Darlington 0 Chester 1

Grand 40 mins, 0-1

Attendance 1,116

Darlington lost to a first half goal against Chester at Blackwell Meadows.

Quakers had the majority of possession in the game, and when they created chances, Chester keeper Grant Shenton was equal to them.

There weren’t any chances created in the opening stages, Chester forced a corner after two minutes which went over everybody and out of play for a goal kick.

Wilson Kneeshaw mad a good run up the left, but was crowded out by Danny Livesey.

At the other end, Simon Ainge was in the right place to clear a good low cross by Bradley Jackson.

Quakers put together a good move that saw Kneeshaw and Saunders combine to send Nicholson away, but his pull back was stopped on the six yard line.

After Grand was booked for a foul on Palmer, Galbraith swung the free kick over and won a corner on the left that Chester cleared.

Quakers went close on 24 minutes when Nicholson crossed from the left from a free kick for Simon Ainge to head towards goal, and Grant Shenton tipped the ball acrobatically over the top.

Chester replied with a strike by Waters that Turner held on to at shoulder height.

Chester took the lead on 40 minutes from a free kick routine. Gary Roberts and Matthew Waters worked a free kick from 30 yards out for Asante to help on for Grand to nod past Turner.

Quakers thought they’d equalised on 44 minutes when Nicholson crossed from the left to the far post where Ainge outjumped Shenton to head home, but the referee pulled him up for a foul.

Half time:

Darlington 0 Chester 1

Quakers started the second half with a good run down the right by Kneeshaw, and he played the ball inside for Nicholson, who hit a left foot shot about a yard wide.

Quakers nearly levelled on 54 minutes when Palmer crossed from the left to the far post where Thompson headed back across goal, and Grand, trying to head over his own crossbar, headed towards goal instead and Shenton pulled off a reaction save.

Quakers had plenty of possession after that, but even though Nicholson was quite prominent, they didn’t really create any clear cut chances, until the last minute when Saunders had a left foot shot blocked by Shenton.

Final score: Darlington 0 Chester 1

Turner, Trotman, Galbraith, T Elliott, Ainge, Holness, Nicholson, Palmer, Saunders, Kneeshaw, Thompson

Subs: Bascome, Maddison, Henshall, Jackson, K Elliott

Chester

Shenton, Jackson, Waters, McAllister, Livesey, Grand, McKenna, Roberts, Asante, Dudley, Mahon

Subs: Waring, Howson, Mooney, Murray, Marsh-Hughes,

Bookings: Grand, Jackson