Chester City 0-1 Salisbury City

Matt Tubbs has now scored 17 goals for Salisbury this season

Matthew Tubbs struck a late penalty to sentence hapless Blue Square Premier bottom club Chester City to yet another defeat at an almost empty Deva Stadium.

Just 425 fans, the lowest league attendance in the club's history, turned up for what could prove crisis club City's last-ever home game.

Chester, who face the threat of being wound up in the High Court next week, were undone by a handball decision.

Kevin Roberts was penalised, and Tubbs slammed home from the spot.

It was no more than Salisbury deserved after dominating throughout against the decimated Deva men.

Thanks largely to a fine performance from home keeper John Danby, who made three fine saves from Tubbs, Chris Flood and a Bradley Gray header, as well as wasteful finishing, it looked as if Tommy Widdrington's Whites would have to settle for a point.

But, when Roberts handled, Danby was helpless as Tubbs fired his 17th goal of the season to lift Salisbury a place up the table to 18th - five points clear of danger.

Chester's 14th league defeat in 26 games - their first under new director of football Morell Maison - leaves them on -3, still 25 points away from safety, just where they started their nightmare season.

Top scorer Nick Chadwick remained on the bench all night.

Chester City: Danby, Roberts, Ryan, Kelly, Rule, Wilkinson, Davidson, Lea, Meynell; Jones, Ellams.
Subs: Murphy, Freeman, Coulter, Maxwell, Chadwick.

Bookings: Kelly, Ryan, Lea, Roberts.

Salisbury: Bittner, Clohessy, Turley, Webb, Ruddick, Gray, Clarke, Anderson, Adelsbury, Flood, Tubbs.
Subs: Monhon, Cox, Osman, Widdrington.

Goal: Tubbs pen 86.

Bookings: Ruddick, Clohessy.

Referee: Lee Metcalfe (Lancashire)

Attendance: 425.