THE ruthless Blues moved nine points clear of their main title rivals as they swept aside 10-man Skelmersdale to run out emphatic winners in this afternoon’s top-of-the-table clash.

Michael Wilde scored his 17th goal of the season to fire Neil Young’s table toppers in front in the 23rd minute and, although the top-scorer missed a penalty moments later after Steven Akrigg was sent-off, that did not prove costly.

Tom Field’s spot-kick doubled the lead shortly into the second half before Stuart Jones and new boy Jimmy McCarthy sealed Chester’s fifth Evo-Stik League First Division North win on the spin.

It was Skem who started the stronger - faster to the second balls, Tommy Lawson’s men should have gone ahead in the second minute when former Blues midfielder Kyle Armstrong flicked on Paul Woolcott’s cross from the left. But with the goal at his mercy, a stretching Akrigg could only fire wide from six yards out.

Relieved by the let off, the hosts threatened for the first time seven minutes later when Wilde headed over an inviting Chris Williams corner.

At this stage in the match the visitors were the better side, but their inability to deal with set-pieces into the box was becoming clear and Chester took full advantage to break the deadlock midway through the first half.

After a last-ditch Michael Burke tackle denied Kyle Wilson a clear run on goal, Field’s inswinging corner from the right was powerfully headed home by hitman Wilde to send the bumper Exacta Stadium crowd into rapture.

The home fans were still taking their seats when the Blues were given the chance to make it two goals in as many minutes after Wilde latched on to Carl Ruffer’s clearance and was pulled down in the area by last-man Akrigg.

The centre-back was given his marching orders, but Wilde could not double the punishment as his well-struck penalty was superbly saved by Andy Paxton, low to his right.

The impetus was now with Chester and Paxton produced an even better stop to deny the outstanding Ruffer before Wilde flashed a header inches wide from Field’s inswinging left-wing corner.

Half-time could not come quick enough for shell-shocked Skem, but their woes continued after the restart as the rampant Blues made full use of their one-man advantage.

It was Field who effectively killed the contest in the 51st minute. After Antoni Sarcevic was bundled over in the box by Aaron Turner, the ever-improving midfielder took over the spot-kick duties from Wilde and planted a firm shot into the roof of the net.

And better was to come 12 minutes later as right-back Jones fired in from close range after Wilde and George Horan had efforts blocked.

It was left up to McCarthy to complete the scoring in the 84th minute as he raced on to fellow substitute Alex Titchener’s pass before fooling Paxton and tapping the ball into the empty goal.

Chester: Sanna, Jones, Horan, Ruffer, Williams, Sarcevic (Titchener 83), Barnes (Stones 77), Field, Howard, Wilde (McCarthy 72), Wilson. Subs: Connolly, Graves.  

Booked: Barnes, Sarcevic, Howard.

Goals: Wilde 23, Field 51pen, Jones 63, McCarthy 84.

Skelmersdale: Paxton, McIntosh, Burke, Akrigg, Byrne, Woolcott, Turner, Armstrong, Latham (Parle 64), O’Donnell (Wade 64), Almond. Subs: Strickland, Towey, Mawdsley.

Sent-off: Akrigg 25.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire).

Attendance: 2,714.