Patulea-less City fail to score

Leading goalscorer Adrian Patulea was yet again forced to watch as the Imps created 15 chances and wasted all but one of them. The Imps were generally controlling the game against Chester before Burch was beaten yet again by a long range effort, before Lee Frecklington equalised just after half time. It's still not good enough to mount a promotion challenge though.

The Imps started brightly with Frecklington feeding in Horsfield for a run on goal, however the striker's shot was off target. A Chester penalty claim was correctly dismissed as Ryan Lowe went down somewhat theatrically under the challenge of Sinclair. Another Horsfield effort went off target from a Beevers free kick. It was quickly becoming a familiar story of City controlling the game but not doing anything with it.

Mozika picked up a booking for a second foul in as many minutes on Dany N'Guessan before Kevin Ellison wasted the game's best chance so far, firing a free kick wide of the target. Neither side were really creating anything, that was until a controversial free kick was given, that despite Frecklington clearly winning the ball. The free kick was played around before Anthony Barry, the Chester City left back of all people, smashing the ball in from 30 yards with his right foot.....yet another occasion of City conceding a goal at home from a shot well outside the box.

Kovacs headed a quick response wide before Lee Frecklington tried his luck at a shoot-on-site policy, all of which were unsuccessful. Neither side could create another chance before half time, although Ellison and Elding did have an altercation going into the tunnel.

City, just like against Rochdale last week, came out for the second half and pulled level near enough immediately. A corner from the right was taken by Brown and it was headed beyond Danby by Frecklington.

Dany N'Guessan was summed up by a moment that was either an attempt at pure brilliance, or a mishit pass. He hit it from the left and it appeared it was going to go in before Danby claimed it as it was about to go over the line.

The Imps pressed but the final ball was missing, several passes not quite finding their intended target. Rule was booked for a foul on N'Guessan before Sam Mullarkey made his first contribution of the afternoon, being substituted and making way for LJL. Mozika was quickly forced off as he was injured, being replaced by Harris.

N'Guessan volleyed over with the goalkeeper on the floor following a corner. Ellison was booked and then came the moment that should have happened at the beginning of the match, Patulea joining the action. Neither side could find a winner and the game ended 1-1.