BLUES MATCH REPORT: Leamington 0 - 0 Chester FC

Chester FC’s impressive unbeaten run on the road extended, as they battled to a goalless draw in the rain at Leamington.

Manager Calum McIntyre made one change from the side that defeated Kidderminster in midweek, Adam Thomas dropped to the bench as Anthony Dudley started.

Chester started brightly and should have taken the lead inside five minutes. A header back to goal from Louis Hall was short and Kurt Willoughby was through, but his volley flew inches wide of the post.

Willoughby went close again on 12 minutes. He met a ball over the top from Iwan Murray and drove a low effort just wide of the same post via a deflection.

Leamington had their first opportunity on 21 minutes. The Blues failed to clear a corner effectively and the ball fell to Ollie Hulbert, who scuffed an effort inches wide of Harry Tyrer’s right hand post.

The home side were growing into the game and had a chance when Liam Cross got the right side of Ollie Heywood to cut the ball back, but Tyrer was able to eventually gather on his goaline after a scramble started by Hulbert’s flick. Moments later, Dan Turner nodded a looping attempt just over the crossbar from Adam Walker’s delivery.

Chester had a couple of half chances at the start of the second half, however Dudley’s volley was well wide before Weeks’ effort deflected comfortably into the arms of Cann.

At the other end Leamington almost went in front on 57 minutes as a dangerous Liam Cross corner went deep, but it was somehow hooked off the line at the last second before Jack Lane fired the rebound over.

Cann was worked again just after the hour mark as Murray had space just inside the area, but the West Brom loanee tipped his effort over.

Again the Brakes ‘keeper was busy, this time making a huge save on 68 minutes. Weeks’ driving run started the move, his cross was touched on by Willoughby and Caton was denied by an excellent low reaction stop.

A scrappy game continued to create some decent openings, as Turner headed over from Kelly-Evans’ cross at one end, before Willoughby then worked Cann with a free kick on 76.

The game then did fade out in terms of opportunities, as both sides settled for a point.

CHESTER: Tyrer, Coates, Burke, Williams, Heywood (Brown 46), Roberts, Weeks, Murray (Hughes 77), Caton, Dudley (Thomas 60), Willoughby.

SUBS NOT USED: Stephenson, Earl.

ATTENDANCE: 966 (398 Chester).

You can watch the post-match interview with Blues Boss Calum McIntyre here...