CHESTER CITY squandered two points in their quest for the Nationwide Conference championship after letting a 3-1 half-time lead slip against a spirited, if somewhat pedestrian, Accrington Stanley side at the Deva Stadium last night.

City looked to be coasting at the break, but a defensive horror show in the second period was their downfall.

Ben Davies headed the home side into the lead after 18 minutes, following good work down the right by Brady.

Stamp had a golden opportunity to double Chester's advantage two minutes later, but he blazed the ball well wide with only Kennedy in the home goal to beat. Thirty seconds later Accrington came forward and equalised.

Former Burnley and Tranmere midfielder Paul Cook lashed the ball home from 20 yards, the effort taking a deflection as it fizzed into the net.

The home side came back well, Davies and Brady bringing out saves from Kennedy in the visitors' goal and six minutes from the break Daryl Clare, who seems to be finding his old sharpness, restored Chester's lead. The former Boston United hot-shot took advantage of a mistake by Jon Smith and headed home from close range.

On the stroke of half-time Clare headed his second of the evening.

Kennedy pushed the striker's header against the underside of the bar, but the momentum of the ball took it over the line.

Chester's superiority of the first half evaporated completely in the second, as they looked a pale shadow of the team that had dominated the majority of the opening 45 minutes.

After 63 minutes a cross from the left by Prendergast, saw the City defence ball-watching which allowed Lutel James the opportunity to score a simple goal from close range.

The Lancastrians were buoyed by this effort, and came into the game strongly. Mullin and James both went close, and Brown was forced to make a save from Prendergast.

With nine minutes of the game remaining a dreadful defensive mix-up saw Prendergast's high ball being missed by the statuesque City defenders, and creeping into the net past Brown's despairing dive.

Worse could have occurred three minutes from the end, but Brown did well to save a 20-yard free-kick from Cavanagh.

City will point to the fact they were without two of their regular defenders, with Carl Ruffer and Phil Bolland both suffering from ankle injuries, and while make-shift central defender Andy Harris tried hard, he failed to come to terms in the second period with the flow of the game.

After the match City's assistant manager Steve Bleasdale said: "We did well in the first period, but unfortunately we let ourselves down in the second and that was disappointing."

CHESTER CITY: Brown, Collins, McIntyre, A Smith, Davies, Clare (Foster 88), Brady, Carey, Harris, Guyett, Stamp (Rapley 88). Subs: McCaldon, Carden, Heard.

REFEREE: Mr D Foster (Tyne & Wear)

ATTENDANCE: 2,432.