WINNINGTON lost a two-goal lead and were beaten by a controversial penalty at Manchester on Saturday.
They stormed into the lead when Chris Mottershaw jinked into the circle and produced a bottom corner finish.
Then Mark Leigh, on his return to the first team after injury, increased the lead from a penalty corner.
Northern countered, brought several saves from John Paul Dodd and then reduced the arrears.
But when Andrew Jackson sent Mottershaw through on goal again and the striker claimed his second, thanks to a lucky bobble through the goalkeeper's legs after mishitting his shot, Winnington appeared to be back in command.
But the visitors were forced onto the back foot and had to withstand a period of sustained pressure.
Stout defending from a back line, in which Jeff Dodd and Steve Banton were outstanding, helped to keep Northern at bay until the stroke of half-time when the home side scored a fine second goal.
The second half saw more pressure put on the Winnington de-fence, with John Paul Dodd kept busy throughout the half and producing a string of stick saves and it was only due to a cruel bounce that the Dodd was eventually beaten for Northern's equaliser.
Unfortunately, the hard fought contest was soured when Northern were awarded a controversial penalty corner from which they scored the deciding goal 10 minutes from time.
Chester 3rds 3 Winnington 2nds 2: The 2nds were left 10 points adrift of leaders Macclesfield.
The hosts took the lead but were soon pegged back as John Lavin scored his 14th league goal of the campaign.
Simon Pinson added a second for Park from the penalty spot, but the game was turned on its head when the visitors had two players consigned to the sin bin and John Stackhouse was dismissed for robustly querying a decision, and Chester ran out winners.
Peter Evans (4), Mark Whalley (3), Rick Jagielka, Tim Boxall John Crouchley were the scorers in Park 3rds' 10-0 win over Bowdon 5th.
Park 4th and Chester 6th shared six goals in a friendly. Tom Hughes (2) and Jonathan Green scored.
