REPORT | Gloucester City 3-3 Chester

Chester were denied a third successive win tonight at New Meadow Park following a stoppage time header.

The Blues were in command at the break thanks to a Marcus Dackers brace and a Declan Weeks strike and, despite Fabien Robert’s goal, were well in control of the opening 45.

But late goals from Lucas Tomlinson and sub Matt McClure saw it end all square.

Steve Watson made three changes from Saturday’s victory over Kettering Town. Matty Waters, Simon Grand and George Glendon returned to the side in place of Kevin Roberts, Danny Livesey and Matty Williams.

And for the third game in succession, the Seals found an early goal. Louis Gray’s kick was flicked on by Darren Stephenson, and Dackers did brilliantly to show a turn of pace to leave the defender for dead – before curling into the top corner.

However, the hosts were level within ten minutes. A dangerous cross initially from the right just evaded Lucas Tomlinson, but Robert was on hand at the back post to drill the ball underneath Gray and into the net.

Moments later though, the Blues almost restored the lead. Weeks found Glendon, and his curler was tipped behind by Liam Armstrong. From the corner following, Grand headed Waters’ deep corner just wide.

Chester had started brightly despite being set back by the leveller, and were back in front on 18 minutes. Matt Sargent’s excellent forward pass found Weeks, who got the ball out of his feet before firing into the bottom corner with Armstrong rooted to the spot.

It got even better for Watson’s men moments later as Dackers added another. Good link up again between Weeks and Glendon got the ball into the box, before it broke to the Salford loanee who saw his shot deflect and loop over Armstrong into the goal.

At the other end in a frenetic game, Matt Green saw his looping header hit the crossbar moments later.

The match settled down for a period following this, as the Blues looked to be organised to protect their two goal advantage, reducing the hosts to a deflected effort from range by Tomlinson which was comfortably held by Gray.

Tomlinson was the first to try his luck in the second half as the Blues defended bravely, curling well wide.

In the other box, Grand almost made it four from Rowan Roache’s excellent corner, but it was just the wrong side of the post. Then it was Weeks’ turn to try his luck, all his own work as he drove into the box, but the shot was tipped over by Armstrong.

Tomlinson wasn’t to be denied though with eight minutes to go as he was slipped in behind the defence and calmly converted to cut the deficit in half.

Moments later it was almost all square as a loose ball dropped to Jordon Thompson on the edge, and his fierce effort struck the crossbar on its way over.

Gloucester did complete their comeback in the fourth minute of stoppage time as O’Sullivan’s ball into the box was nodded in by sub Matt McClure.

CHESTER: Gray, Waters, Burke, Grand, Fitzpatrick, Sargent, Weeks, Glendon, Stephenson, Roache (Roberts 79), Dackers (Griffiths 84).

SUBS NOT USED: Stanway, Heywood, Simmonds.

SCORERS: Robert 13 Tomlinson 82, McClure 90+4; Dackers 4 & 22, Weeks 18.

ATTENDANCE: 859.