Not exactly the best of performances as Chester City made life difficult for themselves on Saturday afternoon against a team who have made an indifferent start to the new Nationwide Conference campaign. The Blues got off to a flyer early on, something they struggled to achieve last season, and nearly took the lead as early on as the 3rd minute. Chester born Carl Ruffer despatched a powerful diving header goalwards from a McIntyre free kick down the left flank. Fortunately for Rovers, goalkeeper Perrin was able to block the shot on his own goal line.

City continued to pile on the pressure but seemed to be lacking in confidence in the final third of the field. The outstanding Ben Davies had a brace of chances, the first when he made a charge down the right, unleashing a shot into the side netting from 18 yards out. On 26 minutes Wayne Hatswell connected with a corner kick at the far post sending his header agonisingly close to the crossbar.

By this time Chester were well on top having taken complete control of the game. Ben Davies fired in a shot on the half hour mark just outside the area the brought a fine save from keeper Perrin.

On 33 Jimmi Lee-Jones provided brief respite for his defensive colleagues when he broke free from the defence on a number of occassions, but failed to beat Wayne Brown. Former player Joe Jakub summed up city's first half perfomance from the Press Box. "We would have had a couple by now ten years go!"

The second half was a similar story with plenty of possession and opportunities falling our way. Jamie Heard hit the side netting on 48 minutes followed momentarilly by a close range shot from Kevin Rapley. The corners kept flooding in but the Blues still found life difficult to penetrate rather bland opponents.

Mark Wright brought Michael Twiss on for Carey on the hour mark and a change of formation soon followed. However City lacked creativity in the box and missed the presence of a big target man like Daryl Clare. Meanwhile Forest Green Rovers offered very little in form of attack and creativity, giving one the impression they would be happy with a goal less draw.

Twenty minutes from time and Mark Wright gave in to the chants from the home terrace and brought on a new strike force of Brodie and Foster for Gill and Rapley.

Sadly the frustration continued as City lacked ideas up front. On 74 minutes Michael Twiss was brought down just outside the area. The ensuing free kick only managed to find the side netting and from then onwards Chester City seemed to step off the gas seeming content with a point.

Brodie was more energetic than a duracell battery and his persistence paid off in the dying stages of added time. He laid off for Ben Davies at the far post and he made no mistake to put the Blues into a well deserved lead.