THE BLUES returned to winning ways without breaking into a sweat against their West Midlands hosts.
Debutant Chester-born midfielder Levi Mackin capped a truly commanding performance from his side when he netted his team’s fourth goal in stoppage time after being introduced as a second half substitute.
This was one scoreline that was definitely a true reflection of a contest totally dictated by a dominant and superior Chester team – apart from Matt Lewis’ 30 yard dipping thunderbolt in the 39th minute which beat Blues keeper John Danby before crashing off the bar.
The hundreds of travelling Blues supporters received good value for the time and effort they had taken to attend the one-sided affair.
Chester’s victory helped carve a three point lead at the top of the Northern Premier League table, and was another important step closer to promotion.
Mackin was joined on the scoresheet by Matty McNeil, Michael Powell and 12-goal leading goalscorer Matty McGinn who converted his ninth successful penalty kick of the campaign.
Blues boss Neil Young made just two changes to the side that had been held to a 1-1 home draw by Nantwich Town earlier in the week.
Wes Baynes and McGinn both returned to the starting line-up in place of Alex Brown who was sidelined with an injury, and Liam Brownhill who was being rested with next Saturday’s FA Trophy tie at Ebbsfleet United in mind.
Baynes looked lively in the opening exchanges as Chester penned Rushall into their own half for long spells, but his fourth minute free kick was cleared by the home defence.
Midfielder Robbie Booth looked disgusted with himself after blazing a 10-yard shot over the bar in the sixth minute after controlling McNeil’s low and incisive pass.
Antoni Sarcevic forced home keeper Chris Gemmell into a fine save a minute later after McGinn had seen his goalbound attempt blocked seconds earlier.
McGinn ensured the home club remained under pressure in the 14th minute when he launched a long throw towards McNeil who flicked the ball onto Sarcevic, but the midfielder’s acrobatic scissor kick shot was tipped onto the post and wide by Gemmell.
Powell was guilty of blasting a 20 yard shot over the target after Rushall had failed to clear the danger having contested a game of head tennis on the edge of their box.
Gemmell looked relieved to claim possession on the edge of his area in the 20th minute after realising that Sarcevic was shadowing his every move.
But the former Crewe Alexandra youngster should have put Chester ahead in the 28th minute from eight yards instead of totally missing Baynes’ perfectly measured right wing cross.
Sarcevic made amends a minute later when he provided a superb pass from Jerome Wright’s left wing cross into the path of McNeil who turned his marker on the edge of the area before steering a sweetly struck shot beyond Gemmell to find the top left corner of the net.
Baynes came close to doubling the Blues account in the 30th minute, but Gemmell did well to paw the goalbound attempt wide of the mark.
Rushall countered in the 36th minute, but Worcester referee John Law ignored Ahmed Obeng’s penalty appeals after falling to the ground under pressure from Michael Taylor.
Chester keeper John Danby produced his first save of the match a minute later after James Skedgel’s left wing cross had found skipper Lucan Spittle, but his effort was comfortably held by Danby.
Lewis created Rushall’s best goalscoring attempt in the 39th minute when he unleashed an unstoppable 30-yard dipping shot with pace that beat Danby before crashing back off the bar.
Christian Smith resumed normal service for Chester before the break, but his shot from Booth’s half-cleared centre was ballooned well over the bar.
The Blues did start to capitalise on their possession and creativity after the interval.
Powell doubled Chester’s lead in the 49th minute when he wheeled away in celebration after netting a close range shot following a McGinn long throw flicked on by McNeil and pouncing on a blocked shot from Sarcevic in a crowded area.
Louis Keenan, who had been introduced as a substitute at the start of the second half by the hosts, volleyed a 52nd minute shot wide of the target after a fine pass from fellow substitute Alex Melbourne, but Rushall looked distinctly second best as Chester cruised comfortably towards the line.
McGinn put the contest well beyond the Walsall club’s reach in the 58th minute when he sent Gemmell the wrong way with his spotkick to earn Chester a 3-0 lead after McNeil had been floored in the box.
McGinn came close to extending the Blues’ advantage in the 64th minute, but his free kick was brilliantly saved by Gemmell who continued to give the score some respectability when he tipped McNeil’s 25 yard shot over the bar in the 69th minute.
Michael Wilde replaced Booth in the 63rd minute, before Mackin was introduced in place of Smith in the 73rd minute, and Chris Simm substituted McNeil 10 minutes from time.
Baynes rifled an 88th minute shot over the bar after seeing Simm’s goalbound effort blocked, and Wilde had a 90th minute goal ruled out by an offside flag after pouncing on a stinging shot from Simm which Gemmell had failed to hold.
Simm’s tireless work in stoppage time saw him win possession on the left edge of the area and stroke the ball towards Mackin who capped his debut with a memorable 25 yard goal.