City 2 Chester 1

When a team who can't stop winning meet another who can't buy one for love nor money, there's only going to be one outcome.

And that's why football is such a "funny old game".

Chester came to Valley Parade boasting the best away record in the country. Even Arsenal haven't got as many points on the road as this lot.

City, by contrast, had picked up only two points from their last 24. No wonder Stuart McCall described a home win as a real "coupon buster".

McCall had promised changes after the Brentford loss in his latest bid to rediscover the winning formula. And the teamsheet showed that he meant business.

Out went defensive mainstay Mark Bower, missing his first league game since being suspended at Chesterfield in January 2006. Barry Conlon was also benched after spurning a string of chances on Saturday.

Peter Thorne returned as the lone striker backed up by a five-man diamond midfield, with Omar Daley and Nicky Law under orders to push forward and support at every opportunity.

Only one player in City's starting line-up, Eddie Johnson, had scored a league goal this season.

But the home side nearly found themselves chasing another game after just four minutes. Donovan Ricketts punched a corner only as far as Chris Holroyd, whose shot was blocked in front of the line by Darren Williams.

It was a close scare and there was another as Mark Hughes flashed a volley across goal. But City were up for the challenge themselves and Daley so nearly wriggled his way through in the Chester box.

Then came another typical moment in City's season. Johnson was clumsily tripped by Tony Dinning to gift them a penalty and with both previous takers on the bench, Law assumed the responsibility.

But the youngster, who has just agreed to double his loan, got neither enough power nor direction to his spot-kick and John Danby blocked easily.

Once again McCall looked to the heavens as another great chance had been spurned.

City's chins stayed up, though, which must have encouraged the manager, and the busy Johnson and Thorne both tried their luck with headers while good approach work created an opening for Law, who drilled low at the keeper.

Chester looked quick on the break, as you'd expect with their away form, but City continued to ask all the questions.

And finally, the breakthrough arrived nine minutes before the break with a wonderful goal from Daley.

Johnson's tigerish play won possession in midfield, shaking off a foul as referee Andy Hall waved play on. Nix created space with a bustling run down the middle and Daley cut in to apply the coup de grace with an unstoppable drive that crashed in off a post.

Valley Parade came alive with a mixture of joy and relief. It was only the third time the home fans had seen their team score first.

Chants of "Stuart" boomed around the ground and the gaffer responded with a wave but he knew the job was not even half done against a side unbeaten on their travels.

It had been City's half without a doubt, though, and the whistle was greeted with a rousing reception from the crowd.

Chester, who had already lost right winger Richie Partridge to an early knock, made their second change for the second half as the ineffective John Murphy made way up front for Kevin Roberts.

And the visitors were thrown an immediate lifeline by the referee when he ruled that Ellison's shirt was pulled back by Matt Clarke just inside the area.

Dinning, who had scored their spot-kick winner at Lincoln last week, stepped up to make amends for conceding City's early penalty. But his kick was brilliantly turned against the bar by the diving Ricketts and Daley's head completed the clearance.

Daley, whose all-round enthusiasm summed up City's general play, was straight back up the other end to force a free-kick. And they were agonisingly close to a second goal with both Clarke and Thorne unable to convert from the ensuing scramble in the packed goalmouth.

You could feel the tension in the air as Chester started to push forward more often and probe at the Bantams' backline. The electronic clock beside the TL Dallas Stand seemed to be on a go slow.

Right back Simon Marples was raiding upfield with increasing regularity and linked well with Rutherford to set up Roberts for a fizzing effort. City were being pushed deeper by the marauding sky blues, inviting pressure, and there was a frustrated edge to the atmosphere.

Ricketts bravely took a cross and received a thunderous cheer. He also needed treatment along with Wetherall as the pair collided painfully.

Before play could resume, McCall threw on Rhodes for Evans, who was starting to tread on thin ice after being booked. Rhodes adopted his usual left-wing role with Nix moving more central.

City made a second switch with 13 minutes left. Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu had not been passed fit enough to start but he came on for Thorne with City in need of some attacking impetus.

The Congolese striker delivered a dangerous right-wing cross within seconds but Nix was given offside and then got himself a silly booking for grappling for the ball with Danby.

Daley engineered enough room to whip in another inviting ball from the right flank. It whizzed across the danger-zone with Rhodes not quick enough to react at the far post.

But it was good to see City back on the front foot as time ticked away and Wetherall could have got more on a header from a rare home corner.

That did not matter as Rhodes put the cap on a vital victory with a solo finish in the final minute of normal time.

Chester protested bitterly that the winger had run the ball out of play as he picked it up right in front of their dug-out on the left touchline. As Marples paused to argue, Rhodes galloped on unhindered before drilling an angled shot past the helpless Danby.

The visitors had four minutes of stoppage time to save themselves - and pulled one back in the first of those as Daley was punished for a bout of showboating.

He gave the ball away and Dinning's cross was knocked back across goal by Paul Linwood for Ellison to nod home from two yards out.

That spoiled the clean sheet but not the City party. Ain't football great...

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