STEVEN Beck scored Chester’s 100th goal of the season in all competitions as the Evo-Stik League First Division North leaders opened up a 13-point lead at the top.

Beck brought up the major milestone to break the deadlock before Chris Simm and Robbie Booth joined him on the scoresheet to seal Neil Young’s side’s seventh straight league victory.

Blues boss Young said: “I thought we looked a little bit leggy and a little bit tired at times and, to be fair, Salford have come and had a go.

“But I’ll gladly take three points at this stage of the season.”

Credit to both teams for serving up what was an entertaining contest played in extremely difficult conditions.

Neither side were helped by the strong wind swirling around the Exacta Stadium and it was not until the 16th minute that the first chance of the game arrived.

When it did it followed a rare mistake by captain George Horan, whose under-hit back pass was latched upon by Steve Foster.

You would have put your money on the Salford hitman taking his tally for the term up to 27, but his shot was turned aside by the feet of Adam Judge.

Foster was made to pay for his profligacy as, nine minutes later, Chester were in front thanks to Beck’s fourth and best goal of the season so far.

The former Everton midfielder allowed Michael Wilde’s pass across the box to cross his body before unleashing a delightful left-footed effort into the bottom corner.

If that was sublime then what followed three minutes later was ridiculous as Judge let Rhodri Giggs’ 22-yard free kick slip under his body and into the net.

Judge has not put a foot wrong since taking over the number one jersey from Richard Whiteside, but he will be disappointed at his failure to deal with what was a fairly tame attempt by the Greater Manchester outfit’s player-manager.

Judge’s blushes were spared, however, moments later. Having just come on for the injured Ashley Williams, Bradley Barnes won possession inside his own half before driving forward and playing a superb defence-splitting pass to put Simm clean through.

The striker still had plenty to do, but he used his pace to outstrip his marker before smashing the ball past Andy Robertson for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Back came back Salford and the dangerous Adam Morning rattled Judge’s left-hand post before  shooting just wide after he left two home defenders trailing in his wake.

Shortly into the second half Judge went some way to atoning for his earlier error by producing an excellent stop from Foster after a clever Giggs through ball.

The lively visitors were looking dangerous on the break and Judge had to be alert to deny Foster for the third time. It therefore came as a surprise when the Blues extended their advantage in the 61st minute thanks to a moment of magic from Booth.

The recalled winger collected Wilde’s lay-off before cutting inside and letting fly with a 25-yard right footed stunner that beat Robertson all ends up.

The match petered out after that, but it ended on a bizarre note in injury-time when Josh Tinker was allowed by the officials to become Salford’s fourth substitute of the night.

Chester: Judge, Aspin, Horan, Ruffer, Stones, Beck, A Williams (Barnes 28), Field, Booth, Simm, Wilde (Wilson 64). Subs: Jones, C Williams, St Juste.

Goals: Beck 25, Simm 31, Booth 61.

Salford: Robertson, Gamble, Woodford (Cross 16), Ayres, Hockenhull (Tinker 90), Headley (Redhsaw 58), Morning, Andrews, Goodeve, Giggs (Thomas 83), Foster.

Goal:  Giggs 28.

Referee: Danny Gratton (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 2,014.