Skrill Premier side Chester FC hold the Alex to a draw

Chester FC 1-1 Crewe Alex

Crewe Alex: Shearer, Tootle (Molyneux, 75), Ray (Ng, 68), Dugdale, Guthrie, Grant, Atkinson (Nolan, 75), Turton, Pogba (Johnston, 79), Inman (Waters, 68), Lancaster (Saunders, 61).
Unused Subs: Garratt, Oliver.
Goals: Atkinson, 28
Attendance: 1,134

Chester FC held Crewe Alexandra to a second successive pre-season 1-1 draw after John Rooney cancelled out Alex trialist Chris Atkinson’s first half strike.

Steve Davis put out a strong-looking Crewe Alexandra side that included two trialists for the pre-season clash at the Deva Stadium – 11 changes from the side that started in the draw at Leek Town.

The Alex had a golden chance to opening the scoring in just the fifth minute when returning captain Matt Tootle was fed in one-on-one, but he placed his effort into the side-netting.

Chester began to settle after that miss and it was they who could, and should, have opened the scoring on 24 minutes. Ex Burnley and Wolves man Chris Iwelumo faced echoes of his horror miss for Scotland in Euro Championship qualifying action all those years ago as he skied a low cross over the bar from three yards.

Three minutes later, Jamie Menagh had another opportunity for the hosts, cutting inside before curling an effort from the edge of the box that skimmed Scott Shearer’s crossbar.

Against the run of play, and just a minute later, the Alex broke the deadlock. Tootle was fed down the right and got the by-line before cutting back for trialist Atkinson to race in and coolly slot home from ten-yards.

The Railwaymen controlled the remainder of the opening half and set about their business with purpose in the second half also, Brad Inman seeing his shot blocked after a neat interchange with Anthony Grant on 55 minutes.

Wayne Rooney’s kid brother John levelled things up ten minutes later. He received a short corner and preceded to whip in a dangerous cross-shot that bamboozled Shearer as it flew into the top corner.

A glut of changes killed the tempo of the game as both sides settled for a draw in what will prove to be a good pre-season workout for both sides, but Callum Saunders did waste a golden opportunity to win it for the Alex in the final minutes when he raced through, rounded the keeper, but could only steer his shot into the side-netting.