WITTON manager Paul Ogden may not know what to make of his team’s test against everybody else’s tip for the title after a frantic finale.

The hosts, who earlier had taken an hour to shoot on target, scored twice in stoppage time to scrub out Chester’s two-goals advantage.

George Horan’s thumping header then earned Blues a deserved win.

All that in the minutes past 90.

But Albion’s rally – while a victory for stubborness in the face of defeat – could not avoid an end to their seven-matches winning streak.

They rarely looked like adding to it in a one-sided opening.

Chester had to wait until midway through the first half to edge ahead, Michael Wilde pouncing to prod in his seventh goal of the season after Tom Field’s shot was deflected into his path.

Earlier he had been ready to pounce when keeper Matt Cooper spilled Iain Howard’s cross, although Albion’s custodian made amends with a diving save to parry Field’s fizzed effort.

The hosts’ forays forward were sporadic – Dave MacPherson first fired wide, then wildly with their first two shooting chances – simply because they could not keep the ball long enough.

Their most meaningful threat was from set pieces, but Calum Botham bent one effort off target and Andy Kinsey another skywards, both from promising positions.

Chester attacked with greater fervour after the interval, Horan denied only by Mat Wood’s goalline clearance after meeting Chris Williams’ corner.

They doubled their tally on 58 minutes.

Bradley Barnes, Saturday’s saviour when his goal rescued a point against Prescot, arrowed in an emphatic finish after smothering Wood’s attempted clearance.

Witton changed faces – Carl Frost and Brian Pritchard came on – but not shape as Chester’s central midfield trio of Barnes, Field and substitute Andy Burgess continued to command.

At least Frost forced keeper Richard Whiteside to make his first save on the hour.

Barnes, outstanding from a more advanced position after the interval, was denied a second goal by Cooper’s twisting save after Robbie Booth had raided down the right.

Booth then contorted his body to head wide after Howard and Wilde combined to carve an opening from the other side of the pitch.

Field then fired over from a free kick before Witton woke up.

Frost, author of Albion’s best attacks, crafted a chance for himself three minutes from time only to blaze over with only Whiteside to beat.

Next followed the frantic five.

MacPherson slammed in a loose ball in the first minute of over time after Chester’s net-minder spilled Botham’s cross when he had an eye on incoming Ashley Stott.

Witton’s next raid plundered a leveller.

Frost, again, arced in a cross from the left that brushed a defender then Stott to stun the visitors.

There was time enough for Barnes to send Wilde clear but Cooper was brilliant to divert his shot to safety.

However Horan’s leap was highest from Howard’s resulting corner, spearing a header into the roof of the net.

When it did, the clock ticked to 94.

Witton Star Man Ben Harrison.

A mature display that defied his age, the Northwich-born stopper was unruffled against one of the league’s most potent marksmen in Michael Wilde.

His ability to be in the right position makes most of his contributions appear effortless.

A word too for Matt Cooper who, after a shaky start, was again in fine form. His save to thwart Wilde in injury time was a stunner.

Witton (4-4-2) Cooper (GK), Holt (Pritchard 65), Harrison, Kearney, Wood, Griggs (Frost 55), Maguire, MacPherson, Botham, Stott, Kinsey (Pugh 72)
Subs not used Moffatt, Smith
Goal MacPherson 90 (+1), Stott 90 (+2)
Booked Kearney, MacPherson (both fouls)

Chester FC (4-5-1) Whiteside (GK), Stuart Jones, Horan, Ruffer, Williams, Booth (Wilson 86), Connolly (Burgess 10), Barnes, Field (Hopley 90), Howard, Wilde
Subs not used Graves, Peers
Goal Wilde 22, Barnes 58, Horan 90 (+4)

Referee Gary Hilton (Lancashire)
Attendance 1, 560