THE Blues exited the Evo-Stik League Challenge Cup this evening as they tasted back-to-back defeats for the first time this season.

Goals either side of the break ended Neil Young’s side’s eight-match winning away run and ensured they were unable to bounce back from their disappointing weekend loss to Radcliffe Borough.

Chester created the better chances in a fairly forgettable encounter, but it was Newcastle who were the more clinical and it is they who will deservedly make the trip to Chasetown in the third round.

An uninspiring first half first burst into life in the 24th minute when the Blues thought they had opening the scoring.  

Rob Hopley’s centre found Robbie Booth and, although the winger miskicked his initial shot, he regained his composure to skip past Andrew White and cross for Kyle Wilson to prod the ball home from six yards – only for the linesmen’s flag to rule the striker’s effort out for offside.

There was no disputing the strike that fired the hosts in front five minutes later, though, as Alan Nagington collected Jordan Johnson’s cross and produced a delightful piece of skill just inside the box before sending an unstoppable left-footed angled drive into the corner of the net.

The First Division North leaders, showing five changes to the team that went down to Radcliffe on Saturday, responded immediately and they came within inches of equalising when Booth’s close-range lob sailed just past the post.

Hopley then wasted a brace of opportunities to level the contest before White cleared Stuart Jones’ header off the line from Chris Williams’ outswinging corner.

Chester were looking the likelier, but they were made to pay the price for failing to take their chances when the First Division South high flyers doubled their advantage four minutes after the restart.

Right-winger Johnson was once again the creator, with his cross delightfully nodded in by Wayne Teague, who looped his eight-yard header over the despairing dive of Sanna.

Substitute Steven Beck stung the hands of Daniel Read shortly after, but the visitors found it difficult to break down well-drilled Newcastle in the second half and they went close to conceding a third in the 73rd minute when Neville Thompson burst clear.

The sub saw his attempt well saved by Sanna and, when the ball broke to strike-partner Nagington, his goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by Williams.

Newcastle:  Read, Espley, Donnelly, Dicker, White, Johnson, Douglas, Skelton, Sheldon (Minor 73), Teague (Thompson 64), Nagington (Budrys 87). Subs: Connor, James.

Goals: Nagington 28, Teague 49.

Chester: Sanna, Jones, Ruffer, Horan, Williams, Connolly (McCready 73), Barnes, Graves, Booth (Aspin 64), Wilson (Beck 46), Hopley. Subs: Wilde, Field.

Referee: Anthony Horton (Wolverhampton).

Attendance: 187.