CHESTER FC booked their place in the last 32 of the FA Trophy after thrashing North Ferriby United for the second time this season in an entertaining clash at a bitterly cold Grange Lane.

Michael Wilde bagged two, Matty McNeil, Iain Howard and Antoni Sarcevic also netted, and the Blues could even afford to miss a penalty as they easily booked their place in the hat for the second round.

Chester have scored 11 goals against The Villagers in their last two meetings, but after an even first half-hour nobody could have expected the goal glut that followed Wilde’s opener.

It came on 38 minutes when the Blues striker stabbed home after a scramble in the box.

The hosts failed to clear their lines and after the ball fell loose following a challenge from McNeil on goalkeeper Steve Wilson, Wilde was on hand to bundle the ball over the line.

The Blues second was anything but scrappy as McNeil got his name on the scoresheet, finishing off a brilliant flowing move a minute into added time at the end of the first half.

Howard fed Wilde down the left and he in turn slid an inviting ball across the six-yard box which his strike partner gratefully dispatched.

Wilde added his second just two minutes after the break, smashing the ball into the roof of the net after a Sarcevic corner fell kindly for him in the six-yard box.

Chester had a glorious chance to make it four in the 54thminute when Sarcevic was fouled in the box, but the usually reliable Matty McGinn failed to convert his spot kick as Wilson saved well low to his left.

The hosts then won a penalty of their own after Alex Brown bundled over winger Alex Davidson.

Paul Harsley stepped up and made no mistake, coolly slotting passed John Danby in the 58thminute.

Chester restored their three goal advantage just two minutes later as Sarcevic burst into the right-hand side of the box before driving a low shot under the body of Wilson.

In the 72ndminute Howard rounded off the scoring smashing home after neat work down the right from the excellent Wilde.

North Ferriby United: Wilson, Williams, Larvin, Harsley (Clarke 74), Foot, Denton, Brooksby, Fry, Bolder, Bradshaw, Davidson.

Chester: Danby, Brownhill, McGinn, Smith, Taylor, Brown, Sarcevic (Baynes 65), Powell, McNeil (Simm 74), Wilde (Ellison 74), Howard.

Booked: McGinn, Brown, Smith.

Goals: Wilde 38 & 47, McNeil 45, Harsley 58, Sarcevic 60, Howard 72.

Referee: J Whitely.

Attendance: 510