Margate 0 Chester 0

A CONTROVERSIALLY disallowed goal saw Margate held to a draw at home to 10-man Chester in the Nationwide Conference on Saturday. Gate thought they had taken the lead on the stroke of half-time when Phil Collins' header from a Paul Lamb free kick was parried by Chester keeper Wayne Brown under pressure from Iain O'Connell.

The Margate player then appeared to hold down Brown, allowing Collins to ram the ball home from close range. Referee Mark Russell gave the goal, but after vociferous protests, consulted his linesman and reversed his decision and awarded Chester a free kick.

In the melee, the visitors had coach Stuart Bleasdale sent off, and 11 minutes into the second half also had defender Michael Rose dismissed for a second bookable offence.