Blundell rues his miss as cross-border derby ends in stalemate.

Byline: NEIL TURNER 

Wrexham................. 0 Chester City.............. 0 HONOURS were even in yesterday's frenetic crossborder derby match at the Racecourse Ground - but City's veteran striker Gregg Blundell will be kicking himself for missing a first-half sitter.

The chance came just before the half-hour mark. Neil Ashton crossed a delightful ball from the left flank to the far post. The ball eluded Chris Maxwell in the home side's goal, but Blundell conspired to scoop it wide from six yards.

City started the game in much brighter fashion than their opponents. Nick Chadwick had the ball in the Wrexham net after just 40 seconds, but it was ruled out for a foul on Maxwell.

The Robins' keeper made an excellent save after nine minutes, pushing a goalbound Blundell header around the post for a corner.

City were forced to make a change after 20 minutes when young central defender Chris Lynch went down clutching his knee following a challenge from Taylor.

The Burnley loanee will undergo a scan later today, to investigate the extent of the damage.

Wrexham were rarely seen as an attacking force in the first period.

The match as a spectacle rarely rose above the ordinary in the second period. There was an intensity from both sides; however, precious little creative football.

Wrexham were reduced to trying long range efforts which rarely troubled City keeper John Danby, with City's best chance falling to substitute Glenn Rule who brought out a save from Maxwell.

Following the match, City manager Mick Wadsworth agreed that it was a good point for his side and possibly could have been better.

He said: "If anything, I thought we had the better chances, particularly in the first half.

"Maxwell brought out an excellent save from Gregg's header and there was the other close range miss. Gregg has apologised for his miss in the dressing room, but I am afraid it was just one of those things."

Wadsworth added: "We held them well when they did threaten and I don't think John Danby had a real save to make. The lads are becoming extremely hard to beat, which is excellent."

Wadsworth added: "Our supporters were first class today. They got behind the lads and that does give the players tremendous encouragement." WREXHAM: Maxwell, Obeng, Assoumani, M Jones (Sakho 80), Williams, N Taylor, Sinclair, Spann, Fleming, G Taylor, Smith. Subs: Mike Williams, Taboubi, Cieslewicz, Baynes. CHESTER CITY: Danby, Roberts, Lynch (Kelly 22), Ryan, Lea. Wilkinson, Kay (Rule 65), Keltie, Ashton, Chadwick, Blundell (Ellams 85). Subs: Murphy, Meynell.

REFEREE: M A Naylor (Staffordshire).