Key Events
Signing off
That’s Dave and myself done for the day. We’ll have Jon McCarthy’s reaction online soon.
Verdict
The Blues got out of jail there. They barely created a clear-cut opportunity in the second half - after carving out plenty in the first - and a better side than Torquay would have finished them off given the gaps they were leaving behind chasing an equaliser.
Postponements, injuries, last-minute gut-wrenchers, the woodwork... Jon McCarthy and has men have had some bad luck this season.
But, with Torquay also having a second goal controversially ruled out, fortune smiled on them today.
Scores on the doors
Aldershot Town 1 Solihull Moors 0
Barrow AFC 2 Boreham Wood 1
Dagenham & Redbridge 3 Gateshead 1
Ebbsfleet United 2 Eastleigh 2
FC Halifax Town 2 AFC Fylde 1
Hartlepool United 3 Maidstone United 1
Leyton Orient 4 Guiseley 1
Macclesfield Town 1 Woking 3
Sutton United 0 Maidenhead United 2
Torquay United 1 Chester FC 1
Wrexham 2 Bromley 0
FULL-TIME Torquay United 1 Chester FC 1
The Blues rescue a point at the death thanks to Ross Hannah’s first goal since returning to the club.
Super sub!
A raking ball is played to the back post, where it is headed back across goal by Jordan Chapell to Ross Hannah, who flicked a brilliant first-time volley into the top corner.
Struggling
Ryan Astles looks like he has a knock. But he’ll have to struggle on. We’re into the 90th minute.
Context
A better team than Torquay would have finished Chester off this second half. Their final ball has been poor.
Weak
Blues break and the ball is played to the feet of Lucas Dawson. He ignores options in the box in order to shoot, but his effort is weak and straight at the keeper.
Torquay change
Jon-Paul Pittman is on for Andy Howarth. 10 minutes of normal time to go. It’s still 1-0 Torquay.
Over
A deep Lucas Dawson corner to the back post is headed over for Kingsley James. Half-chance at best.
Final roll of the dice
Ross Hannah and Jordan Chapell are on for Chester. James Akintunde and John McCombe off. The skipper clearly still struggling with that knock to the face.
Save!
Andy Halls floats a pass out to the left to Nyal Bell who skips past his marker and from a difficult angle sees his side-footed effort well saved by debutant Vincent Doral.
Change hasn't worked
The sub and the formation change hasn’t paid off for Jon McCarthy. Yet at least. Chester have not looked like scoring in the second half, unlike the first.
What was he thinking?
ALex Lynch tries to let the ball roll out of play but James Gray nicks it off him and his effort, from virtually on the byline, clips the outside of the post before drifting wide. Silly, silly decision by the Blues keeper.
Formation
The Blues are now lining 4-1-4-1 with Wade Joyce protecting the back four and Tom Shaw and Kingsley James supporting Nyal Bell. James Akintunde has dropped to the right-wing with Lucas Dawson on the left.
Close
Jamie Reid runs in from the left and across the edge of the area before firing a shot marginally wide.
Treatment
Looks like Blues skipper John McCombe has got a bloody nose and is receiving treatment on the sidelines - plus a new shirt.
Remains 1-0
James Gray lashed the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box but John McCombe was down with a head injury at the time and the goal was ruled out.
