Chester 0 Darlington 0

Attendance 2537

Darlington drew for the first time in 22 matches under Steve Watson and Terry Mitchell with a goalless draw at the Deva Stadium.
There was a good tempo to the game with Quakers creating and missing some good chances, while they defended well in the second when Chester had more possession.
The result means that Quakers finish six points above the relegation zone, with Blyth taking the fourth relegation place.

Chester had the first opportunity when Tom Peers battled his way through three Darlington defenders and struck a right foot shot a couple of yards wide.

Jarrett Rivers then had a good run for Darlington, but his effort was blocked on the edge of the box.

Nelson made a good run and found Rivers on the left and he got to the bye line before crossing into the middle where Salkeld and Asanti just failed to get a touch.

Quakers nearly took the lead on 13 minutes, when Salkeld picked the ball up in the centre circle, ran at the Chester defence and hit a low shot towards the bottom left corner, but Wyll Stanway saved at full stretch.

There was another chance on 23 minutes when Ben Hedley found Andrew Nelson with a good ball forward. He ran into the area, but the keeper smothered his shot well.

Tom Platt joined the attack, and nearly scored on 25 minutes when he picked the ball from Nelson, ran forward, and hit a right foot shot just wide of the post.

Chester had a chance on 28  minutes when Tollitt won possession, ran into the box, but Matty Young comfortably saved.

Quakers nearly scored when they played the ball well out of defence for Salkeld on the right, and he played the ball into the middle where Nelson sidestepped a defender and fired just wide of the post

The half ended with Quakers on top, but unable to take their chances.

Half time 0-0

Quakers won a free kick on the right at the start of the second half, but Barrow’s inswinging free kick was headed away.

Quakers made two subs on 55 minutes, Adrian Rutledge and Mitch Curry coming on for Asante and Nelson, , and then another on 62 minutes, Ben Liddle came on for Cameron Salkeld.

Liddle’s first action was to work his way up the left and put in a low cross that Stanway saved at the near post.
Chester had their first chance for some time on on 67 minutes when sub Charlie Caton got to the edge of the box and tried a left foot shot that Young fisted away.

The home side nearly scored on 76 minutes when a corner was swung in from the right, and Matty Williams’ header was saved by Young.

There was still plenty of effort by both sides at this stage, but nothing much in terms of clear chances.

Quakers won a corner on 83 minutes from a cross by Hedley, but Chester got Rivers’ corner away,

They had a late chance when Hedley crossed from the right, and Rutledge put in a glancing header that Stanway saved.
Chester created a late chance, but Young saved at the feet of Christian Norton,

Full time: Chester 0 Darlington 0

Team: Young, Hedley, Lees, Lawlor, Barrow, Hatfield, Platt, Salkeld (sub Liddle 62), Rivers, Asante (sub Rutledge 55), Nelson (sub Curry 55).

Subs: Griffiths, Cornish

Booking: Hatfield 86

Chester

Stanway, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Wiliams, Peers, Thomas, Tollitt, Daly, Roberts, Burton, Edwards

Subs: Taylor, Caton, Norton, Heywood, Coates