Chester and Leamington fought out a 3-3 draw on Saturday. The Blues twice came from behind and rescued a point with a superb late free-kick from Matty Waters. Chester fell behind on 15 minutes as March poked the ball home from six yards following a long throw-in into the box. Chester leveled four minutes later through James Jones who headed home a Joel Taylor corner. Leamington missed a great chance to restore their lead as March missed a penalty after the striker had been fouled by Jones.

Chester started the second half with a goal inside the first minute as George Glendon scored his first Blues goal shooting low past Weaver following an Anthony Dudley lay-off. Leamington soon restored parity as a looping Edwards header beat Russell Griffiths.

Twelve from time Kaiman Anderson beat the Blues defence to the ball and scored past Griffiths to restore the visitors' lead. It looked like all three points were going back to the Midlands, but as the game entered stoppage time a foul on Simon Grand allowed Waters to fire home the free kick off the underside of the bar to rescue a point that leaved Chester in second place in the table.

Striker Akwasi Asante bagged himself the match ball as his hat-trick guided Chester to a third successive 3-1 victory, this time at Telford United, which moved the Blues to second place in the table a point behind leaders York City. Hot property Asante has now scored 11 goals in 5+3 appearances this season.

Backed by a traveling support numbering 775, Chester struck first in the 11th minute. Asante had already gone close shooting just wide following good approach play from Bradley Jackson, when he rose to head home Matty Hughes’ right wing cross. The Blues began to dominate and doubled their lead 11 minutes later. A defence splitting through ball from the excellent Joel Taylor saw Asante through on goal, his initial shot his the post but he slammed home the rebound as Chester took a two goal lead into the break, and received a tremendous reception from their fans as they left the pitch.

A fine save from Andy Wycherley at the feet on Asante denied the striker a third goal but it duly arrived on 62 minutes as Jackson’s burst of pace down the right saw him cross, the ball was partially saved by Wycherley but only into the path of Asante who coolly found the net before grabbing the ball and sticking it up his shirt.

Russell Griffiths made a great save with his legs to deny Darry Knights, but on 69 minutes substitute Lewis Reilly headed home unmarked to reduce the arrears. Ten minutes from time Chester were down to ten men as Jamie Morgan, who had deputised at right back well for the injured Kevin Roberts was given a straight red card for a heavy tackle on Chris Lait.

A delighted joint manager Anthony Johnson said after the game: “We look like we’re getting better. Each performance looks like we’re getting better. Some of the football that we played was sublime, absolutely fantastic. You’ve got a 34-year-old and 35-year-old centre back pairing that have never played out from the back before and they're looking like Baresi and Maldini.”

“It’s funny how it has flipped, the scores and the confidence of both teams (from last season). We did it against Hereford on Bank Holiday when it was a big crowd and to do it again today, with the noise they were making from the warm-up right through. We love it, it’s a great place to be at the minute and we’re all embracing the stuff. It’s a good place to be at the minute.”

Johnson dedicated the win to Jim Betts, a Chester volunteer who died last week. The victory moves Chester up to second place. Next Saturday the Blues take a break from the league when they entertain Altrincham at home in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, kick-off 15.00hrs.

In front of another impressive away following, Chester got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory a Curzon Ashton on Monday night to move third in the table. Like Saturday, Chester got off to a dream start with Matty Hughes opening the scoring on five minutes following fine build up play from Joel Taylor, George Glendon and Simon Grand whose header set-up the midfielder to find the back of the net.

The Nash drew level midway through the half through a Matt Regan header after Chester had failed to fully clear a corner, it was the home side who following their equaliser finished the fist half on top.

However Chester were quick off their marks following the interval and two goals in the first six minutes set up their fifth victory of the season. Akwasi Asante netted from 12 yards from a Bradley Jackson cross on 47 minutes, and just four minutes later defender Kevin Roberts headed a home a Taylor corner giving Cameron Mason no chance in the home goal.

Both sides went on to create and miss chances in the second period but Chester held firm.

“How that’s managed in terms of what I’ve watched today I’d be interested to see going forward. If you’re a centre half with a 6ft 5ins centre forward backing in and you come off with a massive gash on your eye, how is that a foul the other way?”