Danny Higginbotham’s first goal for the Blues just wasn’t enough as Chester were agonisingly beaten 3-2 by fellow strugglers Gateshead.

It was a case of dejavu for Neil Young’s side who were coming off the back off another two game unbeaten run only to fall to a disappointing away defeat.

Young opted for a more defensive approach as he made two changes from the 0-0 stalemate with Grimsby at the weekend. Nathan Turner was brought back into the side with Ashley Williams back from suspension in a 4-5-1 line-up.

But it was the hosts that took the early initiative – 52 seconds in, to be exact - in simply stunning fashion. Former Chelsea defender Carl Magnay opened the scoring with a blistering strike from some 40-yards out. George Horan’s tame headed clearance from a corner fell to the left back and his scintillating drive flew into the back of net, giving Danby no chance.

Nathan Turner almost grabbed an equaliser ten minutes later with a ferocious drive but his effort skimmed the top of the cross bar from 20-yards.

The Blues did eventually get back on level terms 27 minutes in when a wonderfully weighted ball from Michael Kay – playing against his former team – found Lewis Turner in space on the right side. Turner pulled the back for Danny Harrison who calmly slotted his effort in from close range.

And it could so easily have been 2-1 to the Blues before the interval as the impressive Gareth Seddon wriggled himself free on the right. His cross-found Lewis Turner free in the 6-yard box but his first touch let him down as the ball went out of play.

The Blues began the second half very sluggish and were unduly punished for their poor defending as two goals in two minutes from the hosts turned the game in their favour.

First John Danby’s poor save enabled Jordan Hugill to slot in from point blank range for his first goal for the club 54 minutes in.

Then Colin Larkin added a third after James Brown unlocked the Blues defence before the striker lifted the ball beautifully over the onrushing Danby.

The visitors tried in vain to respond but their attacking engine spluttered into life as Neil Young attempted to get his side into gear.

Higginbotham dragged his side back init with his first goal for the club in the 74th minute. He chested the ball with consummate ease and rifled in a terrific effort to give the visitors a lifeline.

By then it was too little too late.

To add to their woes Kevin McIntyre was sent off late in the game after he cynically hauled down Marcus Maddison, leaving the referee no choice.

The Blues will be hoping they can turn this dismal defeat around when they travel to high flyers Halifax on Saturday. 

REF: Richard Wigglesworth (Doncaster)

STADIUM: International Stadium

ATT: 610 (140)

CHESTER FC (4-5-1): Danby, Kay, Higginbotham, Horan, Pugh (Chippendale), L Turner, N Turner, McIntyre, Williams (Mills), Harrison, Seddon (Titchiner)

Subs: Mills, Linwood, Lindfield,

Cards: Kay (Y)

GATESHEAD (4-3-3): Bartlett, Magnay, Curtis, Clark, Larkin, Turnbull, Cummins, Brown (Maddison), Marwood, Hugill (Hatch), Lelan

Subs: Boyes, Baxter, Ramshaw

Cards: Hugill (Y)