Full time Saturday February 24th (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Full time Saturday February 24th

6:15pm Saturday 24th February 2007 in Football By Dave Wallis

Match report from Swindon Town

Coca Cola League Two

Fulltime Swindon Town 1 Chester City 0

Town skipper Ady Williams was ruled out pending knee surgery with Jamie Vincent deputising both in the centre of defence and also with the captain's armband. Ricky Shakes failed to make the squad after suffering an ankle knock in the midweek defeat at Barnet.

Chester manager Mark Wright welcomed back Jamie Hand after a two-match suspension, but defender Ashley Westwood lost a battle with a hamstring pull. Laurence Wilson won his own fight against an ankle knock to be named amongst City's substitutes.

The game sparked into life in the seventh minute when an excellent ball from the right found Sturrock unmarked, but his header was parried by Danby. As Jutkiewicz followed up, his attempt was handled by Atrell and referee Lee pointed to the spot.

Jack Smith stepped up to drill the ball into the bottom left hand corner as the keeper dived right to give Town the lead.

Clearly inspired and looking to increase his contribution to the score sheet, seven minutes later the ball was played across Chester's box by Timlin where Smith crashed a 25-yard drive directly into the palms of Danby.

Then a good turn and cross by Sturrock was glanced wide by Pook as Town's early dominance continued to keep the ball in the opposition's half.

A great run and ball from Roberts forced a good save from Jutkiewicz low to Danby's left on 27 minutes, but the first real danger for Town came in the 33rd minute when a cross from Sandwith was allowed to drift all the way across goal and past the far post with neither side able to apply a touch.

With three minutes of the half remaining Roberts, who was frustrating the crowd as so often, cantered down the right and fired in a cross that Zaaboub headed powerfully over from six yards.

The half was into stoppage time when a corner found Nicholas whose shot was blocked, and Vincent's follow up was well turned away by Danby under the bar.

Halftime Swindon Town 1 Chester City 0

As soon as the second half started a Roberts' corner was flapped at by Danby before Ifil's shot was cleared off the line by Artell, then Jutkiewicz ran through the middle of the park and saw his 20 yard shot parried by the visiting keeper.

The a great knockdown from Jutkiewicz released Zaaboub whose pass found Roberts. His shot almost beheaded a City central defender as Swindon continued to push for the all important second goal.

Sturrock was causing Artell all sorts of problems and forcing the big defender to commit a series of niggly fouls, and the match entered it's final quarter without Town keeper Smith having to make a save so far.

A long throw from Phil Smith brought Sturrock running through the middle. His ball to Jutkiewicz brought a shot wide of Danby's right hand post, then Jutkiewicz caused confusion with a cross into the box which was smothered by Danby at the feet of one of his own defenders.

With ten minutes to go Town began to surrender the midfield possession as Chester City forced the game to Town for the first time.

With two minutes to go Weston ran the entire length of the pitch and was hauled down by Holroyd who collected a yellow card. From the free-kick, Brown, on for Roberts minutes earlier, fired well over.

A horrendous mistake from Ifil looked to allow a Chester player a run direct at goal but a magnificent tackle from Ifil again rectified the situation and redeemed the big defender..

A Jack Smith free kick was wasted on the edge of the box well into four minutes of added time, but Town had collected all three points and hoisted Town back into the automatic promotion places.

Swindon Town: Phil Smith, Jack Smith, Jamie Vincent, Sofiene Zaaboub (Weston 77 mins), Jerel Ifil, Christian Roberts (Brown 86 mins), Andy Nicholas, Michael Pook (Noubissie 88 mins), Lukus Jutkiewicz, Blair Sturrock, Michael Timlin. Subs: Jon Stewart, Aaron Brown, Patrick Noubissie, Curtis Weston, Luke Hopper.

Chester City: John Danby, Simon Marples (Hessey 49 mins), Kevin Sandwith, Phil Bolland (Y 58 mins), Jamie Hand, Simon Yeo, Alex Meechan (Holroyd 79 mins Y 88 mins), Dean Bennett (Wilson 70 mins), Paul Linwood (Y 10 mins), Dave Artell, Alan Kearney Subs: Phil Palethorpe, Sean Hessey, Glenn Cronin, Laurence Wilson, Chris Holroyd.

Attendance : 5,462