Town 1 - 0 Chester

Every one of the Division's top sides won by just one goal to maintain an "as you were" situation at the top of League 2.  It was the sixth game in a row that the Mariners had scored a solitary goal.  A missed penalty denied Town a more comfortable vistory.

With enforced changes Russell Slade brought in McDermott, Toner and Gary Jones.

Chester won a corner straight from the kick-off and Stuart Drummond's header was directed wide.

After five minutes a promising move seemed on the cards as Paul Bolland eased his way through the Chester but his final delivery failed to find a Town man in the crowded box, and when Town won a corner Futcher seemed to be being held down, and then the ball delivered back in struck an arm. Both were met with a negative response from Referee Lee bossing only his fifth League match.

Cohen then went through and lined up his shot, but a miscue saw his shot well wide.

Ryan Lowe tried a shot from distance after 12 minutes, but like everything in the game so far, it was wide of the mark.

A good flick on by Cohen and then Jones found Parkinson who won a throw, and after the ball was played round, Curtis Woodhouse tried a volley which was again well off the target.

The next Chester corner was knocked behind for a Town free-kick.

Lowe went off with an apparent eye injury, but Town couldn't capitalise while facing ten men before he returned to the pitch.

The game was scrappy for long periods in this first quarter of the match, without too much for the crowd to get excited about, and little real action to report.

A free kick saw Futcher head the ball back across the goal, where Parkinson couldn't get in a shot.

A header from Dummond was held by Mildenhall under the bar, and when the ball was delivered from the keeper Gary Jones tried to bring in Parkinson. Then Macca tried to find Cohen, and Woodhouse did find the former Gretna man as the Mariners played some nice football.

The referee stopped play when there was a head injury and then there was confusion with the 'bounce-up', and Chester went upfield but conceded a goal-kick.

The crowd thought that Cohen was coming in for a bit of rough treatment - with the referee not seeing things the same way. Then Woodhouse was whacked by Lowe, and Town sent forward the big men, before the keeper collected the ball as Toner headed goalwards.

Woodhouse volleyed after a good build-up from the Mariners, with the ball being collected by Luxembourg international keeper Gillet.

Lowe caught Newey in the face with his arm, and won a free kick.

Chester gained a free-kick midway through the Town half, met by a clearing header from McDermott, and from the attack Parkinson won a throw which came to nothing.

Macca then failed with his next clip into the box, though Town retained possession, and the ball eventually came to Macca again, his pass to Woodhouse was crossed in to Gary Jones whose header resulted in a ....

40:59: Goal!: ... as Jones brilliantly guided the ball past Gillet to give Town the lead following the best period of football from either side.

Town almost grabbed a second goal right on the whistle as Futcher met a free kick which was brilliantly saved by Gillet.

Half-time: Town 1 - 0 Chester

Town almost conceded again straight from the kick-off - just like the first half, but the ball was placed into the side-netting after Rob Jones had been bypassed.

Cohen tried a long-range shot, and when it came out to Newey there was a very late challenge on Newey, and when the free-kick was taken Gary Jones looked to repeat his earlier effort but this time Gillet saved under the bar.

Gary Jones back in defence slid the ball out for a Chester corner. As Mildenhall came out for the ball, it was nodded behind for a second successive corner, which was punched out by Town's keeper.

There was another really bad challenge on Cohen by Ellender who elbowed the Town striker. Cohen had to leave the field possibly for stitches, whilst Ellender escaped even a booking, but had to leave the field for attention. Town's free-kick was cleared.

Mendes was getting ready in case Cohen was unable to return after attention.

Cohen returned to the field after 6 minutes quickly followed by Ellender.

Regan then appeared to punch Cohen in the face, and again Referee Lee did nothing, to the disgust of Town fans, and then appealed for hand ball in the box with no result.

Newey won a corner for Town after 20 minutes. Woodhouse's second cross was fielded by Gillet.

Regan did concede a free-kick taken by Woodhouse, flicked on by Toner and when it returned to him he volleyed wide.

As Regan collected the ball, the Mariners' fans gave him the obligatory boos.

The next time Cohen was fouled, the referee gave the kick just outside the box with four Town players lining up for the shot, but Newey eventually tried a shot which was saved well by Gillet.

Ellender had to leave the field again as he was still bleeding.

Futcher was furious when he conceded a disputed free-kick and before it was taken, Artell came on to replace Ellender. Lowe took the set piece and sent his shot comfortably over Mildenhall's bar.

Hessey and Cohen had a set-to and were spoken to by Referee Lee, and Branch was replaced by Richardson before the game restarted.

Gary Jones was held down, but Mr Lee kept his whistle silent, and then Drummond went down with a head injury to hold play up again, in a stop-start period of the match.

After the game restarted with a throw Hessey smashed the ball from 40 yards with a terrific effort but was just off target as Mildenhall tried to make his ground.

There was a great opportunity for Town as Toner was put free, but instead of having a go himself he tried to give an easier chance to Cohen and the chance was missed. Immediately afterwards Cohen appeared to be charged in the back in the box, with again no decision given.

Toner was onside, and pulled the ball back, and Curtis Woodhouse was brought down in the box, and this time the penalty was given.

38:03: Curtis Woodhouse himself took the spot kick and blasted it high and wide.

Toner was upset when a free-kick was awarded against him for a foul on Lowe in a dangerous position, but it was headed out by Gary Jones, and Toner was fouled as he tried to take the ball away.

Town went into added time which was signalled at four minutes.

For the first couple of minutes of that time added on Town tried to eat up time with throw-ins and possession, but Chester broke away in the 47th minute and won a throw, taken long, and eventually collected by Mildenhall.

Rob Jones conceded a corner in the last minute, and Toner dived to clear, away by Macca, and Toner again attempted to clear, and Futcher conceded another corner. However, Chester didn't have time to take it as Mr Lee blew for time.

Full-time: Town 1 - 0 Chester