Report: Chester 0-0 Farsley Celtic

    Chester had to settle for a point at home against Farsley Celtic, as the two sides played a cagey 0-0 draw at the Deva Stadium.

    The first period was bereft of much quality as both sides struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities.

    The visitors had the most presentable chance as Ben Atkinson pulled the ball pack to the onrushing Bailey Sloane, but he couldn’t control his effort and it whistled wide of Elyh Harrison’s net.

    The returning Dan Turner looked lively throughout the first half as he repeatedly attempted to break the resolve of the Farsley Celtic defence.

    After the interval the game followed a similar pattern, with neither Chester nor Farsley able to fashion a clear opening.

    Iwan Murray’s drilled effort was comfortably gathered by Manchester United loanee Tom Wooster and full-back Jordan Hunter saw his strike from distance sail over the crossbar.

    In an attempt to change their fortunes, Calum McIntyre made a triple substitution with Tom Peers, Charlie Caton and Kev Roberts all entering the fold.

    Those alterations injected some purpose into the Seals’ play with Farsley’s defence regressing more into their own half as the game went on.

    The deadlock was almost broken after Caton fired a low and inviting cross towards Kurt Willoughby, but Connor Branson intervened with a vital tackle.

    Willoughby was then inches away from a stunning opening goal as his 25-yard free-kick cannoned off the crossbar with the goalkeeper stranded.

    The hosts were reduced down to ten men in the closing stages as referee Richard Holmes gave Nathan Woodthorpe a second yellow card for simulation.

    With seven minutes added the Blues were desperately trying to find the winner, but the visitors defended valiantly to keep the scores level.

    There is some positives that the Seals can take from the result, as that clean sheet is their fifth consecutive shutout at the Deva Stadium and that draw means they extend their unbeaten run to eleven matches.

    Match Report by Jude Deedigan.

    CHESTER: Harrison, Hunter (Roberts 61′) Rawlinson, Burke, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Weeks, Glendon, Murray (Caton 61′), Willoughby, Turner (Peers 61′)

    Subs not used: Pollock & Hancox

    Scorers: N/A

    Attendance: 2549