Stevenage Borough 0, Chester City 0: THIS was hot stuff, but not in the way the sweltering fans would have preferred. Any lingering ideas about summer football must now have been kicked firmly into touch.

Full marks to the players, though. It was hard enough sitting in the shade and we could only imagine what they were going through as the pitch temperature closed on 100 degrees.

Both teams would have been glad to get this Conference opener over with and, at the end of the game, City boss Mark Wright would have been the hap-pier manager.

Certainly, he was pleased with Chester's performance and commitment in the most testing of conditions.

'I was more than happy,' he said. 'We should have won but it proved what a strong squad we have. I was proud of every one of them and I will give my boys credit rather than Stevenage under-achieving.'

As the away side, and a depleted one at that, Chester just about edged the game, although both sides were evenly matched in virtually every department.

Chances were few and far between and neither goal-keeper had a direct save to make, to the relief of Wayne Brown on his 200th appearance for the club.

A lot of the credit for that must go to the defence, in which Wayne Hatswell was outstanding.

City's best efforts in the first half came when a goal-bound Ben Davies shot from a pass by Jamie Heard was blocked near the line by Barry Laker, and just bed-fore the break, skipper

Andy Harris put a glancing header just wide.

Both sides remained committed in the second half despite the energy-draining conditions, which prompted more than one halt for drinks, and City remained the side more likely to score.

They were unlucky on 52 minutes when Danny Collins's powerful header from a Kevin McIntyre corner was headed off the line by Lee Flynn, although five minutes later, Steven-age went close when Steve Watson fired over from Jamie Cook's cross.

There was an injury-time scare for City, though, when Tony Battersby fired in a shot which Collins did well to scramble clear, to make sure of the point they richly deserved.

Stevenage: Perez, Travis, Flynn, Goodliffe, Laker, Battersby, Cook, Carroll, Pitcher (Costello 68), Watson, Elding (Baptiste 69). Subs: Abbey, Marcelle, Holloway.

Chester: Brown, Collins, McIntyre, Carden, Hatswell, Harris, Davies, Rapley (Foster 70), Ruffer, Gill, Heard (Beesley 70). Subs: Carey, Kelly, McCaldon.

Referee: D Whitestone. Attendance: 2,502.