There was danger though a few minutes later and Scott Guyett had to make a great tackle to prevent a goal scoring chance from Stanley.

In the twelfth minute a Jon Brady cross came into the box looking for Darryn Stamp.  His header was parried away by the keeper but came out to Ben Davies who shot narrowly over from about 15 yards.

Chester won a corner in the 13th minute taken by McIntyre but it was smothered by the keeper after he initially failed to hold it.

The Blues had started brightly and a goal was not long in coming.  Stamp and Brady were involved in some moves through the middle before Brady played the ball to Ben Davies who headed it home from 12 yards out in the 19th minute.

They could have been 2 goals up almost from the restart when McIntyre played the ball through to Darryn Stamp who shot just over.

With the Chester defence not looking as solid as normal with both Bolland and Ruffer both sidelined with injuries it was almost inevitable that Accrington would get a goal at some point in the proceedings.  Their first came in the 21st minute when Paul Cook sent a 25 yard shot towards goal. It took a wicked deflection on it's way to give Wayne Brown no chance.

Accrington had another crack at goal in the 29th when Rory Prendergast sent a long volley in but it was saved easily by Wayne Brown at the post.

In the 36th Chester really should have retaken the lead when a good move started with a run by Jon Brady down the right hand side.  He played the ball inside to Ben Davies who played it back to Daryl Clare at the edge of the six yard box, but his first time shot hit the right hand upright.

Chester had another corner in the 38th minute which was played by McIntyre to just beyond the far post.  Scott Guyett headed it towards goal but the goalkeeper was on hand to save fairly easily.

The blues retook the lead in the 39th minute. Kevin McIntyre made a good run down the left and played it inside to Daryl Clare who knocked it home past a defender and the stranded Kennedy in the Accrington goal.

They made it three just before the break and again it was Daryl Clare from about 5 yards out from a Brady cross after was initially parried away.

So a good attacking first half from the blues but the defence did not look as solid as normal with both Ruffer and Bolland sidelined with injury. Indeed they looked static at times as Accrington came forwards, but with the blues 3-1 up at half time surely even Mark Wright can forgive them. (Oh for the wisdom of hindsight when that last sentence was penned).

The second half started slowly and it was not until the 55th minute that there was any noteworthy action.  Alex Smith won a corner at the far post which was taken by Ben Davies and ended up going out for a goal kick after crossing across the face of goal.

Smith played a long ball across the centre of midfield in the 58th minute to send McIntyre on a breakaway run down the left.  He played the ball into the box but it was just too far in front of Davies who was making a charging run into the box to meet it.

In the 61st Darryn Stamp found himself in possession on the left with the keeper advancing off his line. He went for the lob which was definitely on target but the goalkeeper managed to back pedal in time to save it almost on the goal line.

The Chester defence were definitely a lot less structured than normal and Accrington's second goal came in the 63rd minute when a cross from Rory Prendergast found Lutel James unmarked at the far past and with an easy volley from six yards to knock the ball home and reduce the deficit to one goal.

Chester had three corners in the space of a minute around the 70 minute mark. Davies played the first one across to Brady whose shot was deflected for the second. This was taken by McIntyre but the goalkeeper got to it first and punched it behind for a third. Mcintyre played this to the near post where it was cleared away from danger.

They had another corner on 75 minutes which Ben Davies played to the centre of goal where it was parried away by the keeper.  After much goalmouth action Darryn Stamp eventually got a shot in but this was cleared of the line by Kennedy.

However it was Accrington who equalised in the 81st minute through Rory Prendergast with a close range header after being set up by Paul Mullin.  They could have had a winner in the 88th minute after being awarded a free kick in front of goal. After a two player dummy it was struck by Cavanagh towards the bottom right hand corner but Brown was there to save it on the goal line.

Chester made some late substitutions with Foster and Rapley replacing Clare and Stamp to completely replace the blues front line. 

Chester won another brace of corners in injury time but the defence were not their usual selves tonight with both Ruffer and Bolland absent and this ended up costing Chester their lead.  3-3 it ends then and a share of the points.