STRIKER Iwan Roberts provided the killer blow as Huddersfield Town made hard work of sealing the points with a 2-1 win at ‘homeless’ Chester City.
The Seals were in the midst of a move from their traditional Sealand Road ground to the new Deva Stadium and a crowd of just 1,540 watched the third division clash at Macclesfield Town’s Moss Rose ground.
City boss Harry McNally’s men, who were to narrowly survive a relegation fight at the end of the 1990-91 campaign, made a strong start and took the lead through a Barry Butler header from a Graham Abel cross.
However, Chester lost their skipper Graham Barrow through injury on 26 minutes and Town steadily worked their way back into the contest.
They were level by half-time when youth team product Kevin Donovan, making only his second League appearance, found the net when he fired in a shot following a corner.
However, it was not until three minutes from time that the Welsh international Roberts rose to conquer as he powered home a header after Simon Charlton had found substitute Keith Edwards who released Mark Smith who supplied the perfect cross.
“We knew things had to change sooner or later and it was a brilliant feeling to get the winner, although those last few minutes seemed to take a lifetime,” said Roberts.
Chester City: Stewart, Preece, Pugh, Butler, Abel, Lane, Bennett, Barrow (Reeves 26 mins), Ellis (Lightfoot 70 mins), Dale Croft.
Town: Hardwick, Wilson, Charlton, Donovan (Edwards 77 mins), Mitchell, Jackson, O’Regan, Barnett, Roberts, Smith, Onuora. Subs not used: Withe.
Referee: Keren Barratt (Coventry)
Attendance: 1,540
