Chester revitalised after morale-boosting victory

Mar 24 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

CHESTER CITY will travel to the joint leaders of Coca-Cola League Two Peterborough United this afternoon in buoyant mood after they turned in arguably their best performance of 2008 on Saturday.

City’s confidence boosting victory against promotion-chasing Darlington was well deserved, and set them up for the trip to London Road, where they will face the team who boast the best home record in the division.

The win against Darlington arrested a run of five straight defeats, and gave City’s new manager Simon Davies the first victory of his fledgling managerial career. When the final whistle blew at the end of an absorbing and enthralling contest, you could virtually touch the relief that emerged from the City faithful.

This year has so far been tough for Chester’s long-suffering fans, but this second win of 2008 lifted the relegation gloom that certain sceptics had predicted.

Without doubt the return of senior players Paul Butler and Ritchie Partridge following injuries boosted the club’s performance levels, but special praise should also be given to the ever improving Paul Linwood who again was a tower of strength in the heart of the City defence.

Chester were quickly out of the blocks and took the lead after seven minutes. Kevin Roberts crossed from the right, the ball was knocked on by John Murphy to Paul Rutherford, who drilled his effort past Stockdale in the Darlington goal from 15 yards.

Chris Holroyd and Murphy brought out good saves from Stockdale before Partridge doubled City’s advantage after 36 minutes.

Wilson fed the ball to Holroyd, who in turn slipped it to Partridge, the ex-Liverpool player then exquisitely curled an effort around the visitors’ keeper and into the net from 12 yards.

Darlington then dragged themselves back into the game with six minutes left. Stephen Foster beating City’s substitute keeper Phil Palethorpe, who had replaced concussion victim John Danby after 70 minutes, with a shot that went in via a post.

Chester could have given the scoreline a more realistic look two minutes from the end, but substitute Paul McManus’s close range effort hit the visitors’ bar and rebounded to safety.

After the match Simon Davies reflected: “It was a great performance, but I don’t want to take the credit for it, it was the lads that did it.”

Striker Holroyd will miss today’s visit to Peterborough because of an ankle injury sustained on Saturday while midfielder Partridge and goalkeeper Danby are both doubtful for the game.

CHESTER CITY: Danby (Palethorpe 69), Roberts, Butler, Linwood, Wilson, Partridge (Sandwith 65), Dinning, Hughes, Rutherford, Murphy, Holroyd (McManus 46). Subs: Rule, Kelly.

DARLINGTON: Stockdale, Austin, (Valentine 80), White, Foster, Parker, Kennedy, Cummins (Foran 46), Purdie, Joachim, Wright, Abbott (Blundell 68). Subs: Liversedge, Miller. Referee: Mr Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire). Att: 1,759.