Chester FC returned with a hard-earned point from an uninspiring goalless draw at Boreham Wood.
Constant rainfall in North London meant conditions were extremely testing for both teams and the two managers will probably feel a touch disappointed at how their players coped with the surface.
There were a handful of chances and neither side will really feel they did enough to merit taking the three points. The first-half served up a 45 minutes short on entertainment and goalscoring opportunities.
Ross Hannah did have the ball in the net inside 20 seconds although the offside flag had been raised well before and the first proper sight of goal came on 10 minutes when James Roberts leaped above Wood keeper James Russell but his header rolled wide of the post.
Roberts was involved again on 33 minutes when he robbed Danny Woodards and squared for Calum Dyson but Scott Doe blocked his goal-bound attempt.
It was the home side who had the clearest chance in the final minute of the half when Charlie MacDonald's cross found Ricky Shakes but he dragged wide from close range.
Chester went close to taking the lead three minutes after the break when John Rooney's corner evaded everyone except Woodards, who hooked clear on the line. But that aside the second period followed a similar pattern to the first with both sides struggled to build possession.
Approaching the hour mark, Wood began to take control with Mauro Vilhete curling wide and Jon Worsnop saving a deflected Shakes strike. Vilhete had a golden chance on 72 minutes when the otherwise excellent Ben Heneghan miscued a clearance but the winger poked tamely at Worsnop when clean through.
The introduction of Craig Mahon and Jordan Chapell gave the Blues better outlets and another replacement, Craig Hobson, got in a diving header from a Ryan Higgins cross.
MacDonald combined with replacement Anthony Jeffrey to bring another save out of Worsnop before the keeper had a let-off when a powerful shot from Junior Morais squirmed through his grasp but he had time to recover.
Talking Points
Conditons: It's the same for both teams so the pitch can't be used as an excuse but the non-stop rainfall made the Meadow Park surface greasier than a mechanic's overalls.
Chester attempted to keep hold of the ball at the start but too often passes skidded past the intended target or a poor touch conceded possession, and when that happens players tend to revert to longer balls for fear of making mistakes.
Unfortunately that makes things even more difficult as those hopeful knocks bounce out of play or slide too far on the fast pitch. Steve Burr responded to that when he brought on Craig Mahon and Jordan Chapell and that change did provide some success late on as the wingers gave the manager some food for thought ahead of the next game.
Heneghan coming back to form: Aside from one slip where Mauro Vilhete should have done better, Ben Heneghan was outstanding in the centre of defence alongside captain Ian Sharps. Heneghan's form over the opening part of the season did not match up to his performances last season but there have been factors for that and with some of those now behind him, the England C defender looks to be coming back to himself.
Match facts
Chester FC: Worsnop, Higgins, Heneghan, Sharps, Hunt, George, Shaw, Rooney (Hobson 73), Dyson (Chapell 62), Roberts (Mahon 62), Hannah.
Subs: Forth, Woodland.
Booked: Ian Sharps.
Boreham Wood: Russell, Woodards, Devera, Stephens, Doe, Vilhete, Howell (Jeffrey 63), Kamdjo, Clifford, Shakes, MacDonald (Morais 85).
Subs: Cox, Reynolds, Edwards.
Booked: Clifford, Devera.
Referee: Chris Powell (Dorset)
Attendance: 589.
Star man: Ben Heneghan.
Verdict
As a spectacle this game won't live long in the memory but a point has to be viewed as a decent result in the circumstances.
The pitch and conditions did not suit the passing game employed so well midweek so to dig deep, defend manfully and take the draw back home is a job well done.
The Blues will know back-to-back home games present a chance to keep on building momentum heading towards the turn of the year.
