CHESTER missed out on top spot for the second time in three days as they were held to a goal-less draw at York City on Tuesday night

A victory at Bootham Crescent would have lifted the Blues from fifth to first place but joint-bosses Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley had to settle for a point in a game of few chances.

The Blues headed into the game embroiled in an ‘illegal approach’ row with National League North rivals, AFC Telford.

According to a statement on Telford’s website, winger Adam Dawson, who started on the bench at Bootham Crescent, had quit the Bucks after informing manager Gavin Cowan over the weekend of his desire to find a club closer to his Manchester home.

However, the Bucks claim they then received information to suggest Chester had already made contact with the player regarding a move and that Dawson had met them to agree terms without the football club receiving an official seven day approach to allow permission for Chester to speak to him.

The statement adds that Telford have now reported Chester to the FA and the National League.

The Blues have responded by strenuously denying any wrongdoing over the potential transfer and that FA ratification for the deal is still being awaited.

A statement on the Chester FC website said: “Chester Football Club are aware of a statement made today by AFC Telford United regarding Adam Dawson.

“As a club we strenuously deny any wrongdoing and believe we have acted within all FA guidelines throughout the transfer negotiations with both Adam and his previous Club. We await FA ratification of this deal.”

They didn’t let it worry them on the pitch as Dan Mooney started lively and forced an early save out of Adam Bartlett.

A teasing 21st minute cross from Mooney ended with Ant Dudley firing wide after Craig Mahon’s effort had hit the post.

Joe Ironside headed a great chance wide for the hosts four minutes later while Minsterman Jordan Burrow almost sliced a Gary Roberts cross into his own net eight minutes before the break.

New boy Dawson came on at half-time for the ineffective Mani Dieseruvwe while Jon Moran replaced Dom Smalley, who was close to picking up a second yellow card for a tackle on York dangerman Alex Bray.

Ironside missed another good chance for the home side eight minutes into the second half while Danny Livesey and Moran were both inches away from connecting with a Mahon cross.

Cheered on by 174 travelling fans, Chester pushed for a winner but skipper Roberts’ long range-effort went wide.

The management team will be happy with the point - especially after losing at home to Altrincham in Saturday’s home derby.

Joint boss Morley knows he and Johnson have pushed the players to the limit in recent weeks but feels his side do need cover.

“Getting loan players in isn’t something we want to do but sometimes you are backed into a corner and we try and see it long term – if we get a player in and he likes what he sees we’ve got a big chance of making that signing permanent the season after,” said Morley.

“There is always some sort of logic behind why we do what we do in terms of emergency loans but we do need something short term definitely – we have Scott Burton out, Gary Stopforth out and now we have Gary Roberts out next Saturday.

“With George Green it could be next week or it could be four weeks – we’ve just got to make sure we don’t rush him back too soon. He could be out for the rest of the season if we do so we have to box clever with that situation.

“We all go through things like this as a manager – some of us our lucky than others – but this season we’ve just not had that continuity of a solid 15 or 16 players but that’s the whole point of having a squad and whether we think it’s strong enough or not we put our name to that squad.”

“We’ve got to make sure we act now and fill the gaps whether that’s youth team players or emergency loans but financially it’s another cost which potentially we can’t afford. We’ve just got to make sure we get the balance right in the squad.”

Southport’s mini-revival continued with a 3-0 win at fellow strugglers, Hereford United last night.

Former Chester striker Jordan Archer marked his Southport debut with a goal while The Sandgrounders, who host The Blues in the next round of the FA Trophy a week on Saturday, also had Dion Charles and Dean Winnard on the scoresheet.

The victory lifted Liam Watson’s side above The Bulls in the league table.”