Chester City 0 Oxford United 1

Chester City 0 Oxford United 1

Chester City failed to stop the rot and kicked off the New Year with a dismal performance to end the traditional feast of festive football with no points from the past four games.

Chester had made a lively start to the match and Marcus Richardson could have put the Blues ahead within the opening five minutes. The tall marksman leapt head and shoulders above the Oxford defence to head a Ben Davies cross narrowly over the bar. Davies gave another impressive performance, combining well with Carl Regan down the left flank to earn City the first corner of the game.

Gregg Blundell, making only his second start since returning from injury, caused headaches inside the Oxford area but the U?s demonstrated how dangerous they can be on the counter attack with Eric Sabin latching onto a loose ball to fire a ferocious 20 yard shot just wide of the right post. City had to be alert when Sabin caused confusion in the Chester area just second later, but the City defence stood firm. With Sabin denied, the ball fell to defender Lee Mansell who could only shoot into Regan?s legs.

In the 14th minute Blundell broke free from his marker down the right channel. Trying the find Marcus Richardson inside the area, Blundell played in a good ball but Jude Stirling got the better of the City striker managing to force the ball out for a corner.

The game was still wide open and Oxford United could have found an opening through Lee Bradbury in the 18th minute. Carl Regan had to be alert to block his shot after the United midfielder broke away. Chester looked dangerous on the counter attack and Justin Walker should have done better than shoot wide into the legs of Richardson after Blundell set him up following more good work by Davies down the left wing.

Richardson was the weakest link a moment later after Blundell and Davies combined well in a superb move that annihilated the Oxford defence. Sadly Richardson was unable to connect with the final touch from Davies, leaving the Oxford back line to clear up any danger. Again, Oxford countered incredibly quickly forcing Ruddy to come out of his area to deny Basham. Ruddy?s clearance only managed to reach United?s Bradbury. Seeing an empty net ahead of him, the opportunist United midfielder tried his luck with an attempted volley over the stranded City keeper, but Ruddy back tracked well to collect the ball and prevent a goal.

City though were fortunate not to be a goal down before the break as the visitors began to take control of this game. The tall U?s striker Eric Sabin saw his header go just inches wide of the far post after he connected to a corner ball in the dying second of the half.

Half Time: Chester City 0 Oxford United 0

Despite Oxford dominating the opening exchanges in the second half, The Blues sprang into action four minutes after the interval when Richardson was set up on the back of an excellent counter attack down the inside right. Inside the area, his right footed drive rebounded off Willmott for a Chester corner kick. The pressure from City never relented and Carl Regan found himself in a good position just outside the area, but his powerful goal-bound strike rebounded away from an Oxford defender inside a crowded penalty area.

The Oxford United defence stood firm to continually deny the Blues. Blundell, a lonely looking figure upfront, struggled haplessly up front to control the ball, but without a strike partner goals were becoming highly unlikely. City dominated possession for long periods of the second half and grew increasingly frustrated at being unable to penetrate a stern visiting defence.

At the other end Lee Bradbury made space just outside the area to carve out a rare second half chance for the visitors. Goalkeeper John Ruddy didn?t know much about it though as Bradbury?s powerful right footed drive was so fierce it rebounded straight off the everton loanee?s chest.

Dave Artell grappled with Willmott to head the ball over from the bar from a Davies free kick midway through the half, but almost immediately play switched ends and Ruddy had to be alert to collect from former Chester loan player Adam Griffin. With the minutes ticking away manager Keith Curle made a tactical switch to pile more pressure on the Oxford defence. Craig Dove was brought on for the ineffective Justin Walker.

The end to end football continued and on 73 United defender Lee Mansell took matters into his own hands, collecting a loose ball just outside the area he forced Ruddy into some wonderful acrobatics to parry the ball away from danger. However, Oxford fought back and two minutes later the visitors had taken that elusive lead. John Ruddy could only parry Adam Griffin?s strike into the path of Steve Basham who had the easiest of tasks, sidefooting the ball home from close range.

With just ten minutes remaining, Chester City made another substitution bringing on Abdou El Kholti for the tired legs of Carl Regan. Stewart Drummond almost rescued a point with a powerful header four minutes from time, but goalkeeper Chris Tardiff pulled off a wonder save to keep his side ahead. Davies hit the wall with a later free kick as City threw Phil Bolland on at the expense of Scott McNiven for a last minute throw of the dice. In stoppage time City earned another free kick, but Drummond was unable to take advantage, heading well over the crossbar to end another fruitless afternoon for the Blues

Full Time: Chester City 0 Oxford United 1