Darlington v Chester: Fans' coach comes to the rescue after team bus breaks down on M62
- Published
Chester's trip to Blackwell Meadow, Darlington cost them three goals, six bookings, a red card and a new tyre
Chester's players had a day to remember - and forget - in Saturday's National League North game at Darlington.
On the pitch, it did not go too well as the Seals were 3-0 down at half-time, had six booked and one sent off as their four-game winning league run came to an end.
But it was hardly a surprise after such an eventful motorway journey to the north-east.
The Chester team bus suffered a tyre blowout just past Birch Services on the M62 but the fans' coach was travelling behind them - and the supporters came to the rescue.
The players got off the team bus, boarded the coach with the fans - and were then transported 24 miles on to the next services at Hartshead Moor, while the team bus driver waited behind to attend to the puncture.
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The team bus, duly repaired, then reappeared to cart the players the remaining 82 miles to Blackwell Meadow, Darlington.
Having arrived in time for the scheduled 15:00 GMT kick-off, Callum McIntyre's side were then caught cold by strugglers Darlo in a nightmare first half.
But they made up for it with a second-half revival, including 10 minutes of added time, in which Chester nearly grabbed a draw.
And they hope they will be fully back on track when they make the same journey up the M62 for their next game this Tuesday night - the FA Cup first round replay with York City, after drawing 0-0 at the Deva Stadium a week ago.
The Chester team bus' tyre was well and truly blown out during their trip to the north east