It was with some trepidation that the Blues approached the match with unbeaten Section B side The Northgate. Despite containing a few members of a local nursing home the Northgate were sure to be a stiff test for an under strength Chester side.

The Blues started the game quite brightly and although never really threatening the opposition goal. Some stout defending ensured that the Blues more than held their own against a team that played some sexy football in the league of Britney Spears. The defence held an excellent line with towering Welshman Gareth Edwards having a storming game as he marked Brian Potts out of the game. The Northgate soon began to step things up and put the defence under some pressure with James Green having to make a couple of good saves. Eventually the Section B side took the lead via the boot of Blues centre half John Hocking who clearly must have developed a hearing problem after ignoring Green's shout for the second time in two weeks, or maybe he just wants to see his name on the scoresheet? Another shortage of communication handed Northgate a second after twenty three minutes as Green called for a ball, Edwards was slow to react and the ball fell to Brian Potts who makes no mistake from inside the box. For the next twenty minutes Chester battled strongly with both Paul Brazier and Alun Griffith making a series of brutal challenges in the engine room. Then disaster struck.

The back four decided to push the line up and this allowed Brian Potts an eternity to beat James Green. Northgate scored again two minutes later after Green spilled a cross and despite his best efforts to redeem himself the ball was rammed home.

The Blues looked set to collapse but the whistle came in just in time and the Blues trundled off at half time. Paul Brazier switched young Alan Hitchin for the ginger ninja Kev Thomas and the Blues were still very confident as they came out for the second half.

The second half started well and Kev Thomas added some more steel to the titanium like midfield of Brazier, Vile and Griffith. Steve Evans, making his full debut up front, and Lee Miller made a couple of in roads into the opposition defence and Steve Painter provided ample cover from right back. However Northgate extended their lead in controversial fashion. Vile went down with an injury in the opposition 18 yard box. The referee stopped the game and told Northgate to return the ball to Blues keeper Green to restart the game. As the ball was knocked down field opposition striker Brain Potts charged after it and slid it past James Green. The referee had no option but to give the goal and this upset a number of Chester players who questioned both Potts' behaviour and parentage. Potts later claimed he had been talking to somebody and did not know what was happening but I reckon he could smell the hat trick a mile off and it was the only way he was going to be able to shake off Edwards. Paul Brazier made two more changes bringing both Neil Howell and Craig Phillips on for Lee Miller and Steve Evans who was later handed the man of the match award.

It did not take long for Howell to make an impact as he wrestled a number of opponents to the ground and followed the display of brutality up with a deft chip which eluded the Northgate keeper. Chester continued to battle on but soon found themselves stretched as Green pulled off a number of saves but could nothing to stop the sixth Northgate goal. But Chester showed the fighting spirit that is associated with them and Neil Howell scored a stunning second just before the final whistle. The Blues were by no means disgraced against a team who are sure to be Section A material next season. Chester can take heart from this performance with the defence and midfield departments looking much improved.