A PENALTY towards the end of the second period consigned troubled Chester City to yet another defeat in this turbulent season.

But the main talking point was the attendance with just 425 hardy souls turning up to watch the Blue Square Premier encounter.

Most of the action in a first half high in commitment but low in quality came off the field, with a number of supporters making their feelings known towards the Vaughan family and Morell Maison.

Chester’s unpaid players kept their composure and, with a little bit more luck, could have taken a lead into the break.

They had a decent penalty appeal turned down in the 13th minute when Ben Wilkinson went down in the box under the challenge of Daniel Webb, while Ben Jones, Glenn Rule and Wilkinson saw half chances come and go.

The best opportunity of the opening period fell to Salisbury, however, but the unmarked Matt Tubbs headed wide from 10 yards out.

Sean Clohessy also went close for the visitors, who, not without problems of their own, could name only four substitutes on the bench.

The spectacle initially failed to improve after the restart before sparking into life just past the hour mark, with Jones firing over from close range when he really should have scored.

But it was Salisbury who looked the more likely and after Stuart Anderson somehow failed to head in Bradley Gray’s corner, Tubbs settled the contest five minutes from time when he punished Kevin Roberts’ needless handball in the box, following another Gray delivery.

CHESTER: Danby, Rule, Kelly, Ryan, Lea, Ellams, Roberts, Davidson, Meynell, Wilkinson, Jones. Subs: Murphy, Freeman, Coulter, Maxwell, Chadwick.

SALISBURY: Bittner, Clohessy, Turley, Webb, Ruddick, Gray, Adelsbury, Clarke, Flood, Anderson, Tubbs. Subs: Monhon, Cox, Widdrington, Osman.