CHESTER took a massive step toward winning Evo-Stik League First Division North after George Horan headed them to victory in their biggest match of the season so far.

A sixth straight league success, secured by captain Horan’s 72nd-minute strike, ensured the Blues pulled 12 points clear of a second-placed Skelmersdale side Neil Young believes are the biggest threat to his table-topping team sealing the title.

While Tommy Lawson’s men are not out of the running, the championship is now Chester’s to lose after they stretched their unbeaten league run to 13 games.

But the outcome may have been different had Horan not escaped a red card 11 minutes before he settled a tense top-of-the-table clash.

Both sides are closing in on 100 league goals for the campaign but, given the magnitude of the match, they reined in their attacking instincts in an opening period in which chances were few and far between.

It was the hosts who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 26th minute when Matty McGinn hit the post.

There seemed little danger when the ball fell to the on-loan Southport midfielder wide out on the left, but his speculative cross-shot had Adam Judge beaten and it would have nestled in the back of the net had it not been for the woodwork.

Chester’s response was impressive and they themselves came desperately close 11 minutes later through Horan.

Rising highest to meet a Greg Stones corner from the right, the centre-back saw his goal-bound header cleared off the line by Paul Woolcott.

Neither goalkeeper had yet to make a save of note, but that changed on the stroke of half-time when Tom Brocklehurst did brilliantly to palm away Chris Simm’s acrobatic 12-yard volley.

After finishing the first half on the back foot, Skem came flying out the traps after the restart and Chris Almond tamely shot straight at Judge when well placed.

The game was opening up and, after Michael Wilde had an effort ruled out for offside, the Blues top-scorer headed just over after Horan flicked on a Stones free kick.

Skem hit back and Horan could have been sent-off in the 61st minute for bringing down Ryan Wade on the edge of the area when the striker was bearing down on Judge.

With Stones coming across to cover, Horan got away with a yellow card – and he took full advantage of the let-off by going on to score his eighth and most important goal of the season.

Stones’ right-wing corner was measured to perfection and Horan powered an unstoppable header past Brocklehurst into the top corner.

Skelmersdale: Brocklehurst, Strickland, Akrigg, Roberts, Peet, Woolcott, Parle, Armstrong, McGinn, Almond, Wade. Subs: Tuck, Mulvaney, Burke, O’Donnell, Paxton.

Chester: Judge, Aspin, Horan, Ruffer, Stones, Beck, A Williams, Barnes (Field 66), Simm (Wilson 85), Wilde, Gritton (Booth 59). Subs: Taylor, Whiteside.

Booked: Beck, Horan, Simm, A Williams.

Goal: Horan 72.

Referee: GT Scott (Manchester).

Attendance: 1,171.