A well-taken goal seven minutes from time by Michael Branch rescued a point for City at Rochdale after the Blues had seen their early lead wiped out by the home side midway through the second period. Kevin Ellison had given City a dream start on six minutes lashing the ball home at the far post following good work from Branch to the delight of the large away support. However the home side hit back after the break with two goals though Leo Berton and Taiwo Atieno and looked to be heading for all three points before Branch’s late solo strike brought a point.

A delighted Ian Rush said: “I think two weeks ago if we’d gone 2-1 down we would have lost the game, but the lads kept on battling away and they got what they deserved in the end. Our first half performance at Rochdale was excellent, and we battled back after going down and deserved a draw in the end.”

Kevin Ellison’s first-half equaliser brought City a deserved point against the league leaders Scunthorpe United at Deva Stadium. Earlier, Steve Torpey had given the visitors the lead as early as the third minute. The point leaves the Blues still in 19th place ahead of Tuesday’s Bank Holiday clash against seventh placed Rochdale at Spotland, kick-off 15:00hrs.

One player who looks sure to miss the game is goalkeeper Wayne Brown who suffered a back injury on Saturday and was replaced by Chris MacKenzie midway through the second half.

The squad will be in for training later today. Manager Ian Rush

“We have decided to get the players in for training at 6pm on Christmas Day, simply because we will know who has been following the rules and who hasn’t, We will soon tell who has been over-eating or having a drink too many. It is vital to conduct ourselves in a professional manner, The lads have had their Christmas party and enjoyed it, but now it is back to business. Players have to remember that supporters usually turn out in bigger numbers than usual on Boxing Day and New Years Day, so we must be in a position to give them value for money.” Rush told The Chronicle.

City chairman Steve Vaughan is as anxious as anyone to see a striker brought on board before the next league match against Scunthorpe United on Sunday.

Former managers Kevin Ratcliffe and Graham Barrow.

City suffered a 1-0 defeat at Southend United on Friday night that leaves them still in 19th place in League Two and without a League win in their last seven games.

As expected both Luton Town loan players, Ian Hillier and David Bayliss, player their part and both fitted in to the side quite well. Cortez Belle passed a fitness test to play though defender Richard Hope was sidelined. To add to City’s woe, striker Michael Branch limped off after just 15 minutes with what looked like a hamstring pull, if that is the case he could well be sidelined for the busy Christmas period.

With Branch and Stamp injured, City’s lack of fire power is once again exposed with a busy schedule of four matches in nine days coming up. The Blues will continue to hunt for a striker this week. Stephen Vaughan said: “I spoke to Ian Rush following the Southend game, and we will intensify our search for strikers. It may be that we offer certain players from our squad plus cash if any deal is to be secured. But one thing is for sure, we need to move smartly this week.”

The only goal of the game came two minutes from time as substitute Lawrie Dudfield seized on a poor clearance from Andy Harris and made no mistake from close range.

City make the long journey to Southend for tonight’s League Two clash looking for an improvement on recent form that has seen them pick up just three points from the last 18 available. New loan signings Ian Hillier and David Bayliss are expected to feature but both Cortez Belle and Richard Hope are both carrying knocks.

Hope was injured in last weekend’s fiery game with Shrewsbury Town, while Belle picked up an injury in training this week. Darryn Stamp, who came on as a substitute last Saturday, also picked up a knock playing for the reserves in the week.

Two Luton Town defenders, Ian Hillier and David Bayliss, have joined City a month’s loan. The pair will be at Deva Stadium until 15th January 2005 and go straight into the squad for the League Two game at Southend United on Friday.

David Bayliss is 28 year old Liverpudlian and began his career as a trainee at Rochdale. He went on to make 195+20 appearances for the Spotland club scoring nine goals. He moved to Luton in December 2001 and has made 31+10 appearances for the Hatters, scoring one goal.

Ian Hillier is 24 years old and began his career at Tottenham Hotspur. He didn’t break into the first team there and moved to Luton Town in August 2001, initially on loan and then signed full time. He has so far made 39+28 appearances, scoring one goal. HIllier has also represented Wales at Under-21 level.

Harry’s funeral will take place on Tuesday 21 December at All Saints Church, Hoole Road, Chester at 13:15hrs, this will be followed by a Wake in The Frog, Liverpool Road, Upton.

The stories of Harry are legendary, everyone who met him had their own favourite tale. In an interview he did for Match of the Day magazine in July 1998 Harry described two of his favoured anecdotes:

“Did I tell you about the Christmas party we had at Chester one year? We went for a meal and the players wanted to go on for a drink. Well, after a while I agreed, just so long as they were discreet... The last thing I remember before passing out was Keith Bertschin shouting ‘This is how I scored the winner at Anfield!’ before launching himself full-length across the bar. When I came round I was in hospital as was Keith; both of us had to have our stomachs pumped.”

It’s very sad to have to report the death of a true Chester legend, former manager Harry McNally, he was 68. Harry suffered a heart attack on Friday morning and passed away today in the Countess of Chester hospital. Former players Graham Barrow, Gary Bennett and John Kelly were at his bedside.

Harry never played in the Football League but spent most if his playing career at Skelmersdale United, before going on to manage at Altrincham, Southport and Wigan Athletic.

He joined Chester as manager in the summer of 1985 and, after adding Milton Graham and John Kelly, amongst others, to the squad performed a minor miracle in taking the club to promotion from Division Four in his first season, playing great football and finishing runners-up to Swindon Town.

Harry will probably be best remembered though for steering Chester through the two most difficult years in their history while in exile at Macclesfield from 1990-92. He always managed to get the best from his players despite, more often or not, the odds being stacked against them. Harry’s achievement in staving off relegation, despite having to play home games 40 miles away, earned him the Manager of the Year award from The Sun newspaper in 1992.

Harry certainly lived life to the full, he was a wonderful character, with a great knowledge of football in the north west, and was a frequent visitor to Deva Stadium. He will be sadly missed.

After serving a four match ban following his red card at Northampton, striker Cortez Belle is available again for selection for tomorrow’s all-ticket home game with Shrewsbury Town.

Belle is expected to start for the Blues but one player who won’t feature tomorrow is Sean Hessey who serves a one match ban, while Darren Edmondson is doubtful with a groin injury. Darryn Stamp has returned from his loan spell at Kidderminster Harriers and will be available. City have failed to register a win in their last five League matches and can ill-afford to slip up tomorrow against a Shrews side also struggling at the wrong end of the table.

Chester remain in 19th place in League Two after last night’s 4-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers. City never really recovered after going a goal down in the third minute, Craig Disley taking advantage as Wayne Brown failed to hold onto a Jamie Forrester shot, Disley knocking in a close-range rebound.

City came back into the game gradually as the half wore on and equalised on 27 minutes through Kevin Ellison who fired home through a crowd of players after some neat build up play. However Brown conceded a penalty on the stroke of half-time as he was adjudged, by the linesman, to have brought down Forrester on the edge of the box.

Two goals either side of the break from Michael Branch helped City to a 3-1 away victory over Conference high-flyers Halifax Town in the second round of the FA Cup.

There were debut’s, from the bench, for both Gavin Lynch and loan player Eddie Anaclet. City will now pick up £24,000 prize money, as well as 45% of the gate receipts, following the win.

The last time City reached this stage of the competition was in 2000/01, our first Conference season, when victory’s over Easington Colliery, Plymouth Argyle and Oxford United set up a tie at Premiership Blackburn Rovers that City eventually lost 2-0.

City have completed the signing of 20-year-old Southampton reserve midfielder Eddie Anaclet on loan, and in time for tomorrow’s second round FA Cup match at Halifax Town. Anaclet was born in Tanzania and came through the youth ranks at Oxford United. Although a midfielder he can also play on the wing.

The Blues have a chronic striker shortage at present with Darryn Stamp out on loan, Michael Branch recovering from injury, and Cortez Belle suspended – leaving just Kevin Rapley up front for the last two matches.

It will be a tough test for City tomorrow who could be backed with around 1,000 fans at The Shay. Halifax have already disposed League Two side Cambridge United in the first round and currently lie third in the Conference, they also have two ex-City players in their ranks with Ryan Sugden and Matt Doughty. The second round prize money up for grabs is £24,000.

Chairman Steve Vaughan has said that the club will table a substantial bid for Yeovil Town striker Phil Jevons. The offer may also include a player as part of the exchange. “Phil is the sort of quality player who would improve our squad. I will be contacting Yeovil and making a substantial offer for the lad.

Both Ian Rush and Mark Aizlewood are set to lose their Welsh under 17 coaching roles. New Welsh manager John Toshack has streamlined down the national coaching staff from 13 to 6 with Brian Flynn taking over the under 17 role. Full story here.

Despite a spirited second half performance, City were knocked out of the LDV Vans Trophy 1-0 by rivals Wrexham at Deva Stadium last night. A solitary first-half goal from Juan Ugarte was enough to seperate the sides in a pulsating game.

After a disappointing first-half display from City manager Ian Rush introduced Robbie Booth at half-time and the change up front was dramatic. He set up three chances in the opening five minutes after the break and was instrumental in a rejouvinated City almost levelling on at least three occasions. Kevin Ellison hit the bar and Booth himself saw a close range effort cleared off the line and Phil Bolland will still be wondering now how he managed to steer a last-minute free header wide!

Andy Harris said after the game: “If you look at the possession during the second half I think we deserved something out of the game. They had one chance in the first half and another deflection has done us – we conceded a deflected goal on Saturday and another deflection has done us, and unfortunately we’ve lost the game as a result. We had chances in the second half but we just couldn’t convert them. The manager and Mark Aizlewood decided we needed to do more attacking in the second half, so we threw Elly (Kevin Ellison) and Boothy (Robbie Booth) on up front, and I thought Boothy looked excellent when he came on. He delivered some great quality from wide and we started knocking the ball around in their half, but we just couldn’t capitalise on our pressure.”