DEFENCES ON TOP AS HONOURS ARE EVEN
IN the words of the well worn Hacks cliché, “a draw was a fair result”, for this match that rarely rose above the ordinary.
However, Chester could have nicked all three points late on when Halifax goalkeeper Sam Johnson made a trio of top drawer saves to deny substitutes James Akintunde and Jordan Chapell.
Both managers were in agreement that a share of the spoils was the best outcome,
Chester boss Jon McCarthy reflected: “It was a good point but you want to win at home.
“We are now unbeaten in two games which is pleasing.
“We were organised and disciplined and hopefully people can see the work we have done.”
McCarthy continued: “We would have liked to be a bit more incisive and more exciting in our forward play, but it didn’t quite come off for us today.
“We have created a solid base with our two performances this season, and that gives us a great platform to build on.”
Halifax manager Billy Heath added: “Any point in this league is a good point. I thought we played well in the first half, and then it became a bit scrappy in the second period.
“In fairness, a point apiece is a fair result, and either side could have nicked it towards the end, we had a couple of chances as did they.”
Ross Hannah squandered a couple of chances for the home side early on – the best coming on after quarter of an hour when the striker took advantage of a mistake by Michael Duckworth but his effort from the edge of the area went just wide. Conor Mitchell made an excellent save to deny Matt Kosylo, pushing the midfielder’s rasping effort away for a corner. In the second period, Halifax started the better and were unlucky when an angled effort from substitute Josh McDonald grazed the Chester crossbar before being cleared to safety by Chester’s Ryan Astles. But in the dying embers, Johnson in the visitors’ goal became the busiest man on the park. On 87 minutes, he smothered an effort from the edge of the area from Chapell, then made a stunning save, pushing a goalbound close range effort from Akintunde away for a corner. In added time the keeper continue his heroics parrying another angled effort from Chapell, Hannah just failing to make contact with the loose ball.