Chester FC rolled in the New Year with a dominant display against Southport.
Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley’s side swept aside the Sandgrounders with goals from Simon Grand, Anthony Dudley and an Akwasi Asante brace.
The hosts had several more chances to extend the lead, including Simon Grand having a header off the line in an emphatic victory.
The Blues made five changes from the side that lost at home to Curzon Ashton just four days earlier as Kevin Roberts, Matty Waters, Brad Jackson, Matty Hughes and Anthony Dudley replaced Jamie Morgan, Joel Taylor, George Glendon, George Waring and Elton Ngwatala.
Both teams sought to land the opening blow and had chances in the opening ten minutes, Reagan Ogle broke at pace and tried to find the unmarked Jack Sampson but Russ Griffiths was quickly off his line to to smother it. At the other end Chester Asante had a shot from thirty yards, but it was too close to Charlie Albinson.
It was the hosts who went close to opening the deadlock though as Brad Jackson picked out Asante in the penalty area but his header went agonisingly wide.
Southport were very much in the game though and when Devarn Green beat Matty Waters and the ball was played into the area it fell to substitute Morgan Homson-Smith, who fired over at the back post, with the goal gaping.
Chester continued to look threatening though and forced a corner when Brad Jackson’s effort from the edge of the penalty area was turned behind by Albinson. Matty Waters took the corner and Albinson got underneath it, flicking his punch to Simon Grand at the back post, who gleefully headed into an unguarded net.
The Sandgrounders looked for a quick response through a Marcus Wood free kick in the right channel, he fired a dangerous ball in and was denied as Griffiths punched the ball away to give the Blues the lead at the break.
Chester made the perfect start to the second half, again forcing a corner that Southport failed to clear, the ball was played back in to Matty Hughes, who shot low and Albinson could only parry it away, where Asante was waiting to add the second.
Asante almost grabbed his second, and Chester’s third, shortly after as Jackson again put a teasing ball into the penalty area but the Blues forwards’ shot was deflected for a corner.
Chester continued to dominate the early stages of the second half and almost scored a superb third goal as Dudley played an incredible reverse pass to Asante, he looked to round the ‘keeper but Albinson recovered well to make a good save.
The Blues did manage to get their third just before the hour as the ball dropped to Anthony Dudley on the edge of the penalty area and he struck an outstanding volley beyond Albinson.
The hosts were rampant and came inches away from adding a fourth as Brad Jackson fired an stunning effort against the base of the post from twenty five yards.
Chester kept creating chances and Akwasi Asante almost got through but former Blue Ryan Astles got back to prevent the shot, he played in Dudley, who could only fire into the side netting.
The fourth did come for the Blues and it was a stunning strike from Akwasi Asante. The ball was played to him on the edge of the penalty area and he twisted and turns then fired a stunning effort beyond Albinson.
The chances kept coming though and Simon Grand met a corner at the back post, only to see his header cleared off the line, with the follow-up then scrambled clear.
Five minutes later and there was another chance as Matty Waters crossed for Anthony Dudley, but with the ball behind him he couldn’t keep his volley down as the Blues saw out the final few minutes for a dominant victory.
Chester: Griffiths, K Roberts, Waters, G Roberts (c) (Ngwatala 75), Jones, Grand, Jackson (Waring 83), Stopforth, Asante, Hughes (Elliott 77), Dudley.
Substitutes: Morgan, Waring, Taylor.
Southport: Albinson, Mohammed, Doyle (Homson-Smith 13), Winnard, Astles, Morgan (c) (Correia 58), Benjamin, Wood (Oliver 58), Green, Sampson, Ogle.
Substitutes: Woods, Bauress.
Goal Scorers: Chester: Grand (36), Asante (47, 71), Dudley (58).
Yellow Cards: Chester: Grand.
Attendance: 1,928
Referee: John Kenny.
Assistant Referees: Karl Buckley & Thomas Swift.