ALL Chester’s increasingly worrying troubles were magnified for everyone to see against promotion-chasing Mansfield Town.
Fears of a rout for City’s youngsters in the build up to the contest were thankfully avoided, but the Stags could easily have finished with a double-figured victory.
Only John Danby as the last line of defence with a series of superb saves prevented an even more humiliating defeat for the well-beaten Blues.
But even Danby couldn’t disguise Chester’s embarrassment against a Mansfield side whose performance at times resembled a game of headers and volleys.
Chester simply had nothing to offer and it’s now a case of when the club will be relegated rather than if they can survive their worsening position at the foot of the league table.
Chester made just one change from the side that suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Salisbury City on Tuesday night.
Sam Coulter started in place of suspended club captain Tim Ryan who picked up his tenth booking in midweek.
An indication of City’s troubles was the statistic that they were naming a side with the 22-year-old Danby as their oldest player in the starting line-up.
Mansfield, who had been pushed out of the play-off places following their 2-0 midweek defeat at AFC Wimbledon, made five changes and named debutant centre half Luke Foster in their starting line-up.
The more experienced home side expectedly dictated the opening exchanges and created a series of scoring opportunities.
Louis Briscoe rifled a low shot from the right edge of the area in the sixth minute which deflected wide of the far post off Kevin Roberts, and Ollie Hotchkiss curled a shot wide of the right post from the corner.
Jake Speight demonstrated his trickery seconds later when he sprinted beyond Glenn Rule and delivered a cross which just eluded striking partner Rob Duffy.
City were successfully weathering a succession of raids, but Blues keeper Danby only just managed to clear the danger after being closed down by Speight.
And Stags skipper Ryan Williams raced clear of his marker on the left in the 13th minute before hoisting an inch-perfect ball for Briscoe, but the midfielder’s header was steered over the bar from eight yards.
Shaun Kelly committed a mistake inside his own box after 18 minutes when he failed to collect a pass from Rule, but Duffy failed to capitalise with his close range effort, and Sunderland referee Billy Khatib then ignored appeals for a penalty after Rule looked to have handled Duffy’s shot on the line.
Mansfield continued to turn the screw seconds later when Hotchkiss saw his deflected shot tipped over the bar by Danby.
But it seemed only a matter of time before the floodgates opened, and City’s inability to pick up Luke Jones from Williams’ left sided corner resulted in the centre half steering an unchallenged header into the bottom left corner of the net in the 24th minute.
And the Blues trailed 2-0 in the 34th minute when Williams’ corner on the right was met by Jones who beat Danby with a bullet header.
Chester fell 3-0 behind in the 36th minute after Jones’ header from another Williams’ corner on the right had forced Danby into a save. But young City striker Ben Jones then unfortunately scored an own goal after Speight had slammed the ball against him.
And Speight had a chance to make it 4-0 in the 39th minute, but he flashed the ball wide from 20 yards.
Duffy maintained Mansfield’s relentless pressure by forcing Danby to turn a shot around his post in the 42nd minute.
And Glenn Rule headed another goalbound Luke Jones effort off the City line as the home club continued to torment and frustrate City.
Mansfield resumed normal service after the interval and presented Briscoe with a chance to extend their advantage in the 51st minute, but his goalbound 10-yard shot was blocked by Michael Lea and cleared by Ben Wilkinson.
Williams launched the next offensive with a free kick to find Duffy whose header was well saved by Danby.
Chester were continuing to hold on despite their hosts enjoying the greater share of possession and territorial advantage.
Williams, pulling the strings on the right, provided another precision corner which Duffy directed inches wide of the right post in the 71st minute.
Stags boss David Holdsworth replaced Briscoe and Duffy for substitutes Kyle Perry and Blair Sturrock respectively in the 75th minute.
And Matt Somner drilled an 18 yard shot just wide of the left post in the 77th minute.
Mansfield increased their account 10 minutes from time when Sturrock’s shot deflected into the path of Speight who made no mistake with his first time 18 yard effort which found the bottom left corner of the net.
Chester had no answer to Mansfield’s rampaging performance, but the Blues did somehow succeed in producing a second half damage limitation exercise, although the margin of defeat could have been greater as Mansfield created two further goalscoring chances towards the end of the game.
But man of the match Speight forced Danby into another tremendous save two minutes from time, and Williams’ goalbound effort two minutes into stoppage time was easily gathered by Danby who was understandably relieved to hear the final whistle.
MANSFIELD TOWN (4-4-2): Marriott 7; Silk 7, Foster 8, Jones 8, Armstrong 7; Briscoe 7 (Perry 75), Hotchkiss 7 (Challinor 85), Somner 7, Williams 8; SPEIGHT 9, Duffy 8 (Sturrock 75).
Subs (not used): Sandercombe, Brough.
CHESTER CITY (4-4-2): DANBY 8; Rule 7, Kelly 7, Roberts 7, Lea 7; Ellams 6, Wilkinson 6, Meynell 6, Coulter 6; Davidson 6, Jones 6.
Subs (not used): Murphy, Walker, Freeman, Maxwell.