CHESTER gave their fans an extravagant Christmas present on Saturday as they routed the team which had beaten Conference title rivals Hereford seven days earlier.

Still smarting from their 2-1 home defeat by Stevenage Borough a week earlier Chester were determined to bounce back in style - and they did, inspired by a Daryl Clare hat-trick.

With the games at nearby Wolves and Birmingham postponed because of waterlogged pitches the playing surface at the Lamb Ground was surprisingly good and City made the most of it to outplay the hosts from start to finish.

Carl Ruffer put them on their way by poking the ball; home at the near post from a Kevin McIntyre cross in the 19th minute and from then on there was no looking back.

Clare grabbed his first on 37 minutes following good work by debutant Karl Regan, signed the day before on loan from Hull City, and three minutes into the second half Clare was on the mark again from Alex Smith's pass.

Smith scored himself om 70 minutes with a clever chip over the goalkeeper from a return pass by Darryn Stamp and although substitute Norman Sylla pegged one back three minutes later Clare wrapped it up in the 82nd minute with a close range shot after Richard Brush had failed to gather a Smith corner.

City are back in action on Boxing Day with a home game against Leigh RMI (3pm).

Chester: McCaldon, Collins, McIntyre (Bolland 79), Carden, Smith (Harris 85), Carey. Regan, Clare (Rapley 85), Stamp, Ruffer, Guyett. Subs: Davies, Foster.

Attendance: 1,520.