The gap between Chester FC and safety in the National League continues to widen.

And while the chances of survival may sit somewhere between slim and zero hope, Marcus Bignot's side must keep on fighting until the very last, however difficult the task may be.

Today it is a long trip south to London to take on a Sutton United side who sit second in the table and who are gunning for promotion to the Football League.

Heading into today's game the Blues are eight points off safety and looking near certainties for the drop into the National League North next season.

We'll bring you match build-up, team news and all the action as it happens from Gander Green Lane throughout the afternoon

You can also follow us on Twitter @ChesterFC_Chron.

Marcus Bignot's verdict

Here’s what he had to say.

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Match report

HERE is how the action panned out at Gander Green Lane.

Chester manager Marcus Bignot
Chester manager Marcus Bignot (Image: Terry Marland)
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Full time: Sutton 3 Chester 2

No late fightback as the Blues head closer to the trap door.

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GOAL! Sutton 3 Chester 2

Harry White fires home the penalty - 87 mins.

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Penalty Chester!

Akintunde pushed.

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GOAL! Sutton 3 Chester 1

Ross Stearn curls home from 20 yards. Superb strike. 78 mins.

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Double Chester change

Mahon and Archer - ON

Vose and Crawford - OFF

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Attendance

Crowd of 2,195 with 116 from Chester.

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Booking

Tom Crawford into the ref’s book. Yellow.

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Held

Jamie Butler gathers a Tom Crawford 20-yarder comfortably.

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Yellow

Sutton’s Tom Bolarinwa booked for trip on Roberts.

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We have a game

Both sides now going for this. Chester playing a higher line and looking more threatening going forward. But the home side go close through Stearn. Could be a decent last 25 minutes.

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Sutton change

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GOAL! Sutton 2 Chester 1

James Akintunde pokes home from close range. 60 mins.

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Booking

Dean Beckwith shown a yellow or trip on Akintunde.

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Saved

Stearn skips into Chester area and draws a save at the near post from Firth.

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Stymied

Jamie Butler out well to smother a through ball at the feet of Harry White.

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Fine effort

Kenny Davis hits a sweet strike from 25 yards that fizzes just over.

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Close

Sutton corner ball flashed across the box but nobody able to get a telling touch. Chester goal kick.

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Second half kicks off

The first five seconds sees Sutton already apply some pressure.

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Chester sub

Rowe-Turner on for Anderson at the break.

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Table doesn't lie

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Second best

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Half time: Sutton 2 Chester 0

Beautyman and Harrison goals have the U’s up at the break - and they totally deserve it. Chester have been second best by a country mile and hard to see any way back for them here this afternoon.

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GOAL! Sutton 2 Chester 0

Byron Harrison 45+2. Woeful defending from Chester from a corner. Header at the far post causes mayhem and Harrison turns it goalwards, although it looks like a Chester body got the final touch.

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Vose booked

Late tackle on Eastmond.

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Great tackle

Wonderful full-blooded challenge from James Jones to deny Byron Harrison from breaking through one on one. Been Chester’s best player so far.

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Sutton bossing it

Sutton dominating possession but not asking as many questions of Firth as U’s boss Paul Doswell would have hoped. It is, though, proving a simple task for them as Chester are unable to get any kind of foothold in the game. Poor.

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Up and about

Firth right as rain now. Play continues.

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Chalked off

Offside flag raised as Thomas heads home. Firth couldn’t claim the ball and is down injured.

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