Davies agreed to take over the managerial role following the sacking of Bobby Williamson on Sunday in the aftermath of City's 1-0 defeat at league leaders Milton Keynes Dons.

And he was so unlucky to see his side taste defeat with a goal that should never have counted on the back of a blatant foul on Kevin Ellison which the referee chose to ignore, and a goal that originated from a throw which should have been awarded to Chester.

Football is certainly a game of hard knocks for Chester who have now only recorded one win in their last 16 games.

Davies made two changes to the City side that had lost 1-0 at Milton Keynes. He employed Kevin Sandwith and Paul Rutherford in midfield in place of Tony Grant and Paul Butler, whose captain's armband was worn by defensive partner Paul Linwood.

City went in 1-0 down at the break against Darlington feeling aggrieved with the referee's decision to ignore a blatant foul by Ryan Valentine on Kevin Ellison.

And within seconds of Ellison looking astonished with the referee, Darlington had taken the lead from a throw in that should have been City's, which found Julian Joachim who hoisted a right wing cross for Pawell Abbott to loop a header which dropped over Chester keeper John Danby to find the bottom right corner of the net.

But Darlington had enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges with skipper Steve Foster drilling his left-footed shot wide of the right post from 18 yards in the ninth minute.

And Jason Kennedy sliced his 11th minute effort wide of the target from a neat lay-off by Joachim.

Striker Guy Ndumbu Nsungu volleyed wide of the left post from an Abbott touch in the 15th minute as the home club strived to make an impact.

Chester hit back a minute later when Ellison raced forward but dragged his shot from the left edge of the box wide of the far post.

Darlington provided a warning to Chester four minutes before they broke the deadlock when Abbott picked out Nsungu who crashed a low drive against the base of the right post.

After Abbott had headed Darlington in front in the 27th minute, City crafted a promising move when Chris Holroyd found Ellison, but the attacking midfielder saw his disappointing strike easily gathered by home keeper David Stockdale.

The home side bounced back a minute later when Micky Cummins found himself in space on the edge of the City box but sliced his effort well wide of the right post.

Chester finished the half with a couple of half chances.
Ellison hoisted a left wing cross into the box for Holroyd, but Stockdale punched clear to Kevin Sandwith whose looping shot bounced inches wide of the left post.

And Murphy set up Sandwith in the 39th minute, but the midfielder's low scuffed effort was easily collected by Stockdale.

Chester started brightly after the break with a number of passing manoueuvres, but Darlington reminded the Blues of their presence, particularly in the final third of the pitch where Kevin Gall saw a goalbound shot blocked by James Vaughan in the 54th minute.

City crafted their first scoring chance of the second half in the 58th minute when Murphy found Holroyd who touched on for Ellison to unleash a low drive which Stockdale had to gather at the second attempt.

Darlington won a free kick just outside the City box five minutes later, but Nsungu's shot flew well over the bar from Gall's cross.

At the other end Chester were awarded a free kick, but Sandwith's attempt curled over the target from 25 yards.

Darlington boss, Dave Penney, opted to substitute both Nsungu and Gall in the 64th minute for Tommy Wright and Neil Wainwright respectively in a bid to strengthen his side's grip on the match.

Abbott should have doubled the home side's advantage in the 67th minute, but he found the sidenetting from the right edge of the six yard box.

And Danby had to be alert to claim a powerful goalbound shot from Cummins five minutes later.

Chester punctuated Darlington's possession in the 74th minute when Dinning's left wing cross was glanced wide of the far post by Roberts.

City boss, Davies, made one substitution 13 minutes from time when youth team right winger, Andy Mitchell, made his first team debut when replacing Paul Rutherford.

Ellison demonstrated his turn of speed four minutes from time when he raced into the box and found Holroyd with a pass, but his effort was deflected over the bar under the challenge of Foster.

But Ellison was left to hold his head in his hands with a snap shot which he dragged well wide of the right post in the final minute.