Salisbury City 1 Chester City 1

Chester's inability to net three points struck again, as they squandered a lead held against the run of play at the Ray Mac, against a Salisbury side that had also been deducted points this season.

Salisbury though had already managed to pick up 10 points prior to their 10 point deduction, and have since netted 5 points since the penalty, with this being the latest point gained.

City took the lead against the run of play just 11 minutes from time after Ben Wilkinson had struck his third goal of the season after being set up by Kevin Roberts.

The Blues though couldn't hold out, and just 3 minutes later Luke Roddick crossed and caused John Danby problems, and fell awkwardly, and Sean Clohessy knocked the ball home to level for Salisbury, whilst Danby had to receive treatment from the paramedics, and eventually left the field on a stretcher which means he is a doubt for Sunday's derby match at Wrexham.

Andrew Murphy came on and played the remaining minutes, in which Salisbury were denied a winner thanks to a flag going up for offside in the 95th and final minute of the game.

So, City are now down to -15 points, but it really could have been -13 with a better defensive mentality after the goal went in, but that's where Chester are, and whilst we've made it into double figures for this season's tally, City remain 22 points away from safety.

Chester City 2 Gateshead 1

For the first time in god knows how long, I finally managed to see the Blues win at home!

Due to other events taking place, I've missed the previous wins at home to Histon, and the Boxing Day 2008 win, which up to about 10 days ago, was the last time we'd won at home!

So, the Blues managed victory over Gateshead, but it has to be said, it was a dire game, one which did not set the pulse racing one bit - well okay, maybe just one bit when Nick Chadwick headed in the winner!

The game started well for City, with Gregg Blundell scoring from the spot for his second successive game, this after he'd been brought down in the penalty area by defender Jamie Curtis, who saw red for the challenge on 19 minutes.

It was a ball over the top of the defence that saw Blundell run onto and memories came flooding back of the Matthew Gilks incident against Rochdale a few years ago that saw a season-ruining injury for the City striker, but this time he held his nerve and rounded the keeper before being brought down.

So, with Gateshead down to 10 men, the crowd werre expectant, but City couldn't get a second goal in the remaining 25minutes of the first half.

In the second half, the Blues could have lost it, a match with very little atmosphere, and Gateshead growing in confidence with City seemingly giving the ball away at every opportunity, and big striker Armand One causing havoc amongst the Chester defence.

It was no surprise in truth when Gateshead got back on level terms, just six minutes into the second half, Christoph Ascherl lofting a ball through to Mike MacKay who made no mistake from the edge of the six yard box.

Plenty of stick followed from the crowd, who were beginning to voice their displeasure at Manager, Mick Wadsworth, for failing to get a grip of the game.

John Danby was the hero in the last 20 minutes as he produced three vital reaction saves to keep Chester in the game, and in between Nick Chadwick got his head on a cross from Neil Ashton to send the ball looping over Jim Provett in the Gateshead goal.

So, thanks to Blundell, Chadwick, and especially John Danby, City registered their second home victory of the campaign, and the Blues move on to -16 points, now 23 points away from safety at the foot of the BSP.

Manager, Mick Wadsworth, was delighted with the points but acknowledged that it perhaps wasn't best he has seen from his side this season.

Next up for the Blues is a home game against Stevenage Borough on Saturday, where Chester will bid to win successive games for the first time in 90 matches.

Chester City 1 Tamworth 2

City crashed to another defeat last night as the joy from Saturday's 2-0 win was short lived as Tamworth took advantage of some sloppy defending to beat the Blues, and keep Chester rooted on -20 points.

It was Tamworth who looked the busier side in all honesty, and took a deserved lead when a pass that sliced open both Chris Lynch & Shaun Kelly fell kindly for Richard Tait who stretched out a leg and guided the ball past keeper John Danby, who really didn't need to come off his line in this instance.

Chester almost hit back immediately, when Anthony Barry fired in a shot turned round the post by the Tamworth keeper.

City should have levelled, when an effort struck the bar early in the second half, but no-one could follow up,and a drop ball was given just outside the six yard box.

The Blues fell further behind in the second half when Chris Smith had the easiest of goals to score having seen John Danby leave the ball for what he thought was going to be a goal kick, only for Tom Shaw to head back towards goal, Danby could only parry the ball back out to Smith who made no mistake from inside the 6 yard box.

City then rallied and had possibly their best spell of the game, but were guilty of missing chances for fun, one of those missed chances saw Anthony Barry screw well wide, before a misguided effort from Gregg Blundell fell kindly for Nick Chadwick who diverted the ball home to make it 2-1, and game on.

City threw everything forward, but never seemed like getting an outright chance to level matters up, that was until injury time, when substitute Adam Kay, chested a ball down inside the area, threw a dummy, but then blasted high over not just the bar, but the stand also, and City's chance to come away with a point was gone.

It was an expensive night booking wise, as Chester saw 6 players booked as Roberts, Blundell, Ellams, Lynch, Ryan, and Ashton all saw yellow.

Mick Wadsworth admitted afterwards that perhaps he was wrong to play Tim Ryan in the left back role, after being shifted to allow Shaun Kelly back in the centre half position.

In truth, a Draw was possibly what we deserved, but it's a defeat, and now City must regroup, and try to claim the points on their long trip south to Eastbourne Borough on Saturday.

The season starts tomorrow at Grays

Now that Chester have finally been given permission to start the season in the Blue Square Premier League tomorrow at Grays, it's all eyes on the squad, to see what Chester can offer in their match against their opponents.

To be honest, there isn't a great deal of depth to the squad right now, but City are expected to include Michael Lea, the former Man Utd defender, who did well at Scunthorpe, and Tim Ryan, the former Doncaster Rovers defender who is the son of chairman John Ryan.

It looks as though the Blues will be without new Uruguayan signing Fabian Yantorno, and Gregg Blundell, who is back at Chester following his transfer from Darlington.

John Danby will start in goal for City, it was a major surprise to see Danby stay at the Deva following his excellent League performances, but it was a relief for Chester fans when he committed to a new deal at the club.

One signing that is expected to excite the fans is Lewis Alessandra, who has bagged two goals in his two pre-season games in a City shirt, so hopefully he can continue that kind of form, following the news today that he has signed on a month's loan from Oldham Athletic.

Hopefully City can get off to a winning start, and see themselves as -22 points come Saturday night!