CHESTER FC moved back to the top of the Blue Square Bet North table thanks to a thrilling first half performance, in manager Neil Young’s first game since going full-time with the club.

Young saw his Blues side race to a four-goal lead at the break thanks to efforts from captain George Horan, Nathan Jarman and a Tony Gray brace, while the hosts missed a penalty before battling back well in the second half, grabbing a goal through Shane Tolley.

The Blues boss named an unchanged side from the one which had picked up three points from Gloucester City last Sunday, with high profile new signing Ben Mills starting on the bench.

Chester started the game brightly and took the lead in the eighth minute thanks to Gray’s first league goal of the season. Scott Brown found Craig Curran and the on loan striker played the ball towards Nathan Jarman who smartly stepped over the pass, leaving it for Gray, who was unmarked and lifted the ball over Carl Pentney in the Histon goal.

After 22 minutes the Blues made it two, as Wes Baynes’ corner picked out Horan and he headed home at the near post.

Jarman continued his fine goal scoring form, netting his sixth league goal of the season, tapping home after some good work by Antoni Sarcevic, who beat two defenders and saw his effort saved by Pentney.

Curran forced a good save from Pentney before conceding a dubious penalty in the 31st minute for an alleged handball. Justice was done as John Danby saved well from a poor effort by James Stevenson, before doing brilliantly to tip over Lewis Taaffe’s rebound.

Gray rounded off the first half as he started it, by cutting in from the right side, beating two players and placing an effort into the far corner with his left foot for his second of the game.

Histon came out after the break revitalised and forced Danby into a string of good saves, with several good stops from Shane Tolley, and a saved one on one with substitute Matt Waters.

The hosts' pressure paid off as Tolley was able to tap in from three yards out after Claudiu Hoban picked him out with a cross. This led to Chester bringing on substitute Mills.

It was Histon who continued to press, however, and Danby again was forced into smart saves from Tolley, and did well to turn Hoban effort over the bar.

Baynes had a chance to increase Chester’s lead late on after Brown had played it through to him but his effort went inches past the far post from a tight angle. If Histon had taken their chances in the second half the game could have been a lot closer but as a result Chester moved a point clear of league leaders Brackley Town with a game in hand.

The biggest blow for Chester was that Brown picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning that he will miss the Brackley game.

Histon: Pentney, Roberts (Hawkins 45), Fitzsimons, Sear (Waters 45), Clerima (c), Mills, Taaffe (Freeman 75), Stevenson, Tolley, Dowie, Hoban. Subs: Ahmed, Ola

Goals: Tolley (61).

Chester: Danby, Baynes, D Williams, Horan, Collins, A Williams, Curran (M Williams 78), Sarcevic, Jarman (Mills 62), Gray (Hankin 66), Brown. Subs: Linwood, Howard,

Goals: Gray (8, 43), Horan (22), Jarman (29).

Booked: Scott Brown.

Referee: Mr A Quelch.

Attendance: 428.