Words: Alex Birch; Pictures: Josh Vosper

The Magpies were frustrated by a committed Chester side as they claimed a point on their travels at the Swansway Chester Stadium.

Team news

Both teams made one change from last time out as Dan Mooney replaced Ben McKenna for Chester and new signing Shaun Tuton replaced Josh Wilson for Chorley.

Line-ups

Chester: Shenton; Jackson, Waters, McAllister, Livesey, Grand, Mooney (McKenna, 68′), Roberts (c), Asante (Waring, 74′), Dudley, Mahon (Green, 79′. Subs not used: Howson, Marsh-Hughes.

Chorley: Urwin; Challoner, Blakeman, Teague (c), Leather (McGurk, 72′), Meppen-Walter, O’Keefe (Jordan, 90′), Cottrell, Carver, Tuton (Almond, 60′), E.Newby. Subs not used: Anson, Eccles.

Action

The first half was a battle, with neither side giving an inch. The home side looked most dangerous from set pieces and created the best chance of the half when a Gary Roberts rehearsed free kick gave Dan Mooney the chance to cross, but a couple of close range efforts were blocked away by Chorley’s defenders.

At the other end Marcus Carver and debutant Shaun Tuton worked hard but got little in the way luck. Josh O’Keefe and Elliot Newby had half chances but couldn’t properly test Grant Shenton in Chester’s goal.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first; battling from both sides but few golden opportunities to score. Carver had two chances in as many minutes, the first was dinked just wide on the stretch before Shenton’s clearance hit the number nine and sailed agonisingly wide of the near post.

Chester created a couple of openings, especially when Ben McKenna enter the fray, but Chorley’s defence more than held their own for a fifth clean sheet in six matches.

Stats

HT 0-0 / FT 0-0

Goals: None

Cautions: Blakeman (70′), Meppen-Walter (90’+2)

Dismissals: None

Referee: Steven Copeland

Assistants: Mark Shepherd & Mark Billingham

Attendance: 1,979

Weather: Sunny

Next Up: AFC Telford United visit Victory Park next Saturday (3pm) in the Vanarama National League North. Admission is pay-on-the-gate: £12 adults, £9 concessions, £7 students, £5 12-16s & FREE under-12s. Tickets are also available to buy for Stockport County on Easter Saturday (1pm) in the club shop.