THE manager of the month curse struck Neil Young as Chester lost for only the second time in the league this season.

Young picked up his award before the match and then watched his table-topping side produce a lacklustre display on their return to Evo-Stik League First Division North action.

Twice lowly Radcliffe took the lead but twice they were pegged back by Michael Wilde, whose double strike took his tally for the term up to 19 goals in 19 games.

But there was no way back for the Blues after Mark Jones struck with virtually the last kick of the contest.

After a minute’s applause to commemorate the sixth anniversary of Harry McNally’s passing and in remembrance of former Chester stars Paul Raynor and John Butler, the Blues started their first outing in three weeks in positive fashion.

They have could have been two goals to the good inside the first three minutes, but former Manchester United youngster Nick Culkin just about kept out Wilde’s clever back flick before Kyle Wilson volleyed over from close range when well placed.

But the lowly visitors weathered the storm and they broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute after Chris Sanna got into the festive spirit in Chester’s final home game before Christmas.

The goalkeeper has not put a foot wrong since signing from Colwyn Bay, keeping clean sheets in his first four matches between the posts. But his form deserted him as he allowed Mark Connor’s innocuous shot from the angle of the area to slip through his fingers, leaving Simon Kelly to sweep the ball home.

Rather than sparking the hosts into life, the goal gave Radcliffe added impetus, with Sanna being forced to palm away a Famouo Sonko long-ranger.

So it came against the run of play when the Blues equalised six minutes before the break.

Moments earlier Wilson had shot straight at Culkin after being put through by Bradley Barnes, but he made amends when he produced an inch-perfect cross for strike-partner Wilde to send a superb 10-yard header past Culkin for goal number 18 of the campaign.

This was the time for Chester to kick on, but they were the happier team to hear the half-time whistle after Sanna went some way to atoning for his error with a top-drawer save from Connor.

Young would no doubt have had a few choice words for his off-colour players at the break. But although they showed signs of improvement after the restart, they still fell short of the high standards they have set themselves, and only another excellent stop from Sanna prevented Ben Manning’s free kick from curling in.

But there was little Sanna could do to stop Alastair Brown from firing the Greater Manchester outfit back in front in the 74th minute.

The right-back picked up possession just inside Chester’s half before striding forward and unleashing a magnificent 30-yard right-footed shot that flew into the top corner.

The Blues needed a response – and they got one two minutes later when Wilde nodded in substitute Mark Connolly’s corner to maintain his remarkable scoring record.

Radcliffe were now firmly on the back foot, but they started to break away in the dying stages and, after Tom Brooks missed a gilt-edged opportunity, captain Jones settled matters in injury-time as he was given the time and space to send a crisp effort into the corner of the net – bringing to an end Chester’s 10-game unbeaten league run.

Chester: Sanna, Stones, Jones, Ruffer, Williams, McCarthy (Connolly 65), Barnes, Field, Howard (Hopley 74), Wilde, Wilson. Subs: Booth, Beck, Graves. Booked: Jones.

Goals: Wilde 39, 76.

Radcliffe: Culkin, Brown, Kelly, S Connor, King (Brook 46), Sherlock, Sonko (Forrest 73), M Jones, Manning, M Connor (G Jones 65), Roscoe. Subs: Lourenco, Brobbin.

Booked: Sherlock.

Goals: Kelly 22, Brown 74, Jones 90.

Referee: Andy Scregg (Liverpool).

Attendance: 2,153.