCarthy’s reaction in full on our Chester FC Facebook page. It’s under way now.
Burr's reaction
I didn’t think we deserved to be 2-0 down. I thought it was a travesty as we played some good stuff. It was two defensive mistakes for the two goals we conceded. But a point was no more than we deserved tonight. I thought we were excellent.
Full-time scores
Aldershot 0 Eastleigh 1
Barrow 3 Guiseley 0
Boreham Wood 1 Sutton 0
Braintree 2 Bromley 2
Chester 2 Southport 2
Dover 3 Woking 1
Forest Green 2 Tranmere 2
Gateshead 1 Macclesfield 1
Maidstone 0 Dagenham 1
Torquay 3 Solihull 0
York 1 Lincoln 4
As you were
Chester’s fifth draw in their last six league matches means they remain 12th in the National League, 12 points above the relegation places, and 12 below the play-off spots.
Stick around
Stick around for Jon McCarthy’s post-match reaction and our Blues reporter Dave Powell’s report and verdict.
Recap
That definitely feels like two points dropped after Kane RIchards and James Alabi scored their fourth goals of the season to put Chester totally in command. But, even in the first half, they were indebted to Alex Lynch, who ultimately could not prevent Southport from getting the point they fully deserved.
FULL-TIME: Chester 2 Southport 2
That’s it. The Blues have to settle for a share of the spoils after taking a two-goal lead into half-time.
One-way traffic
Southport have totally dominated this second half - and they’ve just gone close again, Liam Nolan creating space from himself before curling his shot high and wide.
A whisker away
Sandgrounders sub Ruben Jerome nearly wins it in the fourth minute of injury-time, whistling a drive inches past Alex Lynch’s far post.
Gimme five
The fourth official has signalled there’ll be five additional minutes at the end of this match.
Let-off
Ben McKenna fires over a corner toward the near post where Josh Thompson is just unable to get a touch, the ball fizzing past the far post and out of play for a Chester goal kick.
What a miss
Ryan Lloyd swings over another inviting corner and Sam Hughes heads horribly wide. Like in the first half, he simply must score.
Southport changes
James Caton has come on for Ashley Grimes. Earlier Ruben Jerome replaced Andrai Jones.
It has been coming
The ball breaks to Jamie Allen 20 yards from goal and he rifles a fine first-time shot past Alex Lynch. The Blues have blown a two-goal lead. Southport well worth it.
Come on City
The Blues getting backing from the stands. The fans know their side are up against it.
You know who
Alex Lynch saves from Ashley Grimes AGAIN. I make that his fourth stop from the dangerous Southport midfielder. Saying that, though, it was the easiest of the lot.
Different formation
The Blues are now operating a three-man midfield with Kane Richards dropping to the right-wing and Jordan Chappell taking up station on the left. James Alabi is up top on his own. Here’s hoping the tactical shift negates Southport’s dominance.
Substitutions
Those Chester changes. Jordan Chappell and Wade Joyce take the place of Craig Mahon and Elliott Durrell. We’re into the 73rd minute. The Blues are clinging on to a 2-1 lead.
Not far away
The ball is flicked toward the back post and Andrai Jones, the Southport goalscorer, is just unable to get there in time to convert.
Something needs to change
It’s all Southport. The Blues are pegged back into their own half.