CHESTER had to settle for a draw in front of their biggest crowd of the season.
Attacking midfielder Antoni Sarcevic’s 53rd minute equaliser ensured the Blues grabbed a point after his team had enjoyed the majority of possession and chances.
Chester had trailed 1-0 after 51 minutes when Mike Lennon had put Nantwich in front from close range.
And, despite creating a series of scoring chances the Blues failed to capitalise and had to content themselves with a point.
Manager Neil Young made three changes to the side that scored a 1-1 draw at Northwich Victoria on Boxing Day, with Jerome Wright, Robbie Booth and George Horan starting in place of Wes Baynes, Iain Howard and Michael Wilde.
Nantwich created the first shot of the game, but Dave McPherson’s long range attempt was rifled well over the target.
Chester hit back in the seventh minute when Booth picked out Sarcevic whose low and powerful goal bound effort was blocked by ex-Chester City defender Darren Moss.
The Blues shifted into another gear minutes later when Michael Powell created a chance for Matty McNeil six yards out, but the tall striker failed to connect and the ball was cleared.
McNeil forced visiting goalkeeper Jon Brain to paw away a close range shot in the 14th minute as Chester pressed for a breakthrough before Sarcevic smashed an angled shot against the bar and right post seconds later.
Horan steered a 15th minute header fractionally over the bar from Alex Brown’s pinpoint right wing cross, and Brown himself forced Brain to paw away a goal-bound shot after good work from Sarcevic in the 17th minute.
Blues keeper John Danby relieved some pressure as Nantwich countered seconds later, clearing the ball after a misunderstanding with centre back Michael Taylor before needing treatment from a physio.
Powell won possession on the halfway line to help spark a promising attack in the 37th minute and fed Sarcevic whose 18 yard strike sailed over the bar.
Sarcevic then combined with Wright on the edge of the area in the 41st minute, and their efforts culminated in a shot from Wright which was saved by Brain.
Liam Brownhill crafted a superbly measured right wing cross in the 43rd minute e which Powell headed goalwards, but Brain gathered under pressure from McNeil.
Chester were piling on the pressure and turning the screw on Nantwich as the game headed towards the interval, but were continually frustrated by a well-drilled defence and a series of impressive saves from Brain.
And the Blues suffered a miserable start the second half and trailed 1-0 after a well constructed move with substitute Alecsanders Solvjors playing a fine pass towards Ben Mills who threaded the ball to Lennon who slotted his close range 51st minute shot beyond Danby.
But the Blues equalised just two minutes later when Christian Smith’s long ball found Sarcevic who rifled a 20 yard shot across Brain to find the far corner of the net.
Booth pushed forward as Chester began to dictate matters, but his 57th minute effort was saved by Brain.
Wright then latched onto a 58th minute pass from Sarcevic but fired over the bar as Chester continued no press.
Brown came close to earning Chester the lead in the 66th minute when his low 25 yard strike crashed off the foot of the left post.
And Powell ensured that the Blues. maintained the pressure two minutes later, but his shot flew over the bar.
Nantwich countered in the 74th minute when goalscorer Lennon created space for himself before seeing his shot gathered by Danby.
Smith was presented with a chance to put Chester ahead a minute later, but his 25 yard free kick was held by Brain and the Blues had to settle for a point.
CHESTER (4-4-2): Danby; Smith, Taylor, Horan, Brownhill; Wright (Simm 82), Brown, Powell, Booth (Ormrod 72), Sarcevic, McNeil (Wilde 63). Subs not used: Duggan, Judge.
NANTWICH TOWN (4-4-2): Brain; Lowe, Foster (Solvjors 46), McPherson, Bailey; Moss, Cooke (Irwin 77), Flynn (Maguire 58), McDonald; Mills, Lennon. Subs not used: Jack, Wakefield.
REFEREE: Gary Hilton (Upholland).
ATTENDANCE: 3,560.