Loss leaves Chester City flirting with drop

Apr 21 2008 by Neil Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

CHESTER CITY are teetering on the brink of the Coca-Cola League Two relegation abyss, after their eighth defeat in 10.

City’s wafer-thin squad, which has been decimated by a combination of injuries, departures and internal disputes, just isn’t good enough for this level of football, and whatever division they are playing in next season, it is patently obvious that a radical overhaul is needed.

Chester’s endeavour certainly couldn’t be questioned on Saturday, but the lack of quality certainly could.

The club’s survival quest wasn’t helped by victories for fellow strugglers Mansfield Town and Wrexham, and it looks like City are now in for a tense trio of games in their final run-in.

Wycombe, who needed a victory to assist in their quest for an end-of-season play-off placing, looked tentative in the first period.

Four minutes after the break City had the first of the two realistic chances they did create in the game. Across from Vaughan was knocked on by the tireless Murphy to youngster Paul McManus, but the striker conspired to scoop his effort over from just eight yards.

Delroy Facey rattled the City post, and Danby made an excellent save to palm away the former Tranmere striker’s close-range header.

The deadlock was broken 12 minutes from time.

Oakes launched across from the left into the City area, it was hooked back to Scott McGleish who swept the ball past Danby from 10 yards.

Chester could have nicked a point two minutes from time.

A Kevin Sandwith free-kick fell to the unmarked Kevin Roberts two yards out, but the youngster looped the ball over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

After the match City manager Simon Davies, who had to watch the game from the stands as the result of a two-game touchline ban imposed following a recent Youth Cup tie, said: “The players gave me everything, it was a case of so near yet so far.

“We had two good chances to score, but it is hard to be too critical of the players after they gave me so much in terms of effort.

“Unfortunately the chance that they took fell to a striker in form in Scott McGleish, and he made no mistake.

“We have three games left, and we have to approach those games in a positive frame of mind.”

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Fielding, Martin, Johnson, Williamson, Woodman, Torres (McCracken 83), Doherty, Holt, Oakes, Facey, McGleish (Sutton 90). Subs: Palmer, Young, Stockley.

Chester City: Danby, Vaughan, Linwood, Kelly, Wilson, Roberts, Hughes, Sandwith, Rutherford, McManus (Holroyd 68), Murphy. Subs: Palethorpe, Rule, Grant, Mitchell.

REFEREE: Mr Steven Cook (Surrey).

Att: 5,497.