Once again Chester started with the best of the possession and chances in the first 20 minutes in stark contrast to the slow starts of last season.   Carden played a long ball forward to Gill in the third and although he was dispossessed in the box it was a warning signal to Tamworth of what was to come.  Heard made a good run down the right and although he lost the ball he showed commitment and determination in trying to retrieve it.   Minutes later Rapley played an excellent one-two with Gill to create an excellent opportunity for Harris whose powerful shot, although wide of the post, would not have been stopped had it been on target.

After a brisk start from Chester there was a brief ten minute lull before the onslaught began again.  In the 27th minute Ralpey made an excellent run which only ended when he was brought down on the edge of the box.  McIntyres free kick was not on target though and went behind for a goal kick.  Heard had a header over the bar a few minutes later.  On 40 McIntyre and Davies played out a good set piece from a free kick which gave Davies a great scoring chance but again the shot missed the target.

Tamworth were awarded a free kick a few minutes before the break but fortunately for the blues their dominance was not to be denied by the half time scoreline and Cooper's shot was blocked by the defensive wall.

So the sides went in 0-0 at half time but with Chester having dominated most of the half. A promising start but too many shots both from open play and from free kicks were off target and kept Tamworth's hopes alive of stealing the point they were clearly playing for.

Chester made one half time substitution with Ian Foster replacing Andy Harris.  Foster moved up front to give the team a 3-4-3 formation.

4 minutes later and Tamworth goalkeeper Philip Whitehead was picking the ball out of the back of the net.  A corner from Kevin McIntyre was initially saved by the keeper but it was Carl Ruffer who was there to knock the ball home from 10 yards on the rebound.  The blues were deservedly in the lead.

Foster was making his mark on the game with a combination of long runs and twisting runs on the left hand side and on one of these runs when he was eventually intercepted the passback to Whitehead in the Tamworth goal almost had him beaten. 

Chester's fitness levels gave them more and more of an advantage as the game progressed. Heard continuted to make good runs down the right. McIntyre and Rapley in the 70th won a corner from a good move down the left.  More importantly they look to be working well together and this bodes well for the rest of the season. 

As time wore on Tamworth's forays forwards although never really threatening, did become more and more worrying due to the slender nature of Chester's one goal lead. 

They won a corner in the 79th when McIntyre decided to put the ball behind rather than attempt a clearance under pressure but Cooper's corner was quickly cleared out towards the half way line.  A minute later Tamowrth were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position and as blues fans held their breath McGregor's effort went harmlessly into the defensive wall.

Chester's game was getting scrappy in the dying minutes.  Foster did make another excellent run down the left and Rapley won a corner when his shot at goal was deflected but it was still a nailbiting finale as the referee added on over 6 minutes in injury time.  McGregor was sent dismissed from the field of play right on 90 minutes as a card happy referee showed him his second yellow of the game.  Chester resorted to using their two remaining substitutes to use up some time with Beesley coming on for Rapley and then Brodie coming on for Gill to a rapturous welcome from the Deva faithful.  It was with some releif then when the final whistle went to secure three points for the blues in their quest for promotion.  Deva TXT man of the match award goes to Ben Davies for his efforts in winning the ball consistently and making good opening runs forwards with it.

So although three points are safely in the bag and the new faces all gave good accounts of themselves there is still some way to go to build a side that can contend for the title.  Chester should have demolished Tamowrth but have to settle instead for a slender 1-0 victory which looked under threat in the dying minutes.  There is something still missing, the killer touch that could be the difference between the championship and the playoff lottery.  Can this develop as the new players gel into the side? Only time will tell.  We have an interesting season ahead of us. Stay tuned.