Chester City 0 Boston United 1

Chester City 0 – 1 Boston United
Simon Rusk 82m



Match Date: 14/01/2006


Chester v BostonA late Boston winner saw Chester City crash to their sixth league defeat in a row thanks to a dour display at the Saunders Honda Stadium. After passing a lunchtime fitness test, Dave Artell was placed straight into an unusual City line up. Struggling to get into any kind of rhythm, the Blues made a lacklustre start to this game creating very few opportunities. After receiving treatment for an early injury, Marcus Richardson enjoyed a half chance with eleven minutes played. Receiving the ball from debutant Wayne Corden, Richardson flicked his header on, but goalkeeper Conrad Logan collected the ball with ease. Visitors Boston United fought back when the Pilgrims earned a free kick. Luxembourg goalkeeper Stephane Gillet was on top form to deny David Galbraith an opener.

In a scrappy first half neither side really got to grips with the game. Moments later, Stewart Talbot sent a shot wayward and Paul Ellendar received a yellow card for his challenge on Derek Asamoah. In a rare bout of excitement, Asamoah leapt into life on the half hour mark with a fine run down the left wing. The former Lincoln City man rounded a his marker before sending a strong drive low into the arms of the Pilgrims shot-stopper. Asamoah showed great potential with his trickery inside the Boston area, but with Michael Branch, Gregg Blundell and Ben Davies all on the substitutes bench, City lacked that killer touch up front.

Luxembourg international goalkeeper Stephane Gillet produced a wonder save to keep City in the game. With fives minutes remaining before the half time interval, James Keane despatched a ferocious goalbound effort, but Gillet was equal to it, leaping acrobatically to deflect his shot. Former premiership star Julian Joachim followed up by striking the rebound well wide of the far post.

Half Time Chester City 0 Boston United 0



Chester City were a lot brighter in the second half. Keith Curle spiced things up by making a double substitute at half time and it almost reaped dividends immediately. Gregg Blundell came on for the ineffective Marcus Richardson, whilst Ben Davies replaced Justin Walker. Within a matter of minutes City could have taken a deserved lead thanks to a Blundell thunderbolt, but goalkeeper Logan was able to parry the ball away from danger.

Minutes later the game burst into life when James Keane sent the ball forward to Julian Joachim. Carl Regan brought down Joachim, setting up a free kick in a precarious position just outside the 18-yard box. Fortunately for Chester, Boston?s free kick rebounded off the Chester wall and back into play. City enjoyed a spell of possession but struggled to break through a strong Boston rearguard. But against the run of play, at the other end of the field Keane was given the space to run around the City defence and should have done better than to shoot well wide of the target on 63.

City soon retaliated when Asamoah broke away from his marker in the centre of the field and did well to force a City corner. Sadly, Logan was on hand to ensure Corden?s corner didn?t wreak havoc. At the other end, Pilgrim?s substitute Peter Till brought Gillet into action in the 71st minute with a shot just inside the area.

Curle?s last throw of the dice was to bring on Michael Branch for Tom Curtis in the dying stages of the game. Stewart Drummond came close with a header before Joahim outran McNiven to shoot over the cross bar. City came close to an opening on 81 minutes when McNiven?s throw in was flicked on by Drummond. Asamoah latch onto the ball but could direct it on target, hoofing the ball wide of the left post. Against the run of play, The Pilgrims took the lead thanks to a 12 yard strike by Simon Rusk. He latched onto an Alan White cross from the right wing and had the easiest of tasks to simply side-foot the ball past the stranded City shot-stopper, Gillet.

Full Time: Chester City 0 Boston United 1

Attendance: 2,956