Altrincham inflicted a second miserable defeat of the festive season on Chester FC, who marked the start of 2015 with a dire and mistake-ridden performance.

Steve Burr knew already his squad required strengthening in the transfer window but the manager might be considering even greater changes after this.

Alty stormed into a two goal lead inside 17 minutes through Nicky Clee, taking advantage of a Jon Worsnop error, and Damian Reeves to punish a lifeless start from the Blues.

John Rooney replied with a free kick before the break but Chester were never in the contest with 11 men so when Ibou Touray was shown a straight red card early in the second half the game was up.

Reeves netted his second on 62 minutes and Clee added a fourth five minutes later to wrap up a convincing win for the home side, who had a huge helping hand from the rotten Blues.

An excellent 2-0 win at FC Halifax Town on Sunday ensured Chester ended 2014 in positive mood, and the pre-game news that Ryan Higgins had agreed to join from AFC Telford United further raised spirits.

Results and performances had been pleasing on the whole although with a few stumbles along the way, such as the 2-0 home defeat to Altrincham on Boxing Day.

Steve Burr welcomed back Gareth Roberts after a three-game ban but the ex-Wales international started on the bench as the manager retained the team that beat Halifax.

Altrincham started the season as one of the favourites for the drop yet found themselves 10 points clear of the bottom four.

It would have been a bigger margin had the Robins not lost 1-0 at home to struggling Nuneaton Town last time out, a result that frustrated manager Lee Sinnott.

Captain Shaun Densmore, Peter Cavanagh and Simon Richman returned to the team with James Lawrie injured and Sean Williams and Scott Leather among the substitiutes.

Chester were on the back foot from the off with the hosts keeping possession well, and Damian Reeves might have given them the lead in the fourth minute.

Reeves found himself with the ball at his feet on the six yard line and turned to shoot but Matty Brown made an excellent saving tackle.

Altrincham were bossing things with the Blues second to almost every ball and the Robins deservedly went ahead on 11 minutes.

Jon Worsnop came out of his area to mop up a through pass and should have sent the ball into the stands but instead his clearance landed straight at the feet of Clee, whose lofted finish from 40 yards out flew past the stranded keeper and into the empty net.

It was a bad mistake from the goalkeeper yet Chester could have no complaints and thing got even worse in the 17th minute.

Kingsley James lost possession in the Robins half and the home side raced down field with a through pass releasing Reeves, who clipped his shot past Worsnop to double the lead.

Ben Heneghan headed a Jamie Menagh cross straight at Stuart Coburn as the Blues, who were being outnumbered and outfought in midfield, attempted to recover.

Chester hadn't threatened to break open the Alty defence yet pulled one back on 28 minutes through John Rooney.

He was brought down 25 yards out and took the resulting free kick, beating the wall and the floundering Coburn, who might think he could have done better.

It was an undeserved goal but the hosts looked less assured as the Blues, who had been dire up until the goal, began to work themselves into the game.

Kane Richards and Craig Hobson had shots blocked, and finicky referee Martin Coy irritated both sets of fans as the half ended with the Robins leading 2-1.

Chester were again too slow to get going after the restart and should have fallen further behind in the 48th minute when Worsnop denied Ryan Crowther with a fine point-blank save.

Worsnop was called into action almost immediately when he pushed Clee's shot from 20 yards around the post.

Tom Peers replaced Hobson on 52 minutes but the Blues task became much harder four minutes later when Ibou Touray was sent off for a wild challenge on the far touchline on Clee, who was booked for his reaction.

Crowther was shown a yellow card for simulation after throwing himself to the floor in the penalty area as Gareth Roberts came on at left back with Jamie Menagh coming off.

Altrincham got a third goal on 62 minutes when Ben Heneghan swiped at a cross from the right and the ball fell for Reeves, who didn't need a second invitation to fire home from close range.

Coburn made a good stop to keep out a header from Brown and Mahon came on for Sean McConville but the Robins were rampant.

Clee had been a threat throughout and got his second in the 65th minutes, sending in a low shot from the edge of the box that had too much power for Worsnop.

Chester had been awful and could have little argument with the scoreline, which the Robins looked capable of increasing.

Reeves should have completed his hat-trick on 82 minutes, bringing a cross from the left under control and turning before blasting over from 10 yards.

Mahon fired over from outside the area and Heneghan side-footed wide from a corner, and that was all the Blues could offer.

Altrincham saw out the final few minutes with ease and this dismal defeat brings Chester crashing back to earth with a painful bump.

Chester FC: Worsnop, Heneghan, Brown, Charnock, Touray, James, Rooney, Menagh (G Roberts 59), McConville (Mahon 65), Richards, Hobson (Peers 52).

Subs: C Roberts, Kay.

Goal: Rooney 28.

Sent off: Touray.

Booked: Richards, McConville.

Altrincham: Coburn, Densmore, Marshall, Havern, Griffin, Cavanagh, Moult (Williams 74), Clee, Richman, Crowther, Reeves.

Subs: Leather, Gillespie, Perry, Parton.

Goals: Clee 11 and 67, Reeves 17 and 62.

Booked: Moult, Clee, Crowther, Cavanagh.

Referee: Martin Coy (County Durham).

Attendance: 1,840.