CHESTER CITY manager Mark Wright was fuming following his club's 2-1 reversal to Wrexham in yesterday's Coca Cola League Two derby clash at the Deva Stadium.

The subjects of Wright's rage were referee Uriah Rennie and Merseyside-based linesman Robert Pollock, who made a number of contentious decisions.

After an opening sequence that saw City gain three corners in the first seven minutes, and a Paul Linwood header being cleared from just in front of his line by Mark Jones, the game controversially then turned on its head after 25 minutes.

A through ball from midfield saw the Wrexham goalkeeper Michael Ingham come out of his area, chest the ball, then catch it as he back-pedalled. City midfield player Ricky Ravenhill, who was chasing the loose ball, collided with Ingham, and then was surprisingly sent off by the former Premier League referee.

Video evidence subsequently indicated that the Northern Ireland international shotstopper was out of his area, but Mr Pollock, who appeared to have difficulty in keeping up with play for the majority of the 90 minutes, kept his flag down.

Wright requested, and was granted, an interview with the officials after the game, and prior to his post match press conference.

He said: "I have spoken to the officials and made a number of points. As video evidence has proved, Ingham was a yard and a half outside his area.

"When he collected the ball, why did he chest it before catching it? Simply because he realised he was outside his area. It was just common sense. How the linesman missed it I will never know."

The incident wasn't helped by Ingham's subsequent theatrical performance that saw him disappointingly going down as if he'd been pole-axed, then making an immediate recovery straight after Ravenhill's red card.

Following the dismissal Wrexham came more into the game, Spender and Jones sent efforts narrowly wide then with four minutes of the half remaining they took the lead.

Vaughan lunged into a tackle on Done in the area, leaving Rennie with no alternative but to point to the spot. Neil Roberts then sent Danby the wrong way with the subsequent penalty.

Mark Jones doubled the visitors' lead after 52 minutes when he latched on to a through ball from midfield and took the ball on before lobbing over the advancing Danby in the City goal.

There was more controversy after 57 minutes when Evans handled in the area but Rennie awarded a free-kick to Wrexham.

The Welshmen were reduced to 10 men after 77 minutes when former TNS defender Steve Evans received a red card following a second bookable offence.

Evans' dismissal gave Chester some added impetus and they reduced the arrears after 81 minutes when Jamie Hand drilled a 20-yard effort past Ingham's despairing dive.

Chester piled forward looking for the equaliser, and went narrowly close on two occasions, firstly through youngster Chris Holroyd and then when Drewe Broughton's header looped agonisingly wide.

There was an opportunity in injury time for Chester to gain a share of the spoils their overall play thoroughly deserved, but the unmarked Linwood shot straight at Ingham from 15 yards.

The officials were escorted off the pitch after the final whistle.

Chester City: Danby, Linwood, Westwood (Marples 46), Artell, Vaughan, Ravenhill, Hand, Wilson, Martinez, Walters (Broughton 75), Blundell (Holroyd 75). Subs not used: Palethorpe, Rutherford.

Wrexham: Ingham, Valentine, Pejic, Evans, Mark Jones, D Williams, Llewellyn, Crowell, Spender (M Williams 78), Done (Newby 65), Roberts. Subs not used: Michael Jones, Mackin, Johnson.

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield).

Att: 4,206