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>>SLIDESHOW: MK Dons 1 - 0 Chester City
>> Bobby Williamson sacked as Chester manager

The one-goal defeat led to Williamson being sacked although the outcome could have been so different if ex-MK Dons player Butler had converted his 49th minute penalty kick.

City's skipper looked determined to stamp his mark on the proceedings, despite Tony Dinning standing in the wings, after Chris Holroyd had been floored in the box by Jordan Hadfield.

But Butler saw his spotkick saved by home keeper Willy Gueret and MK Dons snatched a well taken winning goal eight minutes later, courtesy of a Danny Swailes volley, to record their first home win since New Year's Day.

It was a case of Chester being punished once again after failing to take a string of gilt-edged goalscoring chances and producing a disciplined defensive display.

Blues boss Bobby Williamson opted to make two changes to the side that had secured a 3-1 win at Mansfield Town the week before.

Midfielder Tony Grant started in place of suspended Mark Hughes, and striker Chris Holroyd started in place of midfielder Richie Partridge who had picked up an injury during Thursday's training session.

Dons enjoyed the majority of possession during the first half, but Chester created the better scoring chances.

Striker Jemal Johnson beat the offside trap after just six minutes from Colin Cameron's throughball, but his goalbound effort was saved by City keeper, John Danby.

Johnson then sliced wide in a good position from another Cameron pass seconds later.

But Chester countered in the seventh minute when Kevin Ellison raced through on goal but slotted his one on one shot with home keeper Willy Gueret wide of the left post.

Dons, clearly shaken by the Ellison chance, hit back in the ninth minute when Johnson beat Laurence Wilson for pace, cut inside, but then screwed his shot wide of the right post.

Cameron continued Dons'dominance after a string of neat and tidy passing manouevres by heading wide off a Jordan Hadfield cushioned header from Lloyd Dyer's right wing cross.

Tony Dinning attempted to put City back on track with a throughball which Gueret only gathered at the second attempt.

And Ellison was penalised for pulling Danny Swailes'shirt before slotting the ball home for a disallowed goal in the 19th minute.

Home skipper Sean O'Hanlon tried to find Gueret with a back pass in the 27th minute, but Gueret only just managed to collect before Chris Holroyd arrived.

Ellison looked the most likely City player to break the deadlock, but his 32nd minute shot from 18 yards flew over the bar.

And his 35th minute curling shot from the right edge of the box bounced just wide of the left post.

Holroyd won a free kick within two minutes of the restart after an impressive run from his own half, but Dinning's 20-yard free kick was charged down by the wall of Dons'defenders.

Holroyd then earned the Blues a perfect opportunity to break the deadlock when he was floored in the Dons'box by Hadfield.

The referee didn't hesitate in pointing to the penalty spot, but Butler's spotkick was easily saved by Gueret and the chance had gone.
Dons struck back when Johnson raced to the left byline and drilled a low centre into the six yard box which evaded everyone.

And the home club were 1-0 in front after 57 minutes when Cameron's corner on the right picked out Swailes whose volley from 20 yards dipped over the City defence and Danby to find the roof of the net.

Johnson, wearing bright orange boots, attempted to create a second goal for his side when he illustrated his blistering pace a minute later, but Paul Linwood was well placed to clear the danger.

Chester refused to roll over, underlined by Tony Dinning's 62nd minute free kick which he hoisted into the box for John Murphy, but his cushioned header was cleared by the alert home defence.

Tony Grant earned a free kick in the 70th minute when he was fouled by Jordan Hadfield, but Ellison's free kick from 25 yards was deflected wide of the target.

Laurence Wilson did well to deny John Miles who had been fed by Johnson in the 72nd minute, and Jude Stirling saw his headed effort seconds later steered wide of the right post from close range.

Dons introduced new signing, Jake Livermore, from Spurs, in place of Hadfield, but Livermore was booked within seconds of his introduction for a late tackle on Wilson.

Danby denied Johnson a chance to double Dons'advantage when he turned a goalbound 82nd minute effort round his near post.

And the City keeper produced another fine save three minutes from time after Lloyd Dyer had wriggled free of his marker.

To watch a slideshow from the match MK Dons 1 - 0 Chester City CLICK HERE