In the Women's Northern League Division One Chester-le-Street were at Saltburn who tried hard to match the league leaders but it was the visitors who came away with the points.
First half heroics from stand-in goalkeeper Tara Bressling and desperate defending restricted the visitors to two first half goals with Rachel Weightman and Laura Darmody on target.
Vikki Ryder had a penalty saved and Bressling turned no fewer than five goal-bound efforts onto the woodwork.
Four goals in five minutes in the second half saw Chester extend the lead with Natalie Guttteridge scoring with her first touch and Vikki Ryder chipping the goalkeeper either side of Laura Darmody's hat-trick goals.
Bressling pulled one back for Saltburn, having come out of goal for the second half but Darmody's fourth restored the six-goal cushion when she headed home Rae Taylors corner.
Brogan Prudhoe made it eight before Emma Smith scored direct from a corner for Saltburn's second and Rachel Weightman finished what she started, scoring number nine and making sure Chester stay top with a 9-2 win.
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