Chester FC extended their commanding lead at the top of the table to eight points with a comprehensive victory over Ossett Albion at the Exacta Stadium.

The Blues completed the double over Albion with a six goal demolition that included a hat-trick for Michael Wilde that sends his tally 24 goals so far this season.

Ossett, whose defence breached another six goals against Bamber Bridge a week earlier, struggled to contain Chester’s new look strike partnership of Michael Wilde and Chris Simm, who looked like they had played together for some time.

The warning signs of a rout were on the cards straight away when debutant Chris Simm forced Ossett goalkeeper Ashley Connor into an early save but at the other end Richard Whiteside had to be alert to deny Joshua Moore’s angled volley from 12 yards out.

After being caught offside on countless occasions, the game’s opening goal after 18 minutes was long overdue, the Blues going ahead when Iain Howard rounded his marker to cross in from the by-line. Wilde’s initial shot was blocked by a defender but Chester’s leading goalscorer seized upon Ossett’s defensive indecision to poke the ball home high into the corner from close range.

Chester were in complete command of the game and came close to doubling their lead three minutes later. Ashley Williams’ long ball forward found Howard who squared the ball to Wilde only to see the Chester forward smash a powerful strike against the crossbar.

Robbie Booth blasted a long range drive wide of the left post before Chester were awarded a penalty just after the half hour mark when George Horan’s cross was handled inside the area by an Ossett defender. Chester’s leading scorer converted the spot kick when his right footed strike eluded the despairing reaches of Connor, going in off the left post.

Just before the break Wilde turned provider to set up Chris Simm for his first goal for the club after picking up the ball from Booth inside the area. With the Ossett defence at sixes and sevens, Wilde squared to Simm who had the goal at his mercy, sliced a left footed ball home from close range. Moments later Booth blasted a long range effort just over the crossbar just before an absorbing first half reached its conclusion.

Within three minutes of the restart Wilde completed his hat-trick when he combined with his new strike partner, Simm. The former Southport man played Wilde through. One on one with Connor, the Ossett goalkeeper, Wilde rounded the shot-stopper before comfortably slotting the ball home from a tight angle.

A fifth goal came soon afterwards when Chester were awarded a free-kick after Simm was upended just outside the area. Howard got his name on the scoresheet when he converted the free-kick sending a screamer low into the corner of the Ossett net.

Simm scuffed a speculative effort wide before goal number six arrived in the 76th minute when Steven Beck played in Greg Stones on the left flank. Howard picked up Stones cross from the left to smash the ball across the face of goal low and into the right corner of the net. Howard should have completed his hat-trick moments later when he forced a great block from Connor before Beck sailed the rebound just over the crossbar.