Darlo saved at the Bell
6 April 2007
Attendance: 1942
Chester 1 Darlington 1
Gregg Blundell came back to haunt his old club with a late penalty to keep Darlington's play-off hopes alive. Blundell scored calmly from the spot to deny Chester the three points. This was a sickener for Chester who had led with a Simon Yeo goal early in the second half.
Chester dominated the game and wasted several good chances.
After an uneventful first 45 minutes, the game sprang to life when Yeo opened the scoring six minutes into the second half. The Chester striker finished well by beating Darlingtons offside trap and rounding Sam Russell before firing a left-footed shot into the roof of the net. This was no more than they deserved as Darlington were just not up for it.
It should have been 3-0 within ten minutes of this as we were saved (quite literally!) when Russell pulled off an amazing reflex save from Chris Holroyd's close-range overhead kick and Kevin Sandwith skied his header way over the bar from 12 yards out.
As Darlington struggled with their attacking substitute Neil Wainwright was denied by a good block from John Danby with 12 minutes to go.
As the visitors poured men forward, they were almost caught on the counter-attack with five minutes left when Paul Rutherford squared the ball for Jamie Hand who failed to make contact six yards out with the goal beckoning.
However, we were handed a lifeline a minute from time when Blundell, who left Chester in January, was fouled by Laurence Wilson on the edge of the box.
Referee Mr Singh pointed to the spot despite the protestations of the Chester players and Blundell picked himself up to calmly converted.
No more like this one please Darlington, let's just get that play off place calmly!
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