The pressure cranked up a notch on Macclesfield manager John Askey, whose side rallied in the second half at Chester but were defeated by the odd goal for the fourth game in a row.

Chester took the lead on 18 minutes through Aiden Chippendale's free kick that cleared everyone, took a bounce and found the top corner.

And it got worse for the Silkmen on the half-hour, when centre-back Efe Sodje miskicked his pass back to goalkeeper Rhys Taylor. Gareth Seddon pounced on the loose ball and did well to avoid the Nigerian’s attempt at chopping him down before chipping over Taylor.

Another poor showing in the first half did at least have a happy ending as Danny Whitaker struck his first goal since his return just before the whistle to give Macc hope.

The goal served to spur the Silkmen on to a much-improved second half but once again they fell short.

Left-back Danny Andrew came closer than anyone with a thumping drive that rebounded to safety off John Danby's cross bar. The keeper was also alert in thwarting Chris Holroyd and Peter Winn to see Chester to victory.

They were even able to spurn a chance from the penalty spot 20 minutes from time after Steve Williams had tussled with and eventually hauled down Danny Higginbotham, Taylor (pictured below) guessing right in  diving left to brilliantly deny former Silkman Ben Mills.

Although they were much better in the second half they couldn't drag themselves level, and when Holroyd put wide a golden chance in injury-time the game was up for Macc.