CHESTER CITY won their second successive pre-season friendly of the summer last night against Coca-Cola Championship side Cardiff City, who included four Welsh internationals in their line-up.
City were always the more penetrative of the two sides, and McIntyre on two occasions went close early on with long-range efforts.
The only chance of note for the Welshmen in the first period came when Earnshaw went close with a delicate lob from 20 yards.
The home side took a deserved lead on the stroke of half-time, when trialist Mike Sheron scored a delightful goal. A move involving Weller and Rapley saw the ball worked to Sheron, the former Manchester City player striking a thunderous effort home from 18 yards.
A clutch of substitutions were made at the break by both sides, but still Chester looked the better outfit.
They doubled their advantage on 69 minutes when former Everton player Michael Branch scored his third goal in two games, with a deflected effort.
Davies slipped his marker well following a short corner, crossed into the middle where Branch pounced to give Tony Warner in the visitors' goal no chance..
This was another satisfactory performance from the Nationwide Conference champions, whose next game is on Saturday when they entertain Scottish first division side Queen of the South at the Deva Stadium.
CHESTER CITY: Brown (McKenzie 46), Handyside (Hope 46), Warn (Edmondson 46), Hessey (Belle 46), Collins (Bolland 46), Weller (Roberts 46), McIntyre, Ellison (Davies 46), Harris (Drummond 46), Rapley (Stamp 46), Sheron (Branch 46). REFEREE: Mr E Evans (Manchester) ATT: 1,080.
* City chairman Stephen Vaughan last night again emphasised exclusively to the Daily Post that the club were aiming to win the Coca-Cola League Division Two this season, and that the club were close to clearing the historic debt that he inherited, that is owed to the Customs and Excise.
"We are having ongoing dialogue with Customs and Excise, and we have monies coming our way which will offset their claim.
"The difference is accepted and Stephen Vaughan will pay that difference personally, that was unfortunately inherited from the previous owners."
Vaughan added: "We will go to court on Monday, this is a procedural matter, as both sides have agreed to adjourn the proceedings."
Vaughan concluded: "We are positive at this club, and the recent negative reporting doesn't deter us, I am looking towards winning our League this season, that's how upbeat I am about the situation."
