CHESTER’S lead at the top of the table was cut to one point after they were unable to overcome their Cheshire rivals in front of a club record attendance.

A crowd of 3,560 – the biggest since the Blues reformed – watched Mike Lennon give Nantwich a shock 52nd-minute lead before Antoni Sarcevic restored parity almost instantly.

Neil Young’s side, led by man-of-the-match Sarcevic, pushed forward in search of a winner. But they could find no way past the excellent Jon Brain as 2012 started on a frustrating note.

Chester manager Young, who is close to signing a midfielder from a Conference club on loan, said: “I thought we should have been a couple of goals up by half-time but their keeper has made some good saves and we’ve hit the underside of the crossbar.

“We limited to them very little and passed the ball well but we didn’t take care in the final third when we could have done better.”

Young – the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division manager of the month for December – also confirmed after the match that the club has received three enquiries for Jamie Rainford.

If the striker, who has spent the last two months on loan at FC Halifax Town, does decide to leave it is likely Young will make moves to freshen up his attack.

The Blues dominated the Dabbers for long periods but they lacked the cutting edge needed to kill off their neighbours.

Chester, showing three changes to the team which started the stormy Boxing Day derby draw at second-placed Northwich Victoria, burst into life after a quiet opening 15 minutes.

Sarcevic rattled the bar from close range after Brain made a stunning save from lone frontman Matty McNeil before returning captain George Horan headed just over.

The visitors nearly profited from a defensive mix-up between John Danby and Michael Taylor but it was their goal that was coming under increasing pressure.

On two separate occasions Brain denied the recalled Jerome Wright while Michael Powell also tested the Nantwich custodian.

It therefore came against the run of play when the Dabbers, who won August’s meeting between the sides, took the lead seven minutes after the break through Lennon.

The impressive striker wriggled free in the box and slotted the ball past Danby to put a finishing touch to a delightful move involving Rodney McDonald and Alecsanders Solvjors.

The hosts needed a response – and they got one inside 60 seconds thanks to superb play from their two best players on the day.

Christian Smith – impressive in an unfamiliar left-back role – sent Sarcevic clear with a threaded through pass and the midfielder did the rest with an emphatic finish from the edge of the area.

Buoyed by the instant equaliser, the Blues laid siege to the Nantwich net. Wright skimmed the bar, Alex Brown had an 18-yard drive deflected on to the post before Powell just failed to turn in a knockdown from substitute Michael Wilde.

But the Dabbers weathered the storm and had it not been for Danby, who produced a brave double block from Nial Maguire and Lennon in injury-time, they would have won it.

Chester: Danby, Brownhill, Taylor, Horan, Smith, Booth (Ormrod 74), Powell, Brown, Wright (Simm 82), Sarcevic, McNeil (Wilde 64). Subs: Duggan, Judge.

Goal: Sarcevic 53.

Nantwich: Brain, Lowe, Bailey, Moss, McDonald, Foster (Solvjors 46), McPherson, Flynn (Maguire 58), Cooke (Irwin 77), Mills, Lennon. Subs: Jack, Wakefield.

Goal: Lennon 52.

Referee: Gary Hilton (Upholland).

Attendance: 3,560.