CHESTER completed their bad-tempered table-topping clash with nine men and a share of the spoils.
Wes Baynes had put the Blues 1-0 in front after just 13 minutes from a free kick after home keeper Ben Hinchliffe had been dismissed for a handling offence.
But Chester skipper Michael Powell was red-carded in the 35th minute, and Baynes was dismissed in the 83rd minute after substitute Ryan Wade had equalised five minutes earlier.
Chester made just one change to the side that had secured a 2-1 win at Marine before Christmas.
Midfielder Antoni Sarcevic started in place of leading goalscorer Matty McGinn who was suspended.
The Blues created the first scoring chance, but Iain Howard's third minute cross was glanced wide by striker Michael Wilde.
The home club were reduced to 10 men in the 11th minute when Hinchliffe was dismissed for a handling offence outside his area after misjudging Sarcevic’s cross for Howard.
Chester capitalised on their numerical advantage seconds later when Wes Baynes steered the free kick from 25 yards beneath the body of replacement keeper Lewis Short.
Nathan Woolfe attempted to put Vics back on level terms in the 19th minute, but his 25 yard drive flew inches wide of the target.
Chester then did their best to pressurise Short, but Sarcevic saw his 21st minute effort held by the replacement keeper, and Short did brilliantly to claw away a goalbound effort from Howard seconds later.
Wilde held his head in his hands a minute later after slicing a 25 yard effort well wide of the mark following a promising manoeuvre orchestrated by Liam Brownhill and Howard.
Wilde was then guilty of smashing a powerful shot wide after controlling a fine pass from Matty McNeil in the 26th minute.
Chester continued to press and in the 31st minute Baynes’ free kick hit Christian Smith’s shoulder and bounced wide of the far post.
Vics responded seconds later, but Woolfe’s attempted lob over Blues keeper John Danby was cleared by Baynes.
Northwich boss Andy Preece argued with the linesman that Woolfe had been held before clipping his lob goalwards.
Chester were then reduced to 10 men in the 35th minute when Michael Powell was dismissed for raising his hand to defender John Disney, but the card was shown only after the linesman had pointed out the incident to the referee – to the anger of Blues boss Neil Young and his bench.
Northwich countered in the 38th minute, but Woolfe’s cross eluded striker Chris Budrys and the ball bounced wide.
Ex-Chester midfielder Kyle Armstrong launched a long throw into the Chester area in the 40th minute, but Danby gratefully accepted possession after the ball had travelled through a crowded box.
Michael Roddy replaced Short between the post immediately after the break and was tested by a goalbound Howard shot which the newly introduced keeper did well to push wide of his near post.
Northwich then began to grow in confidence as the half went on and equalised in the 78th minute when Short's throw found substitute Ryan Wade who smashed a first time shot into the roof of the net.
Chester were then reduced to nine players in the 83rd minute when Baynes was red-carded for a two-footed tackle on Short in front of the Northwich dug-out.
The Blues were under pressure during the closing stages as Northwich pressed for a breakthrough, but Chester held out for a hard earned point.