Every England supporter knows about the significance of the Russian linesman and a controversial goal in 1966, but Darlo had cause to criticise the decision of a Czech lineswoman at the Deva Stadium on Saturday.

Trailing 2-0 midway through the second half, Gregg Blundell cleverly controlled a long wind assisted clearance by David Stockdale and set up Richie Foran, on his return to the side, to blast into the roof of the net.

But then the flag went up rather belatedly. Darlo claimed that Foran was behind the play to put the ball into the net, but afterwards Chester claimed that the decision was against former Chester striker Blundell.

Nevertheless, that was a turning point in the game and gave Chester the encouragement to hang on to their lead for long enough and claim their first home win since November, and keep us in fourth place.

Darlo got off to a bad start and never recovered. The defence failed to clear a right wing cross after 6 minutes, and Paul Rutherford drilled the ball past David Stockdale from the edge of the area.

On 36 minutes, Richie Partridge gave Neil Austin the slip to move into the box and curl the ball past Stockdale.

It was virtually all Darlo in the second half, but we suffered another blow when Pawel Abbott limped off with a hamstring injury that could keep him out of action for the rest of the season.

There was an all out assault for the last ten minutes against a home defence that had to substitute their first choice keeper, Jon Danby, because of injury. Steve Foster pulled a goal back with a right foot shot that went in off the post, and even though Stockdale went upfield for the remaining minute of stoppage time, we couldn't force an equaliser.

At least Hereford only drew, and we're still in with a chance of automatic promotion.

"We gave away two bad goals and left ourselves with too much to do," said Darlo boss Dave Penney afterwards.