Chester came up field straight from the kickoff and Foster put in a cross, or maybe it was a shot at goal it was hard to tell.  The ball went behind for a goal kick in either case.

In the third minute McIntyre won Chester's first corner of the game but it was cleared easily without any danger.

The promising start was not to last though as the game descended into a midfield scrap for a large part of the first half. On the 14th Collins played a good long ball to Foster, bypassing the midfield completely, but Fosters cross was poor and missed everyone to go behind for a goal kick.

A minute later Carden blasted the ball over the goal after Stamp had played the ball straight to his feet with a well placed header.

Gravesend had a free kick near goal just after the half hour mark but it was easily cleared from danger by McIntyre.  Immediately at the other end though the ball was played into the box. O'Reilly in the Gravesend goal came out for it but fluffed it completely and the ball landed behind him facing an empty goal without a Gravesend defender in sight.  Darryn Stamp must have thought Christmas had come early as he scored the easiest goal of his career uncontested into an empty net in the 33rd minute!

Four minutes later and in an action replay of his goal on Tuesday, Phil Bolland found himself on the end of a McIntyre corner that had been played high across the goal. Again there was no interception of his header and it went straight into the back of the net. 2-0 Chester.

Gravesend did have the opportunity to claw one back 3 minutes before the interval when they were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position in front of goal. Fortunately it went straight into the Chester wall.

Just before the whistle Ben Davies made a great interception at the back and made a great solo breakaway run with the ball through the centre of the field.  He played the ball through to Heard but he was quickly dispossessed. 

So Chester went in 2-0 up at half time but without really challenging too much.  One goal from a goalkeeping error and one from a corner against a sleepy defence in a half dominated by midfield scrapping.

Into the second half then and Foster shot directed low towards goal was deflected for a corner.  The corner itself came to nothing.  Gravesend were shooting towards their own fans in the second half which gave them a bit of extra impetus.

On the 49th minute a shot by Pat Gradley at goal was intercepted well by Wayne Brown after some slack defending.

Two minutes later and McLements made a great run down the right for the home side but  his cross into the box was poor and went behind for a goal kick.

Gravesend won a free kick just after the hour mark in front of goal but as the Chester wall stood ready for action Ben Abbey's shot flew harmlessly above and to the right of goal.

With 15 minutes of normal time left to play Gravesend then had what was their best chance of the game. Ben Abbey again was in action and after beating Wayne Hatswell found Wayne Brown off his line.  Fortunately for Chester though his shot was off target despite the lack of power behind it and it trundled harmlessly wide of the post.

Chester had been sitting back on their 2 goal lead in the second half but with 12 minutes left to play this was suddenly to change after Chester had used up all their substitutions. And boy was one Michael Twiss to prove to be the most decisive of these.

Firstly on the 78th minute he made a breaking run down the left after receiving the ball from Ben Davies. Once again the Gravesend defence were slow to regroup giving Twiss a shot at goal but with the goalkeeper still to beat his shot frustratingly hit the upright to deny him his first shot at glory.  Never mind eh Twissy there was to be more to come.

Five minutes from time Gravesend did have one final chance from a corner which was easily cleared by Phil Bolland.  Then, just as Glaxo Smithkline reps were turning up after hearing about a miracle cure for insomnia, Chester suddenly came to life.

First, Chester won a corner taken by Brady which was knocked behind to give them a second bite at the cherry. McIntyre it was second time around and the ball eventually came to Danny Collins but his header was easily saved by the keeper.  Foster then won another corner after a speculative long shot at goal from deep in the left hand channel. The resulting corner by McIntyre went straight to the keeper, but this sudden desire to surge forwards by Chester was to pay dividends moment later as the game headed towards stoppage time.

In the final minute of normal time McIntyre gave the ball to Foster who made another long run down the left hand side.  He in turn played the ball inside to Michael Twiss who slotted it home past a static Gravesend keeper. 3-0 and the fourth official indicating 5 minutes of stoppage time.  Time for a fourth? You bet!

The fourth goal was a solo effort from Michael Twiss.  He made a long run down the right and with no defender in sight once more casually knocked the ball past the hapless O'Reilly.

There could have been a fifth as Foster once again made a run down the middle and beat Skinner on the edge of the box only to see his shot saved by the Gravesend keeper.

So Chester ran out eventual 4-0 winners but this was not a showpiece performance by any means. Gravesend were extremely poor defensively getting caught on the break every time.  This could indeed have been a rout if Chester had been awake but at the end of the day this was a job well done and another valuable three points in the bag against a poorer side.  More of the same next week, but if you are making the journey to Dover, remember to pack the Pro-Plus.