The game was five minutes old before the first shot at goal came, with Stephen Nicholas blasting the ball into the roof of the the terrace behind the goal. Until that point the game had started quietly with most of the action in midfield.

In the 12th minute Sean Carey had a shot at goal from 25 yards out after the ball was played back to him by Daryl Clare but his shot was well wide to the right of goal.

Chester were awarded a free kick on the right hand side which was played into the box by McIntyre.  It was cleared away initially but came back in to Daryl Clare but his header was just wide of the target.

Chester were coming to life at last though and a few minutes later Darryn Stamp had a shot at goal which again missed the target.

At the other end Northwich had a golden chance to open the scoring with most of the defence beaten but fortunately McCaldon was well placed to save Nicholas's shot.

Jamie Heard and Stamp then broke clear down the right but as they tried to play a one -two the ball was intercepted by Paul McGuire.

At the other end Carey made a crucial interception to deny Northwich a good chance after a mix up in the defence. They won a corner for their efforts but it came to nothing as the referee blew for a foul on McCaldon as the ball came into the goalmouth area.

Daryl Clare had another shot at goal at the other end moments later, but his diagonal shot from about 14 yards out was well wide of the target.

Chester won a corner in the 21st minute after McGuire intercepted Stamp's shot. After the corner was cleared initially the ball came back into the box courtesy of Sean Carey where it was hand-balled by McGuire. Penalty to Chester.

Dary Clare stepped up to take it and hit it low to the right of goal.  Andy Woods in the Northwich goal guessed correctly and parried the shot away with a great diving save. Oh no, not again!

On the half hour mark Alex Smith hit a hard shot at goal from 20 yards on  the left which was deflected behind for a corner.  Once again though the referee blew for a foul on the keeper as the ball came into the goal area.

Chester were awarded a free kick in the 34th minute after a foul on Alex Smith. McIntyre took the kick from about 20 yards out and what a cracker it was.  It swerved around the wall and sailed high into the top left hand corner of the goal leaving Andy Woods no chance of a save. You don't get free kick much better than that! 1-0 to Chester.

In the 42nd minute Chester were awarded another free kick, this time on the left, after Daryl Clare had been scythed down whilst making a run.  McIntyre again took the corner and played it into the goal area where it was tapped home by Darryn Stamp from close range after a bit of a scramble.

Just before the interval Northwich were forced into a substitution as Charnock was stretchered off to be replaced by Mark Foran.  Northwich won a corner moments later as McCaldon tipped a goal-bound shot over the bar. The corner itself was uneventful.

Into the second half then and Chester were awarded a free kick in the 48th minute after a foul on Alex Smith down the left hand side. The kick came into the box and Danny Collins rose high to send the ball goalwards but the goalkeeper managed to get a touch to put it out for a corner.

From the corner the ball went into open play but still in the goal area. Eventually it fell to  Kevin McIntyre who played it to Daryl Clare at the far post who tapped it home from close range.

It was 4-0 only minutes later and again McIntyre was involved in the build up. He played a lovely one-two with Stamp who slotted it home.  The goal was initially disallowed as the linesman had flagged for another Chester player in an off-side position but after a discussion with the referee the goal was allowed to stand.

The Blues were cruising now and continued pushing forwards. In the next five minutes shots went in from Clare and Smith amongst others but without really threatening.

Jamie Heard had a good opportunity in the 61st minute making a long run down the right to get on the end of a pass from Smith.  His shot however was blocked by the keeper who had the angle covered well.

Moments later Daryl Clare played a high ball to Darryn Stamp at the far post. His header hit the post. Chester were really turning the screw now and Northwich appear to have capitulated.

On 70 minutes Clare and Smith played a one-two but Clare missed getting on the end of it. This was moments after Clare had once again had a shot saved well by the keeper.

Chester made a double substitution with 12 minutes remaining with Twiss and Rapley replacing Stamp and Clare up front.  They teamed up almost straight away with Twiss playing a good ball in from the left into Rapley but his shot was just wide of the target.

Chester calmed the game down for the final ten minute with no real action in front of goal towards the end. A job well done and the promotion bandwagon is back on track with a convincing win. 4-0 the final score at a freezing Wincham Park.