CHESTER won a captivating contest with title favourites Halifax to make it six wins from six and continue their perfect start to the season.

Ben Mills and Dave Hankin put the Blues two goals to the good but a stunning strike from Jon Worthington made for a nervy finish.

Neil Young’s spirited side held on, however, to move level on points with Brackley Town and this Saturday’s opponents Guiseley at the top of the Blue Square Bet North table.

Their hard-fought victory also pulled them a potentially decisive eight points clear of the Shaymen, who could count themselves unlucky not to take a point from a truly fantastic match of football.

There was a shock for Blues fans before kick-off when goalkeeper John Danby was ruled out with an eye injury.

Danby, who wears contact lenses, failed a late fitness test and was replaced in the starting line-up by his understudy Martin Fearon.

It was Fearon’s competitive debut for Chester – who were otherwise unchanged – and he did not let the fervent home crowd down with a composed and accomplished display which belied any nerves he must surely have had.

The Exacta Stadium faithful were sent into rapture in the 10th minute when Mills scored his sixth goal in his many appearances since signing on loan from Macclesfield Town.

The on-fire striker, who was being watched by his Silkmen manager Steve King, wriggled free of Liam Hogan on the edge of the area and side-footed a supremely confident finish past Matt Glennon.

Glennon, who helped the Blues to promotion last season before joining Halifax in the summer, had little to do in a full-blooded first period.

The Shaymen dominated the rest of the half and would have equalised almost instantly had the excellent Paul Linwood not made a goal-saving block from Worthington.

Worthington, operating at the tip of a fluid diamond midfield, missed an even better opportunity in the 23rd minute when he blazed over with the goal at his mercy.

The lightning-fast Jason St Juste, who spent a short spell at Chester in 2011, was a constant threat for the impressive visitors, who also went close through Jason Jarrett.

But they were unable to make their dominance count and the disciplined hosts made them pay eight minutes into the second half.

A cross into the box was never cleared and man-of-the-match Hankin showed neat footwork before sending a fine 18-yard shot into the bottom corner of the net for his first goal for the club.

The two-goal lasted three minutes as Worthington made up for his earlier miss by hammering home a 25-yard piledriver that gave Fearon no chance.

The momentum had suddenly shifted back in Halifax’s favour and Fearon was forced into a flying save at his near post from St Juste.

The Shaymen then brought on pantomime villain Jamie Rainford and the player who remains the reborn Blues’ club record signing immediately shot straight at Fearon when he had Lee Gregory better placed.

Neil Young’s men were also creating chances, the best of which fell to Mills when he was played in by effective substitute Marc Williams. But with just Glennon to beat, the hitman slashed his effort wide.

Then it was the turn of Rainford to pass up a golden opportunity, the sub beating Fearon to the ball but seeing his toe-poked attempt go inches wide.

Chester: Fearon, Collins, Horan, Linwood, McGinn, Hankin, A Williams (Mackin 68), Powell, Clancy (Sarcevic 86), Mills, Jarman (M Williams 68). Subs: Howard, Baynes.

Booked: Powell, Hankin, A Williams.

Goals: Mills 10, Hankin 53.

Halifax: Glennon, Toulson, Hogan, Lowe, St Juste, Jarrett, Worsley (Needham 77), Marshall, Worthington, Johnson (Rainford 65), Gregory. Subs: Senior, Qualtar, Bolland.

Booked: Jarrett, Lowe.

Goal: Worthington 56.

Referee: Ryan Johnson (Swinton).

Attendance: 3,112.