Chester’s spell in the National League will soon be over after the Blues suffered a 3-2 defeat at title-contenders Sutton United.

The U’s leapfrogged Macclesfield Town at the top of the table with three points which looked routine after establishing a two-goal lead through Harry Beautyman and Byron Harrison at half-time but to their credit Chester fought back via James Akintunde’s close-range volley.

Ross Stearn fired home a third from 25 yards but Harry White’s 87th minute penalty set up a grandstand finish, with Sutton keeper Jamie Butler denying White an injury-time equaliser.

It was a battling display second-half from Marcus Bignot's side, but the damage was done by a woeful first-half showing and they are now nine points adrift of safety with just seven matches remaining. National League North sadly beckons.

Bignot made two changes, forced into one with Ross Hannah’s departure on Thursday on-loan to Southport, as Akintunde came in along with White, Jordan Archer dropped to the bench.

To highlight Bignot’s problems, just four of Chester’s starting XI were on full-time contracts, the rest a mixture of academy graduates, loan signings and volunteers.

It was a quiet opening period, with Kenny Davis looking to dictate play for the hosts while Dom Vose was deployed higher up the pitch than in recent matches.

Andy Halls was culpable for giving the ball away 30 yards out on 10 minutes, Craig Eastmond’s low cross eventually cut out by James Jones, with Tommy Wright lurking.

Ryan Astles let a long ball bounce in the box – a dangerous game on a 4G surface – with Wright drilling a deflected shot narrowly wide from six yards out.

Paul Doswell’s hosts only had to wait three more minutes to take the lead, as further poor marking from Wright’s cross saw Beautyman steer the ball home from 12 yards through a crowded area past Andy Firth.

Eastmond’s whipped free-kick evaded everyone in the box much to Firth’s relief but it was all one-way traffic as Chester struggled to get a foothold in proceedings, White offering little up top in terms of hold-up play. In fact, the Blues absolutely nothing to offer in an attacking sense.

It felt like watching a pub-team defend at times, with Firth, Astles and Tom Crawford trying to neatly pass their way out of defence and getting into all-sorts of trouble, Wright almost pouncing for a second goal.

For the first time this season, there was an air of inevitability about Chester, as if the players had given up the ghost in their quest for survival. To an extent, it’s hard to blame them, given survival looks almost impossible with seven games remaining.

Jones, who made his England C debut in their midweek win over Wales, was the one Blues player to be emerging with any credit and his superbly timed sliding tackle denied Byron Harrison 15 yards out. Vose was then booked for a rash tackle on Eastmond 35 yards out.

On the stroke of half-time Sutton doubled their lead in scrappy fashion, but again it was dire defending from Chester. Dean Beckwith’s nod down was not cleared by Shaun Hobson or Astles and a ricocheted saw the ball bounce off Harrison’s back and into the net. This was all too easy for the soon-to-be league leaders.

Chester began the second period slightly brighter, White lofting an effort wide from an acute angle from Vose’s cross. Davis fired a shot over from 25 yards after Chester only half-cleared a corner.

Beckwith saw yellow for tripping Akintunde before Chester halved the deficit on the hour mark. Halls’ cross was flicked on by Astles inside the area and Akintunde was in the right place to volley home from just two yards out. A glimmer of hope for Bignot’s side.

Akintunde went close with an acrobatic effort but referee Samuel Allison deemed it a foul, Firth then smothering at the feet of Harrison.

The game has sprung into life as a contest as Stearn swung in a cracking delivery which Astles did well to head away.

Tom Bolarinwa saw yellow for a tackle on Gary Roberts, before Crawford’s effort from 18 yards was comfortably held by Butler.

Crawford was booked for a foul on Bolarinwa and replaced by Craig Mahon, Archer also on for Vose.

Just 90 seconds after their arrival however, it was effectively game over as Stearn capped a tremendous display with a fine, curled effort from 25 yards, into the postage stamp to restore the U’s two-goal lead.

With three minutes left, Chester were handed a lifeline as Akintunde was brought down in the area by Louis John and White tucked home the penalty with confidence from 12 yards.

An outstretched Butler denied White a stoppage time leveller from 10 yards out but it had been a valiant effort from the Blues.

Chester’s Roberts was booked for a late tackle, before Halls and Astles saw yellows for dissent, as Sutton clung on to go top of the league.

Sutton: Butler, Beckwith, John, Collins (A Thomas 56), Davis, Eastmond, Thomas T, Wright (Dundas 62), Bolarinwa, Beautyman (Stearn 22), Harrison; Subs: Cadogan, Walton.

Chester: Firth, Hobson, Jones, Astles, Anderson (Rowe-Turner 45), Roberts, Crawford (Mahon 77), Halls, Vose (Archer 77), Akintunde, White; Subs: Jaaskelainen, Dawson.

Attendance: 2,159 (116 from Chester)

Referee: Samuel Allison