BEN Mills hit a hat-trick as the brilliant Blues made it seven wins from seven by cruising to victory in their big top-of-the-table clash.

Both sides went into the game on the back of midweek successes which stretched their winning starts to six matches.

But there was only team in it from the moment Mills broke the deadlock in the fifth minute.

The hitman went on to score two more to take his tally up to nine in seven games since signing on loan from Macclesfield Town.

It was left up to Iain Howard to add a late fourth as Neil Youngs men totally overwhelmed a desperately disappointing Guiseley side.

The emphatic win moved Chester above the Yorkshiremen into second and level on points with table-topping Brackley Town, whose 1-0 victory at Bradford Park Avenue means they too have taken an incredible 21 points from 21.

The huge effort the Blues put into beating FC Halifax Town on Wednesday was reflected in Youngs line-up, the Chester boss making six changes to the team which started against the Shaymen.

The fit-again John Danby, Wes Baynes, Levi Mackin, Antoni Sarcevic and Marc Williams returned while new midfielder Scott Brown was handed his debut.

Young also revealed before the match that out-of-favour forward Adam Proudlock had been released from his contract by mutual consent.

Blues fans will hope Proudlocks departure will help free up funds for the permanent signature of man-of-the-moment Mills.

The striker continued his sensational form with two goals inside the first 25 minutes. Both were slightly on the fortunate side. p

His first, five minutes in, was smashed into the roof of the net after he made a hash of his initial attempt.

His second, 20 minutes later, owed everything to a terrible error from Steve Drench.

Credit to Mills, the way he controlled a raking Baynes pass on his chest was impressive. But his 25-yard shot that followed really should have been saved by Drench, the ball rolling over the hapless Guiseley goalkeepers body and into the net.

In between the visitors twice went close to equalising.

Firstly James Walshaw hit the post from a difficult angle after a breakdown in communication between Danby and Baynes before Simon Ainge flashed a header just wide from a corner.

Those were but brief scares, however, and Sarcevic forced Drench into a reflex save after he collected a clever pass from Williams.

Guiseley, looking anything but a side with a 100% winning record, were given a half-time dressing down on the pitch by coach Chris Holland before trudging down the tunnel.

His words ultimately fell on deaf ears as Chester, who are now unbeaten in their last 23 competitive contests, continued to dominate after the break.

The neat-and-tidy Brown shot straight at Drench when he had the space to do better before the moment the sun-kissed Exacta Stadium faithful had been waiting for arrived on the hour.

A super Baynes free kick to the back post found Horan, who nodded the ball back for Mills to head home his hat-trick goal.

Totally dispirited Guiseley would have fallen further behind had Drench not made amends for his earlier error by denying Mackin and Sarcevic from distance.

But Drench was beaten in the 84th minute by super-sub Howard, who was given too much time to drill home from the edge of the area.

Chester: Danby, Baynes, Horan, Linwood, McGinn, Hankin, Mackin, Brown (A Williams 86), Sarcevic (Howard 80), Mills (Jarman 78), M Williams. Subs: Collins, Powell.

Booked: Brown.

Goals: Mills 5, 25, 60, Howard 84.

Guiseley: Drench, Holdsworth, McWilliams, Meynell (Clarke 36), Ellis, Ainge, Brogan (Brooksby 66), Boshell (Dale 79), Wilson, Walshaw, Rothery. Subs: Bower, Giles.

Referee: Mark Ackerman (Manchester).

Attendance: 2,937.