TABLE-TOPPING Chester moved within six wins of the Blue Square Bet North title after they stretched their record-breaking unbeaten league run to 25 games with a thoroughly professional performance.

Strike-partners Nathan Jarman and Tony Gray scored either side of half-time before Matty McGinn effectively ended an enjoyable encounter played on a mud bath of pitch.

Heavy downpours on the morning of the match left standing water all across the CNG Stadium surface.

But to the surprise of the hundreds of Blues supporters who made their way up to North Yorkshire, referee Adrian Holmes deemed the pitch playable after inspections at 1pm and 2pm.

That little football was played in the first half came as no surprise given the dreadful conditions.

But credit Chester, after surviving an early scare they took control of the contest and fully deserved their half-time lead, given to them by Jarman’s 17th goal of the campaign.

Harrogate went into the game – their fourth in eight days – in buoyant mood after they won 2-1 at The Shay on Thursday to end play-off rivals FC Halifax Town’s nine-match unbeaten league run.

Their confidence was evident in the opening stages and a 15-yard shot from star signing Dominic Knowles went inches wide of the upright.

The closest the Blues came in the opening 30 minutes was when an inswinging Antoni Sarcevic free kick would have been turned into his own goal by Paul Bolland had Craig MacGillivray not reacted smartly.

But slowly but surely Neil Young’s side began to turn the screw, Sarcevic curling a measured attempt from the angle of the area just past the post before Jarman broke the deadlock in the 37th minute.

A McGinn free kick into box broke to the recalled striker, who showed superb athleticism and technique to send a scissor kick towards goal.

MacGillivray got his hands to the ball. However the Town goalkeeper let it slip through his hands, rendering him helpless as it squirmed over the line.

Chester – who remain 16 points clear at the summit – continued where they left off at the start of the second half and they wasted a chance to double the advantage in the 53rd minute.

George Horan rose highest to meet a Sarcevic free kick. His downward header was parried by MacGillivray into the path of Gray, whose effort sailed harmlessly over the bar.

The in-form forward made amends three minutes later.

A McGinn cross to the back post was chipped to perfection and Gray gave it the finished it deserved, looping a header over the stranded MacGillivray.

At that stage of the match Chester were rampant, McGinn stinging the hands of the increasingly busy MacGillivray and then seeing a wonderful 30-yard free kick come back off the bar.

It came as no surprise, then, when the visitors extended their lead in the 72nd minute as substitute Dave Hankin’s cross from the byline was bundled over the line by McGinn.

The hosts reduced the deficit in the 75th minute with a superbly struck Knowles free kick and they would have set up a grandstand finish had Danby not done brilliantly to deny Chib Chilaka.

Harrogate: MacGillivray, Samuels, Bloomer, Killock, Merris, Platt, Dean (Elam 64), Bolland, Knowles, Nowakowski (Hardy 75), Chilaka. Subs: White, Youhill, da Veiga.

Goal: Knowles 75.

Chester: Danby, Collins, Horan, Linwood, D Williams, Daniels (Hankin 58) Sarcevic, N Turner, McGinn, Gray, Jarman (A Williams 90). Subs: Trundle, Howard, M Williams.

Booked: Collins.

Goals: Jarman 37, Gray 56, Samuels OG 72.

Referee: Adrian Holmes (Castleford).

Attendance: 815.