THE BLUES looked subdued and far from their best as they spluttered over the line on Saturday.
Stray passes and several below par performances contributed towards a forgettable display from a Chester side that looked understandably relieved to hear the final whistle.
Many Blues supporters and the Chester management team looked frustrated and grew increasingly agitated by the unsatisfactory display.
Chester were 2-0 up after just 19 minutes and a cricket score looked on the cards as struggling Mickleover defended in numbers to contain their table-topping hosts during the opening exchanges.
Well taken goals from midfielder Alex Brown and man of the match Matty McNeil had delighted the Blues faithful, but celebrations turned to despair and concern four minutes before the break when Eric Graves reduced Mickleover’s arrears with a close range header.
The visitors offered only a few glimmers of danger for Chester after the break, but the Blues always seemed to struggle to find another gear and the atmosphere was distinctly flat.
However, there were a number of wry smiles from Chester fans as they made their way towards the exit after hearing that the Blues were now three points clear at the top of the league table as the results for the chasing pack went the Blues’ way.
Second placed Hednesford lost 2-0 at FC United, third placed Chorley drew 2-2 at home to Stafford, and fourth placed Northwich were edged out 2-1 at home to Marine.
Blues boss Neil Young made four changes to the side that had lost 2-1 at home to Hednesford the previous week.
Liam Brownhill, Jerome Wright, Robbie Booth, and Michael Wilde started in place of Levi Mackin, Christian Smith, Iain Howard and Jamie Rainford, and Chester should have been ahead after just four minutes, but Wilde saw his point blank effort saved by visiting keeper Damian Clarke’s feet after a superb move involving Wright and McNeil.
Mickleover countered in the ninth minute when Blues’ keeper John Danby was forced to fist a John Guy corner away from the danger area.
But a minute later the Blues were rewarded for their bright opening when McNeil did well to win possession before feeding Brown who drilled a low 25 yard shot beyond bewildered Clarke to find the bottom right corner of the net.
Brown ensured Chester continued to apply pressure on the Mickleover rearguard in the 13th minute when he steered a powerful curling left wing cross into the area which Clarke did well to claim under pressure from Wilde.
The Blues looked comfortable and deservedly doubled their advantage in the 19th minute when Booth’s pinpoint cross from the right edge of the area picked out McNeil who directed his header into the left corner of the net.
Brownhill was perfectly placed to clear an Eric Graves header off the line as Mickleover attempted to reduce their arrears in the 21st minute, and Chester were guilty of a number of stray passes and a series of wayward shots for the remainder of the half.
Antoni Sarcevic and McNeil constructed a promising move to help tee-up Brownhill in the 28th minute, but the defender’s shot flew over the target from the edge of the area.
Matty McGinn worked hard to provide an assist for McNeil on the half hour, but the Blues forward saw his 10 yard shot blocked and cleared, and Booth’s long range effort a minute later was well wide of the mark.
Sarcevic was unlucky to see his goalbound thunderbolt volley deflected wide in the 34th minute after Booth’s initial shot had been blocked.
But Wright looked embarrassed to blast a 10 yard shot over from the left edge of the six yard area in the 35th minute.
And Chester were punished for the error of their ways in the 41st minute when McGinn was dispossessed by Martin Smyth on the right wing and the Mickleover midfielder crafted a perfectly measured cross for Graves to head home from close range.
The Blues tried to redress the balance before the interval, but Brown’s 42nd minute free kick was saved by Clarke, and McNeil’s near post touch to McGinn’s left wing cross flew wide.
McNeil held his head in his hands after completely missing his kick after Danby’s long free kick had been flicked on by Wilde, and a shot from McNeil on the stroke of half time following a promising build up between Booth and Brownhill resulted in a good save from Clarke.
Mickleover created the first shooting chance of the second half, but Smyth dragged his 20 yard shot wide of the right post in the 48th minute.
Chester responded when Booth floated a 53rd minute centre into the box that fell at the feet of Wright before being scrambled away from a crowded area.
Sarcevic came close to extending Chester’s lead in the 54th minute when he unleashed a fabulous 20-yard left-footed drive that beat Clarke but clipped the top of the bar.
And club captain George Horan was annoyed after steering a close range header wide from Brownhill’s right wing delivery in the 58th minute.
Chester introduced substitutes Chris Simm, on loan debutant Stefan Cox from Fleetwood, and Iain Howard for the concluding stages, but the Blues failed to build on their one goal lead.
Mickleover looked a threat in the 85th when they carved open Chester’s midfield with a series of incisive passes which culminated in Smyth firing wide from 18 yards.
Cox demonstrated his pace and trickery towards the end, but sliced an 89th minute effort wide of the target after Howard’s goalbound shot had been blocked, and his injury time attempt was deflected past the left post.
McNeil netted a header in the dying seconds which was ruled offside as Chester concluded the game in frustrated fashion.