A HATTRICK from Gary Roberts, which included the latest of late penalties, saw Chester come from behind to notch a thrilling victory following a bad tempered clash with Alfreton Town.

If joint managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley were looking for a nice, quiet game to ease their way back into National League action this wasn’t it as Alfreton brought their much vaunted physical style to Swansway Stadium with brutal but effective results in match which was filled with controversy from beginning to end and which finished with unseemly scenes at the final whistle as tempers boiled over on and off the pitch.

Referee Benjamin Speedie was to be a major player in the afternoon’s proceedings and he first made his presence felt in the third minute by pointing at the spot after a lazy challenge on Craig Mahon saw the forward take a tumble and skipper Gary Roberts convert the penalty.

With the boost of an early lead, Chester failed to take advantage and Alfreton were level just four minutes later with a soft goal as Grant Shenton’s long goal kick was headed straight back over the defence and debutant Reece Styche ran clear and shot past the flatfooted Blues keeper.

The hosts almost struck back straight away through Deane Smalley who headed over from Simon Grand’s pinpoint cross but Alfreton’s long balls were proving a menace and after 20 minutes the leaders took the lead with Mr Speedie again the centre of attention after awarding a free kick on the edge of the area following what looked like a good tackle from Dom Smalley. Up stepped Bobby Johnson who curled the free kick past Shenton who seemed to claim he was unsighted as the ball flew past him into the unguarded left side of the net.

Five minutes later and the man in black was back with Mr Speedie shocking most of the ground by pulling out his red card following a late challenge by James Clifton on Gary Stopforth leaving Alfreton down to ten men and opening the floodgates for an already bad tempered game to get worse.

On the half hour there was more controversy when Nathan Hotte dived in on the unfortunate Stopforth who was again left in a heap by a tackle which was probably worse than the sending off but only resulted in a yellow card for the offender.

Given their lead and depleted numbers it was hardly a surprise when Alfreton set their stall out early in the second half as they contented themselves with a holding operation against the expected Chester onslaught which materialised though plenty of possession but little penetration.

On the hour Alfreton defender Josh Wilde went into the book for pulling Mooney to the ground as he appeared to be heading goalward but it was not until the introduction of substitutes Iwan Murray and debutant Mani Dieseruvwe that Chester’s attacks had some focus.

With 67 minutes on the clock, Dieseruvwe, who signed on loan during the week from Salford City, made an instant impact as he set off on a run down the left before pulling the ball back to the edge of the area where Roberts unleashed a stunning half-volley which flew past Sam Ramsbottom into the top left corner of the net for an equaliser of the highest quality.

From then on it looked like there was only one winner as Chester surged forward. First Mooney went close when he cut in from the left and shot just over before Dieseruvwe missed a gilt-edged chance, the former Sheffield Wednesday man somehow sidefooting wide when just eight yards out. Moments later it was Jon Moran’s turn to go close when his 25 yard drive cannoned off the bar and away.

In among all the pressure, Alfreton reminded Chester they could still be a threat when Curtis Bateson’s free kick was tipped over by Shenton before former Chester player Craig Hobson, coming on for Styche with six minutes left, was immediately involved when he was brought down by Steve Howson on the edge of the area with Mr Speedie adjudging the defender to be the last man, showing him the red card and Shenton palming over the resulting Bateson free kick.

Four minutes of added time hastened another Alfreton attack but their determination to waste time at every opportunity came back to haunt them in the closing moments when Dieseruvwe again found himself in the area only to be brought down and Roberts to step up and hit another penalty which was initially saved by Ramsbottom before the captain gleefully smashed in the rebound to record an unlikely hattrick and a thrilling last gasp victory for the Blues.