Chester City 0 Notts. County 0

Last updated : 13 September 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Chester halted their recent poor run of results with a 0-0 draw against Notts County at the Saunders Honda Stadium.

Both sides failed to break through two stubborn defences, although Chester, having lost their last four League Two games would perhaps have been the most pleased with a draw.

A low key opening saw little in the way of goalmouth action aside from a snap-shot inside five minutes by the veteran striker Jason Lee and a poor Lawrie Dudfield shot which the home keeper John Danby gathered easily.

It took until the 25th minute for the first clear chance of the game when Andy Parkinson wriggled his way past the Chester defence to set up Lee just 10 yards from goal, but his effort was well pushed away by Danby.

Almost immediately Chester went up field and had a good chance when a long throw found the head of Drewe Broughton, but the striker could only send his header over the bar.

A half chance five minutes before the break saw Laurence Wilson in a good position after a cushioned header by Roberto Martinez, and he opted to shoot, badly slicing his effort wide of the target.

Just before the break Dudfield had a great opportunity to put his side ahead when the ball broke to him at the far post, only for the striker to slice his effort from close range wide of the target.

A minute after the restart it was the same player going close when an in swinging corner from Dan Martin found Dudfield, again at the far post, but his effort, admittedly from a difficult angle, was wide of the target.

Martin then stuck a free-kick over the bar from 20 yards as County had the lion share of the play in the opening two minutes of the second half.

The home side, playing in front of a disappointing crowd of only 1,818, looked short of ideas, having only wayward efforts from Wilson and Dave Artell as their moments of threat remotely anywhere near the visitor's goal.

When Chester did have the ball in the net on 65 minutes, it was to no avail, with Broughton adjudged off-side by the assistant referee, and the game petered out to a draw.