Planet Swans ArchivesLee Trundle kept the Swans’ promotion hopes on track with a spot-kick point saver,
Welsh terrier Ben Davies had put Ian Rush’s blues ahead early on and Swansea appeared in danger of being blown away as Kevin Rapley and £250,000 Sunderland target Danny Collins wasted other chances.
But with winger Brad Maylett coming off the bench for Adrian Forbes at half-time, the golden-booted Trundle completed the script.
The ex-Wrexham star rattled home a penalty awarded after Chester’s Kevin McIntyre handled in the visitors area on 55 minutes.
The visitors, roared on by 1,000 followers in a crowd of almost 4,000 might have stolen their sixth win in seven league games if Trundle had bagged a fifth of the campaign in the closing minutes.
But Swansea boss Kenny Jackett’s main concern was over defender Garry Monk.
The former Southampton player was carried off two minutes from the hour after a clash of heads with Blue’s striker Cortez Belle – and ended up in hospital.
Jackett said “I was very concerned because Garry was flat out on the fllor – he was lying so still. Maybe people didn’t realise that he was badly hurt.
“I’ve got a doctor and a physio up here with my squad, and it’ll be up to the medical advice whether or not he travels back home with us.”
But Jackett’s mood brightened as he acknowledged a vital point gained.
He said “The wind players a big part in this match. We’d lost Andy Gurney to illness beforehand and then, obviously, Monk during the game. Considering all the distraction, I was pleased to get the reward.”
Chester No 2 Mark Aizelwood conceded “We knew Swansea were a good side because we’d had them watched on three occasions.
“We couldn’t get a second goal today and the Swans came back to get a deserved point.”
The buoyant visitors were boosted by the return of Trundle from injury, Paul Connor returned from his dead leg and Alan Tate slotted into central defence as Swansea went 4-4-2.
But Jackett’s men had to battle into a strong breeze and Belle launched a battery of giant throw-ins that saw the Swans wobbling before Chester snatched a deserved lead in the 20th minute.
Phil Bolland flicked on McIntyre’s left-side free-kick, Rapley steered his drive across goal and blond-haired Davies gleefully tapped into the net.
Swansea’s rhythm was being severely disrupted as Wales non-league international Davies and Paul Carden competed for midfield scraps. The visitors clung on grimly as Collins and Rapley went close.
The second half saw the Swans fight back and they struck on 55 minutes when Premiership referee Dermot Gallager decided McIntyre has handled Swans’ substitutes Maylett’s cross in the area.
Trundle clinically buried the resulting penalty.
Both teams could have taken all three points in a barnstorming finale. Trundle fired inches wide and Chester substitute Michael Branch also went close in the last ten minutes.
