MATCH REPORT HOME CHESTER

By John Mead

Wood continued to show they possess a mean defence in the division, whilst struggling to convert a number of chances created in the oppositions penalty area. The statistics speak for them selves and on a better day Wood would have opened up a nice gap on the bottom four.

However this stalemate leaves Wood in 20th spot, one above the drop zone, a position they have “comfortably” occupied for the last ten matches.

In truth neither goalkeeper had any saves of note to make, yet visiting custodian Jon Worsnop was made to cover some ground, often rushing out to the edge of his area to clear decisively for his team.

Luke Garrard named an unchanged side that won away at Bromley in midweek and they had the assistant referee to thank after just seventeen seconds when Ross Hannah’s effort was ruled out for offside.

A Ricky Shakes through ball looked to have set Charlie MacDonald through on goal, yet the ball fizzed off the surface away from the striker. Wood won a corner from which Conor Clifford delivered with Shakes selling a dummy allowing Luke Howell licence to shoot but his effort flew high over the target.

Both sides looked to build meaningful attacks and after 33 minutes a spirited run from James Roberts down the right led to a decent low cross to the feet of Callum Dyson, but the on loan teenager from Everton was denied by a superb block from Scott Doe.

Wood crafted the best chance of the half through some exquisite play from MacDonald. Played in by Joe Devera down the right he held up play well before turning to lay into the path of Shakes who saw his low shot squirm past the left hand post.

Both sides continued to pay with an intensity after the break, with Wood again shading possession and creating the majority of the half chances on offer. However there was an early scare when John Rooney’s corner from the left had the beating of James Russell needing a goal line clearance from Danny Woodards to keep the game even.

Mauro Vilhete embarked upon a jinking run yet he failed to muster a shot for his efforts. Ben Heneghan turned in a fine performance for the visitors and did well to prevent MacDonald crossing into danger after a fine run down the right flank.

Vilhete then found space to shoot running across goal but sent his shot the wrong side of the post.

Steve Burr the Chester Manager rang the changes after an hour sending on the fresh legs of Jordan Chapell and Craig Mahon, with Anthony Jeffrey entering the field of play for Wood, replacing Howell a minute later.

His impact was almost immediate, picking up the ball and cutting inside from the left, he worked the ball to Vilhete who in turn found Shakes who just yards from goal failed to apply the finishing touch that the move warranted.

Doe, who was influential on the afternoon lofted a ball forward for MacDonald who lost out in a

shoulder challenge by Heneghan, before twice having shots blocked from a Wood corner.

Heneghan almost allowed Vilhete some glory when his aerial attempted clearance fell at the feet of the diminutive striker on loan from Barnet, but his disappointing afternoon was compounded when his first touch let him down, feebly shooting at Worsnop.

With the clock running down Junior Morias was introduced by Garrard and he provided a much needed rarity in the shape of a shot on target, albeit an audacious thirty five yard low drive, that had Worsnop scrambling to gather at the send attempt.

Doe had the last word preventing Hannah from shooting leaving Garrard to reflect upon a precious point.

“ Before the last two games I would have been happy with three points. However to get the job done at Bromley the hunger for six points was there. It was only down to our application in front of goal that we were not celebrating back to back wins, which is something we are capable of, but have yet to achieve. That said four points from two games is a return that will guarantee safety for us this season.

We will now move on very quickly to the task in hand on Monday night. Northwich Victoria arrive having scored eleven goals since we met them just over a week ago. We will not be underestimating the task in hand and will simply be looking to get the job done to earn the right to play Northampton Town on December 5th.”

Team: Russell, Doe, Woodards, Stephens, Doe, Kamdjo, Shakes, Clifford, MacDonald ( Morias 85), Howell ( Jeffrey 62), Vilhete.

Subs not used: Cox, Reynolds, Edwards.

Bookings: Clifford, Doe.

Man of the Match: Scott Doe.

TIMES MATCH REPORT

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