Darren Freeman rescued a point for promotion-chasing Fulham at Chester this evening after a hot-tempered encounter in freezing temperatures at the Deva Stadium.
Only 1,762 hardy souls braved a combination of rain, sleet and snow to watch the action but were rewarded with a slow-burning classic that featured several moments of controversy. After the hosts had been reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Chris Priest, Fulham skipper Simon Morgan was furious to be also given his marching orders having been mistaken for fellow midfielder Richard Carpenter.
The visitors’ mood is hardly improved by the almost immediate award of a contentious Chester penalty following an off-the-ball incident in the area. Shaun Reid stepped forward to confidently beat Tony Lange from the spot but an astute substitution from Micky Adams brings Fulham back into the contest. He sends on Darren Freeman for Robbie Herrera with twenty minutes to play and the forward brings the Cottagers level within three minutes of his introduction, heading home despite the best efforts of David Flitcroft to clear off the goal line.
CHESTER CITY: Alsford; Davidson, Whelan, Priest, Fisher, Reid, Flitcroft, Jackson, Rimmer (Milner 63), Sinclair, McDonald. Subs (not used): Woods, Helliwell.
BOOKED: Reid.
SENT OFF: Priest.
GOAL: Reid (pen 68).
FULHAM: Lange, Watson, Herrera (Freeman 70), Angus, Blake; Cockerill, Cusack, Carpenter, Morgan; Conroy, Scott (Soloman 86). Subs (not used): Cullip.
BOOKED: Herrera.
SENT OFF: Morgan.
GOAL: Freeman (73).
ATTENDANCE: 1,762.
