Shrewsbury: Bevan, Herd, Kempson, Murdock (Leslie 63), Tierney, Humphrey, Darren Moss (Hall 55), McIntyre, Davies, Hibbert (Constable 63), Madjo.

Subs Not Used: Garner, Pugh.

Chester: Danby, James Vaughan, Kelly, Linwood, Wilson, Partridge, Sandwith, Roberts, Ellison (Rutherford 39), Murphy, McManus (Hughes 81).

Subs Not Used: Palethorpe, Grant, Rule.

Booked: Ellison, Sandwith.

Att: 6,417

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire)
Assistant Referee (yellow) M McDonough
Assistant Referee (plain) M Murphy
Fourth Official A Bates

Attendance: 6417 (816)

Paul Simpson makes the two changes to the side that went down 3-1 at Mansfield last Saturday with Guy Madjo and Chris Humphrey coming into the start up while James Constable and Steve Leslie drop to the bench while Asa Hall is added to the squad.

It was a very bright opening with both sides showing some great attacking, Town were causing problems down the flanks with Chris Humphrey's pace making him the space to deliver several good crosses. The best chance though fell to the visitors when a long clearance from Darby dropped in behind Murdock , the ball then found Kevin Roberts clear in the box but Ben Herd flung himself in to block just as he was about to pull the trigger.

Chester were looking dangerous and really tested the Town goal with just under 10-minuites on the clock, a good flowing move saw the ball with Paul McManus out on the left, he skipped through the Town defence and then drove in a shot that Bevan looked to have covered but hit the inside of the post and flew back across the goal.

Town were getting the ball around the field well and were stretching Chester at times. The home side put together a lovely move which cut Chester in half with Ben Davies coming in field to pick the ball up, he then played a good give and go with Dave Hibbert before delivering a great cross back towards Hibbert but he just failed to get the all important touch to divert the ball home.

As the game went on it was Chester who had been having the better of the attacking play but didn't have anything to show for it. They were getting the ball into some decent areas around the Town box but when called on the home side were getting the bodies in place to get the blocks in.

Kevin Ellison had been having a decent game but had been going to ground a little too easily to win some free-kicks. Once again he got the ball and looked to break down the left, he nicked the ball past the attempted tackle from Ben Herd but once again went to ground as the ball trickled out for a Town goal kick, Ellison got up asking for a free-kick but ref Styles was having none of it. The ref then called over Ellison for quiet word and when they had finished Ellison gestured to the ref with a diving motion and a yellow card motion so the ref called him back over and produced the first yellow of the game.

The game had gone a little flat after the initial bright start with neither team able to put any flowing football together. Chester were still looking the more dangerous of the sides as Town's attacking moves were breaking down with unforced errors or misplaced passes.

Half-time: 0-0

Town nearly grabbed the lead moments after the restart when more good work from Chris Humphrey down the right saw him push the by-line and then cut back a flow cross, Hibbert just failed to connect at the near post and then Guy Madjo was inches away from connecting after sliding in at the back post.

Chris Humphrey was having one of his better games in a Town shirt and was looking Town's best chance of a goal. Hibbert did well to win the ball and then play a great cross field ball into the run of Humphrey, he then ran at his marker and flew past him down the outside, he continued his run towards the box and then drilled a low shot in that flew just inches wide of the mark and into the side netting.

Paul Simpson made his first change of the afternoon with 10-minutes of the half gone bringing on Asa Hall to replace Darren Moss in a like for like swap.

Then on 62-minutes Paul Simpson made his final changes by bringing off Dave Hibbert for James Constable and Colin Murdock for Steve Leslie.

With 20 minutes remaining on the clock it was Town who were showing the better of the attacking play. The addition of Hall and Constable had added a little more spark and with Humphrey and Davies sticking to the flanks Town had the width on each side to get at Chester.

Town's best chances were still coming from the work of Humphrey and once again Herd push the ball out to the Town winger, he dropped his shoulder and was away from Laurence Wilson and heading for the by-line before curling a low cross towards the penalty spot where Davies and Madjo were waiting, it was Davies who stabbed in the shot that took a deflection but Danby was alert and readjusted himself to collect the ball.

Chester's chances were few in the second half but they created a decent opening when the ball was played in high to John Murphy on the edge of the Town box, he flicked on the ball into the run of Partridge who looked to be in a decent shooting position but Ben Herd was alert to hook a foot in to snuff out the danger.

Town were getting in good scoring positions but just couldn't get that bit of luck to find the back of the net, this was highlighted when Constable pulled wide to get the ball and then deliver a cross in that found Madjo behind the Chester defence but he put his header over the target.

Full-time:0-0