Report: Chester FC 2-2 Merthyr Town

The points were shared with Merthyr Town at the Deva Stadium.

The Blues made a fast start at the and took the lead in the sixth minute through Offrande Zanzala.

Our number nine latched on to a fantastic through ball by Declan Weeks and slotted a drilled finish past Jaimie Cogman into the bottom corner.

The strong wind was having a major effect on proceedings and Weeks almost doubled our lead with a long-range free-kick that curled towards goal but was pushed over by the away shot-stopper.

Further long-range efforts from Jack Bainbridge and Kevin Roberts went close but both flew narrowly wide of the post.

The home lead was doubled with six minutes of the half to play as Nathan Woodthorpe’s long-throw was flicked into his own net by Merthyr captain Tom Handley.

An opportunity was presented for Chester to grab a third on the stroke of the interval when referee Alexander Beckett pointed to the spot after Dylan Mottley-Henry was brought down inside the box.

Pat Jones was handed the responsibility but his low spot-kick was denied by a diving stop from Cogman and the scoreline remained 2-0 at the break.

Zanzala almost added to his tally five minutes into the second period but his powerful effort crashed back to safety off the post.

Merthyr got themselves a foothold in the contest just before the hour-mark as Handley cancelled out his earlier own goal with a powerful strike that flew into the top corner.

The visitors went close to a leveller in the 72nd minute as right-back Callum Ryan-Phillips drilled an effort just wide of the post.

The equaliser came as the clock ticked into the 90th minute as Cole Jarvis smashed into the net from an acute angle to claim a share of the points for the Martyrs.

It’s a return to FA Cup action next for Chester with a trip to Morecambe in the Fourth Qualifying Round.

CHESTER FC: Murray-Jones, K. Roberts, Leak, Carson, Bainbridge, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Murray, Weeks, P. Jones (Peers 68′), Mottley-Henry, Zanzala (Woods 85′).

Subs not used: Barlow, Kelly-Evans, Shrimpton, Arthur, F. Roberts

Scorers: Zanzala 6′, Handley OG 39′, Handley 57′, Jarvis 90′

Attendance: 2,268