DALE'S DOWN AND OUT

Chester 4

Cardiff 0

IT just wasn't Carl Dale's day yesterday as his Cardiff team finished up a poor second-best to high-flying Chester.

And now Cardiff, sliding towards the Division Three basement, could face a relegation battle.

Dale, a former Chester favourite with 26 goals to his credit already, never gave up trying to get one over his old team-mates.

Poor old Dale. He did get the ball in the Chester net at one point, but it was ruled offside.

For 20 plus minutes fo the first half Phil Neal's Cardiff were the livelier attackers and it took the home side a long while to settle into their game.

Then the Bluebirds fell behind to a 25th-minute goal scored by right- back Ross Davidson who finished off a cross from Kevin Noteman after the winger had beaten defenders Hayden Fleming and Derek Brazil. A second Chester goal came on 42 minutes. Chris Priest netting from close range after striker Stuart Rimmer had taken the ball forward from Andy Milner's pass and sent in a low cross.

A penalty in the 52nd minute was rather needlessly conceded by leftback Damon Fearle who handled Noteman's corner.

Chester's young fullback Dave Rogers stepped up to give goalkeeper Dave Williams no chance with his first goal for the club.

Dale was unlucky on several occasions but particularly late in the game.

After keeper Billy Stewart had pushed the ball out he got in a header which was goalbound but central defender Spencer Whelan raced back to the line and headed over.

Rimmer rounded off the scoring with eight minutes remaining when he finished off a good mood involving Noteman and sub John Murphy.

Cardiff have now lost six of their last eight away games.

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