An entertaining game finished in atrocious conditions and late drama as Chester clung on to a valuable away point leaving Brackley frustrated at not seizing the win and moving top as leaders Darlington faltered.

“After the opening 15 minutes I felt there was only one team in it,” Brackley manager Roger Johnson said. “It was a very good performance but the disappointment is not turning these performances into wins. We have to be more clinical. We scored an excellent goal but then we had to go on and win the game.”

“It’s a great point for us,” Chester boss Calum McIntyre said. “It’s a tough place to come and we knew we’d have to play well. We did that in the opening 25 minutes and had some good moments but didn’t do enough with them.”

Chester went ahead with their only chance of note in the first half, Kurt Willoughby finishing well put through on goal by Danny Devine on 7 minutes as the home side conceded possession in midfield.

But Brackley fought back and finished the half on top having failed to convert a number of fine chances. The equaliser came closest when Shep Murombedzi’s fierce effort came back off the under-side of the cross-bar, Callum Stead’s mazy run into the penalty area saw his shot blocked by a lunging tackle and Riccardo Calder slashed wildly at his chance with the goal beckoning, set up neatly by Stead.

Brackley continued on the front foot after the break and the reward came on 53 minutes. An interchange with Adam Rooney set Stead on his way 40 yards from goal. The striker held off the challenges of two defenders forcing his way into the penalty area and found the finish beyond Harry Tyrer to level the scores.

It seemed there would be only one winner as Saints poured forward. Stead’s audacious chip was just over, Adi Yussuf’s close range shot was straight at Tyrer after good work by Jimmy Armson, the keeper saving well, and Murombedzi’s shot was cleared off the line.

Chester were restricted to long-range efforts but came close on the hour as Willoughby’s superb, curling effort hit the post with Danny Lewis beaten.

As the rain beat down and the wind howled around St James Park, Kevin Roberts was adjudged to have handled as Cosmas Matwasa’s shot was blocked conceding a penalty. Adam Rooney’s spot kick was too high, Declan Weeks was shown two yellow cards in the furore before and after the penalty kick and the game ended in acrimony with the visitors the happier with the result. The sides remain as they were in the table with Brackley second, level with Darlington, and Chester in 4th spot.

Brackley Town: Lewis; Carline, Walker, Murombedzi, Calder, Dean, Matwasa, Armson, Rooney, Yussuf (Amantchi 67), Stead.
Subs unused: Cullinane-Liburd, Flanagan, Lopes, Worby.

Chester: Tyrer; Morgan, Williams, Kenyon, Brown, Roberts, Devine, Weeks, Murray (Caton 61), Hall (Dudley 85), Willoughby (Lynch 95). Subs unused: Heywood, Thomas.

Referee: Oli Mackey Assistants: Wayne Cooper and Dan Tracey
Attendance: 941