CHESTER came from behind to move three points clear at the top with a potentially vital victory in the race for the title.

Wes Baynes cancelled out Thomas Moore’s early opener before top scorer Matty McGinn sealed a superb win achieved in spite of the fact Iain Howard was sent-off 10 minutes into the second half.

Howard’s harsh dismissal put the Blues, who have now won their last six matches in all competitions, on the back foot. But they remained steadfast in the face of a strong Marine side who broke the deadlock in the third minute with a goal of real quality.

John Danby was left flatfooted as midfielder Moore curled a superb 25-yard free kick around the wall and into the roof of the net to give the Merseysiders the lead.

It was a magnificent strike but Neil Young’s men responded well to the setback and Alex Brown should have done better than fire over after Matty McNeil knocked down a Howard cross to the edge of the box.

That would have proved to have been a costly miss had it not been for the reactions of Danby.

The Blues goalkeeper raced off his line to save from Aaron Rey before he produced an even better stop to deny the same player.

The play-off chasing hosts, who were gunning for their fifth straight home success, were the better team before the break and Moore went close with another long-range free kick.

But the visitors got themselves back on level terms two minutes before half-time thanks to a well-taken finish from Baynes, who was recalled to the side after Antoni Sarcevic was dropped to the bench as punishment for turning up late.

Brown showed neat footwork before rolling the ball into the path of Michael Wilde. The striker held it up and then squared a pass for Baynes to side-foot home from 12 yards out.

It was a delightful goal. Better was to come, however, when left-back McGinn netted his eighth penalty and 11th goal of the season in the 53rd minute.

Howard latched on to a through pass from Wilde and was adjudged to have been tripped just inside the area. McGinn, who missed from the spot in last week’s FA Trophy victory at North Ferriby United, did the rest although Ryan McMahon will be disappointed the ball was able to squirm under his body.

The home fans were furious with the decision but their anger turned to joy two minutes later when Howard was controversially shown a second yellow card for an innocuous handball.

As with his first caution, the winger had every reason to feel hard done by a set of officials who drew the ire of both managers after the game.

Chester boss Young brought on debutant Jack Duggan and Sarcevic and switched to five at the back but only after his assistant Gary Jones was sent to the stands for taking his protests too far.

Marine piled forward but time and again they were thwarted by some stoic defending, summed up best when Danby and the impressive Duggan somehow managed to prevent former Blues trialist Carl Gargan from scoring from close range seven minutes from time.

Chester, roared on by a massive travelling support, saw out the rest of the match to ensure they go into the big Boxing Day derby at second-placed Northwich Victoria as the clear leaders.

Marine: McMahon, Fowler, Shaw, M Brown, L Barnes, P Brown, Lawton (Lundon 9), Moore, Rey, Harvey, Dawson (Gargan 64). Subs: S Barnes, Duff, Williams.

Booked: M Brown 26.

Goal: Moore 3.

Chester: Danby, Brownhill (Duggan 62), Smith, Taylor, McGinn, Baynes, Brown, Powell, Howard, McNeil (Simm 71), Wilde (Sarcevic 62). Subs: Booth, Judge.

Booked: Howard.

Sent-off: Howard 55.

Goals: Baynes 43, McGinn 53pen.

Referee: Barry Lamb (Manchester).

Attendance: 1,268.