On a windy afternoon, the Stan hoped to get back on winning ways with 5th place hosting 4th place but the fans, and radio Newcastle listeners, had to suffer a relatively poor 0-0 draw which the Stan should have won but did not. There were 4 changes from the defeat at Northallerton with Imray, Hollland, Bennett and Fox replacing Charmey; Middleton; Fulcher and Kerridge.

The Stan attacked from the beginning and had a corner that was cleared in the 1st minute. The Stan had another 2 attacks and 2 corners in the next 4 minutes. The Stan continued to pressurise until the 1st Chester attack was cleared in the 9th minute. Chester attacked again but the Stan countered. In 13 minutes, another Stan counter saw Fox break free but his effort was headed out for a corner. From it the ball was put out to the advancing Holland who blasted over.

The Stan were looking dangerous and in 15 minutes a Fox header hit the side netting. A Holland effort was then saved and then he then supplied Sakellaropoulos but his header was blocked. In 20 minutes a Burns free kick was headed clear. Chester then had a good chance but they shot wide. There was then a relatively quiet 10 minutes before each team attacked again. In 32 minutes Chester countered and Regan came out to the side but didn’t get the ball and it was sent into the box but cleared.

In 34 minutes, a long ball to the advancing Fox saw him stretch but then shoot wide. Mason had a long shot followed by a Chester attack being cleared. After another quiet period, the ball was sent into Fox who headed against the bar in 40 minutes. With a minute to go to half time, a Chester free kick over the wall saw Regan make a fantastic save and put the ball just wide. Stan had been the better team but had failed to make their advantage count.

2 minutes into the 2nd half and the Stan shot just wide. In 51 minutes Chester’s Coombes caught a Stan effort then the visitors sliced an effort wide. In 60 minutes, Burns sped into the box in pursuit of the ball. As he got to it, his feet were taken away from him and a penalty was awarded. Campbell put the ball from the penalty to his right but Coombes judged correctly and saved to keep the score 0-0. Bennett then made a good clearance.

After another quiet 5 minutes, Burns blasted the ball from outside the box but it went across goal and just wide. Miller then put a 30 yard free kick wide. From the 70th minute it was end to end and Regan had catch a ball from a free kick. He had to catch again 2 minutes later and 4 minutes after that a Chester attack was blocked again. 2 minutes later and Coombes had to catch followed by Regan doing the same. In 82 minutes, Chester half cleared before Hall shot just over.

In 85 minutes Burns blasted the ball high and over followed by Coombes coming out to clear. Sub Anderson shot high and wide before a Chester attack was cleared. In 89 minutes, a 35 yard Burns free kick was cleared. The Stan were pushing for the ball but Chester were dealing with it well. Into injury time, and the Stan’s attack resulted in Anderson mis-kicking. The final whistle went with no one in the ground happy with 0-0.

Stan Team: Regan, Sakellaropoulos, Hall; Miller (C); Bennett; Imray (Charmey 76); Holland; Mason; Campbell; Fox (Anderson 71); Burns.

Subs Not Used: Sayer; Fulcher; Kerridge.

Yellow card: Miller.

Attendance: 182.

Kevin Mochrie