BLUES MATCH REPORT: Gloucester City 1 - 1 Chester FC

Chester FC extended their unbeaten run on the road, but were left to rue missed chances in a Tuesday night draw at Gloucester City.

Sub Adam Thomas fired the Blues ahead on the hour mark, but an unfortunate own goal from Kieron Coates saw the game end all square.

Manager Calum McIntyre made two changes from the weekend, as Iwan Murray and Charlie Caton replaced Thomas and Darren Stephenson, making it the same XI that had won at King’s Lynn on 11 February.

Gloucester started on the front foot and Tope Obadeyi met an early cross from the left from Junior Tiensia, but the header was tame and off target. The same combination then created a huge chance on 14 minutes, but Harry Tyrer denied Obadeyi brilliantly from close range.

Chester’s first attempt on target came after 20 minutes when Rhys Hughes caught a loose ball with a left-footed volley, but Brandon Hall saved comfortably.

McIntyre’s men were working their way back into the game and had a few decent opportunities before the break.

Hughes’ corner from the right was volleyed over by Matty Williams, before Kevin Roberts’ chip over the defence found Caton but he slid it wide of the far post.

On 38 minutes, Murray dinked a lovely ball to the back post but it was just out of the reach of Caton diving in at the far stick. They went even closer before the end of the half as Kieran Coates’ cross-shot sailed over Hall’s head and struck the post before rebounding clear.

A couple of half chances came at the start of the second half as Obadeyi’s cross was scrambled clear from a dangerous area, before Kurt Willoughby fired a snapshot over from Roberts’ pass.

Then Chester hit the front as Thomas scored with his first touch off the bench. Weeks’ corner was headed up rather than away and the substitute swivelled and volleyed brilliantly beyond Hall.

It was almost two moments later, as Hall punched a corner against the back of Caton’s head, but the ball was hooked off the line at the very last second.

Chester kept coming as Caton sent in a brilliant delivery for Willoughby, but the Seals’ top scorer nodded it wide of the post. Caton was in the thick of it, and then met Thomas’ cross with a strong header, but Hall made a superb low stop.

Instantly up the other end a Tiensia cross smashed the crossbar as Gloucester looked to push for an equaliser. Dom McHale looked to catch Tyrer out at his near post with an effort on 74 minutes, but it struck the side netting.

But the home side’s spell of pressure paid off on 78 minutes when Jack James sent in a dangerous low ball from the right and it deflected in off the unfortunate Coates.

Chester had a huge chance to win it in the last minute of normal time as Heywood’s low cross from the left found Murray, but he turned it wide from close range and the game finished level.

CHESTER: Tyrer, Coates, Williams, Edwards, Heywood, Roberts, Murray, Hughes (Thomas 60), Weeks, Caton (Stephenson 82), Willoughby (Dudley 77).

SUBS NOT USED: Morgan, Earl.

SCORERS: Coates (OG) 78; Thomas 61.

ATTENDANCE: 828 (147 Chester).

Watch the post-match interview with Blues Boss Calum McIntyre here...