THE MATCH

Seven games unbeaten, another win and another clean sheet mean things are rosy for Chester FC at the moment.

Ryan Lloyd fired home the rebound from Elliott Durrell's missed penalty on 26 minutes to earn a 1-0 win for the Blues over Torquay United to extend their fine run.

It wasn't Chester's best performance of the season and there were plenty of nervy moments but their ability to grind out victories like this bode well for the rest of the season.

The Blues had the better of the opening 45 minutes against the visitors with Durrell going close with a free kick.

Torquay threatened but the Blues defence stood firm to repel the Gulls and Chester had the advantage on 26 minutes.

Oluwaseun Akintunde slid a pass through to Craig Mahon and the Irishman was bundled to the ground by Joe Ward with referee Andrew Miller pointing straight to the spot.

Durrell took the penalty but saw his effort saved by Brendan Moore but Lloyd reacted quickest to fire the ball home from close range.

Durrell went close again with an 18-yard effort after being teed up by Akintunde while Liam Roberts had to be alert to produce a superb save to deny a Luke Young header from close range on the stroke of half time.

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The Gulls started the second period well but it was Chester who went closest early on when Akintunde saw his goalbound effort from 12 yards cleared off the line.

Torquay pressed the Blues for long periods and Roberts was on hand to produce a tunning stop to deny Damon Lathrope's effort which looked destined for the top corner.

Alabi and substitute Jordan Chapell had chances to add to the scoreline but the Blues held firm to keep their superb run going.

ANALYSIS

Torquay were probably value enough for a draw but they didn't get it, that's football.

Games like these are what separates the wheat from the chaff at the end of the season and this victory showed just how far this club have come under Jon McCarthy.

It wasn't the prettiest game of football but this is a results business and you don't fluke seven games unbeaten and seven clean sheets.

Who knows how far this group can go but the positivity seems to have returned to the club and the outlook seems far brighter.

Next up, though, is the small matter of the FA Cup and Burr v McCarthy next Satuday.

STAR MAN

Liam Roberts: Sam Hughes and Craig Mahon could both claim to have a strong shout for the accolade but Roberts was excellent between the sticks and produced two saves of real quality to keep the Gulls at bay. He's really growing into the number one role.

MATCH FILE

Chester: Roberts, Vassell, Astles, Hughes, Hunt, George, Lloyd (Joyce 81), Mahon, Durrell (Chapell 66), Akintunde (Richards 60), Alabi. Subs: Horwood, Hudson.

Bookings: Vassell, Lloyd

Goals: Lloyd 26

Torquay United: Moore, Ward (Nicholson 82), Gallifuoco, McGinty, Rowe-Turner, Young, Richards, Lathrope, Reid, Chaney (Ambalu 72), Blissett. Subs: Palfrey.

Bookings: McGinty

Goals:

Attendance: 2,201