Blues Match Report - Chester FC 1 - 1 Brackley Town

Chester were cruelly denied all three points due to a freak own goal against Brackley Town.

A well struck effort from Declan Weeks put the Blues ahead before a Simon Grand own goal in stoppage time saw the visitors get a draw.

The Blues made five changes from the side that lost to Boston at the weekend as Wyll Stanway and Rowan Roache both made their debuts, while James Horsfield, Declan Weeks and Marcus Dackers also came into the side.

Louis Gray, George Glendon, George Waring, Okera Simmonds and Paddy Lacey were the names to make way. Rob Apter also made his home debut for the club.

Chances were at a premium in the early exchanges with Chester having the opening opportunity of the game with Apter’s corner met by Grand but taking a deflection wide of the target.

There was plenty of endeavour from the two sides but the defences were on top as Weeks’ long range strike brought a comfortable save out of Danny Lewis in the Brackley goal as the scores remained level at half time.

It was the Blues that made the breakthrough early in the second half as a challenge on Roache broke to Weeks who drilled home from the edge of the penalty area.

It took until the 74th minute before Stanway had a save to make on debut but he did well as Lee Ndlovu burst into the penalty area and fired low, with the keeper equal to it.

Brackley looked to step up the pressure in the final ten minutes as Ndlovu played it back to Shepherd Murombedzi on the edge of the penalty area, but his effort was off target.

The Blues almost added a second as Rob Apter’s ball was fired across the six yard box but it was turned away.

Then into stoppage time Brackley got an equaliser as a corner into the box was turned into his own goal by Grand to see the visitors leave with a share of the spoils.

CHESTER: Stanway, Horsfield, Williams, Grand, Fitzpatrick, Roberts, Weeks (Burke 80), Roache (Glendon 69), Apter, Stephenson, Dackers (Waring 69).

SUBS NOT USED: Gray, Simmonds.

SCORERS: Weeks 54; Grand (OG) 90+1.

ATTENDANCE: 1,284.