THE Blues produced one of the best performances since the club reformed to close the gap at the summit of the Blue Square Bet North to a single point.

Iain Howard hit a hat-trick, Antoni Sarcevic bagged a brace and Nathan Jarman also got his name on the scoresheet as Neil Young’s outstanding side made it eight wins from their opening nine matches.

An afternoon to remember was made even more memorable by the news that table-topping Brackley Town had dropped their first points of the season by drawing 1-1 with Colwyn Bay.

Chester were bidding to bounce back from the disappointing defeat – their first of the campaign after seven straight victories – at Boston United in their last league outing.

Since then Blues boss Young has made two new signings in the shape of prolific striker Tony Gray and highly rated right-back Luke Denson.

Neither featured in Young’s startling line-up. Gray had to settle for a place on the bench and Denson in the stands after his international clearance did not come through in time.

Both would have been mightily impressed by their new team’s display in the first half. Chester were simply sensational.

They took a four-goal lead into the break and Stalybridge – bossed by former Chester City manager Jim Harvey – could have had no complaints had the half-time scoreline been even more emphatic.

Harvey’s full-time side, who had won five of their last six games, were out-thought and out-fought by the relentless visitors.

Marc Williams forced Alex Cairns into a routine save and the classy Scott Brown blazed over when well placed before Sarcevic opened the floodgates in the 20th minute with his first goal of the season.

The former Crewe Alexandra star latched on to Jarman’s fortuitous through pass and planted a left-footed first-time finish past Cairns from 10 yards.

The hardworking Jarman took his tally for the term up to four when he extended Chester’s advantage in the 33rd minute.

A raking free kick into the box by Wes Baynes – man of the match in the eyes of injured captain George Horan – was headed down by stand-in skipper Paul Linwood and into the path of Howard.

The winger saw his cross-shot saved but Jarman was on hand to hammer home the rebound.

Howard got in on the act three minutes later, the one-time Manchester United youngster firing home from 12 yards after Williams played him in with a perfectly weighted pass.

Howard doubled his tally two minutes before the interval with as good a goal as you will see this or any season.

Williams escaped down the right and drove a cross to the back post toward Howard, who showed incredible athleticism to send an acrobatic volley back across goal and into the bottom corner of the net. It was a breathtaking effort reminiscent of Marco van Basten’s for Holland in the Euro 88 final.

A horrible defensive mix-up between Kristian Platt and Joel Bembo-Leta allowed Sarcevic to also score his second two minutes into the second half.

And soon after the superb midfielder went close to completing his treble with a lovely curling shot which came back off the bar.

Shell-shocked Stalybridge went on to enjoy their best spell of the match, which resulted in Jack Laird reducing the deficit on the hour with a neat left-footed strike from the edge of the area.

The brilliant Blues hit back 13 minutes later.

Sarcevic burst through on goal. He tried to round Cairns but the ball broke for Howard to tap in his eighth goal of the campaign and make it his first hat-trick for the club.

The hosts rounded off the scoring three minutes from time, Jordan Barrow converting after John Danby had made a stunning double stop from Jamie Mullan.

Stalybridge: Cairns, Bleau (Haywood 69), Platt, Bembo-Leta, Lees, Warburton (Barrow 55), Pepper (Mullan 33), Wilkinson, Austin, Gregory, Laird. Subs: Sheriff, Woodhouse.

Booked: Warburton.

Goals: Laird 60, Barrow 87.

Chester: Danby, Baynes, Collins, Linwood, McGinn, Hankin (Mackin 68), Brown, Sarcevic, Howard (Clancy 73), Jarman, M Williams (Gray 55). Subs: Horan, A Williams.

Booked: Baynes, Howard.

Goals: Sarcevic 20, 47, Jarman 33, Howard 36, 43, 73.

Referee: Alf Greenwood (York).

Attendance: 1,193.