Chester started brightly as the game began with Smith and Clare linking up well down the left forcing an early save from Paul Wilkerson.

They kept the pressure on winning a corner in the 6th minute as Smith battled for the ball.  The ball came crossing in from Smith and with many Chester fans appealing for a hand ball another corner was awarded this time at the far side.

It was played short this time to Michael Twiss who blasted the ball high over the roof of the North Terrace.

Chester kept piling on the pressure with most of the possession but again lacking early potency in the final third of the field. Wilkerson at one stage looked to have handled the ball outside the area but the referee was hearing none of it.

A few minutes later in the 14th minute Chester were awarded a free kick in front of goal.  Alex Smith took it and managed to curl it on target around the defensive wall but it went straight into the arms of Paul Wilkerson.

Gravesend won their first corner of the game in the 16th minute when a free kick was cleared behind by the Chester defence.  This resulted in another corner which was cleared away from the Chester goal area by Shaun Carey.

Gravesend's tactics were becoming clear at this point. Offside trap. This culminated in a controversial decision in the 19th when Clare appeared to time his run well, but after Matt Lee of Gravesend put his hand in the air the far side linesman dutifully responded by raising his flag.

It was with some relief then against these frustrating tactics that Chester took the lead in the 23rd minute.  Carl Regan played a long ball to Darryn Stamp.  He in turn headed it across the goal towards Daryl Clare who headed it home from 6 yards out.

Chester won another corner in the 28th minute which Smith played across the box at head height. Chris Moore handled the ball as it left the far side of the six yard box and the referee had no option but to point to the penalty spot.

Daryl Clare stepped up to take it and after his miss on New Year's day at Leigh made no mistake this time. The penalty was a powerful one blasted low into the bottom right hand corner of the net giving Wilkerson no chance. 2-0 to the Blues.

Gravesend then won another brace of corners in the 37th minute, but could make nothing of them and the referee blew for a free kick to Chester as the second corner came into the box.

In their first real spell of the game they won a free kick midway inside Chester's half in the 41st minute but as the ball was played to the far post with two Gravesend strikers in attendance McCaldon managed to get to it in time.

Chester could have made it three at the other end only moments later with Ruffer laying on a good ball for Michael Twiss who blasted the ball over the bar.

So a good first half from Chester and nice to see Daryl scoring confidently from the spot and hopefully on his way to another hat trick. 2-0 at half time.

Daryl Clare made a great breakaway run in the 49th minute courtesy of a pass from Darryn Stamp, and he played the ball across to Carden at the far post. He played it back into the box where it was put behind for a corner. From the corner the referee blew for an infringement, but what a great piece of teamwork this was.

Gravesend won another corner in the 57th minute which Lee Protheroe played to the far post but it was cleared away from danger.

At the other end Darryn Stamp had an excellent chance with a header in the 58th after receiving a good ball from Scott Guyett but the ball went just past the right hand post.

Michael Twiss played a good one two with Clare moments later but Twiss played the ball too far in front of himself as he brought it down and the goalkeeper intercepted it but another great chance and Chester really turning the screw.

It was against the run of play then that Chris Moore scored a cracking goal from close range in the 68th minute.  He managed to run into an unmarked position to receive a long free kick from the left hand touch line and made no mistake directing it into the back of the net with a header.

Worse was to follow only three minutes later. Protheroe played another Gravesend free kick to the far post where a quick goalmouth scramble took place ending with Chris Moore again knocking it in from close range.

As the Blues looked shaky for the first time in the game Dennis Oli came close to giving Gravesend the lead with his header just going wide of the left hand post.

Chester were awarded a free kick near the corner flag in the 78th which Smith played across to the far post. It was cleared but only as far as Sean Carey, but he could only manage an off target shot over the crossbar.

In the 85th minute Darryn Stamp managed to break the offside trap to find himself alone with only the keeper to beat but his shot agonisingly came back off the left hand upright.

Mark Wright then made a bizarre triple substitution with 4 minutes remaining.  Bolland replaced Smith, Davies replaced Carey and Rapley replaced Stamp.

It was too little too late though and Chester had to make do with a share of the points after dominating the first three quarters of the game. Deva TXT man of the match award goes to Daryl Clare.