In the second minute Dave Morley shot wide right from about 20 yards in an early attacking move.

In the twelfth minute Michael McIndoe played a 1-2 with Paul Barnes in the left channel before shooting across the goal line.  The shot trundled right across the face of goal and just missed going in at the right hand post.

Two minutes later it was Doncaster again with McIndoe breaking clear through the Chester defence giving him a one on one shot at goal with just Wayne Brown to beat. However his shot was just wide right of the target and went out for a goal kick.

Chester's first real chance came in the 21st minute when they won their first corner of the game. Jon Brady took the corner and played it high across the goal to the far post where Scott Guyett met it with a header but he was off target and the ball went behind for a goal kick.

The highlight of the first half came in the 27th minute when the club used the opportunity of a poorly attended game to perform the annual statutory 'Operation Eccleston' routine. This emergency evacuation drill involves the stewards going to the exit gates, opening them, then closing them a few minutes later when instructed by Cleggy, much to the amusement of the Doncaster fans.

Robert Gill had a chance to give Doncaster the lead in the 35th minute with a shot right in front of goal but in a crowded area he could only slice it wide left.

Chester won a handful of corners a few minutes before the break but could not make anything of them.  They were however picking up the pace at this point and Rapley had a good chance with a Foster assist just before the break but his shot was wide right of the target. So 0-0 at half time with the game being played at a relaxed pace.

In the second half Kevin Rapley and Ian Foster joined forces to make a good attacking run down the right which ended with Kevin's shot at goal going just inches over the crossbar from about 10 yards out.

Foster made a good run down the right hand side in the 59th after beating Mark Albrighton. He played the ball inside to Kevin Rapley who was waiting in the goal area but his shot was straight at the keeper.

Doncaster then took the lead in the 61st minute with a goal that took everyone by surprise. It was Francis Tierney who scored it,  beating Scott Guyett amongst others and from about 16 yards out played a right footed volley into the top right hand corner of the net.

Mark Beesley came on in place of Ian Foster in the 68th minute.  Then in the 76th minute Michael Twiss blasted the ball over from about 16 yards out after receiving a good ball from Kevin Rapley.

With ten minutes remaining Chester gave two of the youth side a run out in the first team with Dean Buckley replacing Michael Twiss and Pete Dugan replacing Sean Carey. Dugan's debut in the first team was not to be a happy one however as he was shown a straight red about 7 minutes later for a poor two footed challenge.

At the start of injury time Deva TXT man of the match Kevin Rapley had a great chance to force the game into extra time.   Fortunately for the 1141 fans present in the stadium he sliced the ball wide left from about the 18 yard line to let Donny have their victory. Chester can now concentrate on the league at least until 25th October,  beginning of course on Saturday with the crucial 6 pointer against Hereford.  We'll see you there.