Another ton for Lee Dixon - 112 - and 59 for Ollie Law turned things from 82-5 to a match winning 251-9. Jack Williams wrapped things up with his 6-48 ensuring a 99 run win.

Then back down to earth with a bang as that illusive away victory still wouldn't come. It was a miserable performance at Bowdon. Although losing the toss was significant, 140 was never enough with only Alex Money and Law getting into the 20s. Despite Goodwin taking 4-36, it was three away defeats from three. Time for a rethink.

A trip to Cheadle finally got things on track. The rethink saw a regroup: time to play to bowling strengths. The instigators - as they were to be for much of the season - were the evergreen Alex Kegg and Will Owen bowling off a shorter run. That proved crucial from here on in. Kegg took 5-37 to reduce the hosts to 110. Law (35) and Owen (30*) chipped off the runs with a rare duck from Lee Dixon.

High summer saw one of the pacesetters, Toft at Filkins Lane. And Kegg just continued where he'd left off a week earlier. Chester had recovered from 153-7 to peg 245-8 thanks to Lee Dixon's 34, 31 from Goodwin and 29 from Money. James Drummond hit 74 in a Toft reply that was 105 short, Kegg including Lancashire's Rob Jones for just five in his haul.

The post-Bowdon rethink was paying dividends as Chester now sat second in the table to Alderley Edge at the end of June.

1 Alderley Edge 190
2 Chester Boughton Hall 181
3 Timperley 172
4 Neston 157
5 Toft 154

July started with a trip to Hyde, unusually struggling at the wrong end of the table. Ross Dixon won a vital toss and it was the Owen/Kegg combo that did the honours again in an extraordinary game. Owen took 5-30 and Kegg, on his 50th birthday grabbed 4-36. Goodwin (44*) and Moore (28) were in a rush and Chester won by nine wickets.

Winning was now becoming a habit as the second half of the season got underway at Neston. It was a comfortable 58 run win with Killoran the star of the show taking 7-40. Moore top scored with 41 in Chester's 200 on a difficult pitch. By now the reliable Nick James had taken the keeper's gloves after a dislocated knee ended young Tom Wyatt's season prematurely.

Revenge accomplished as Chester hosted Grappenhall. A fifth win on the trot with Chester chasing down 119. Owen took the bowling plaudits with 4-49 but the 'old master' at the other end had a say too - Alex Kegg's 17 overs cost just 24 runs and included a wicket. Williams piled in with 3-23.

A double header followed at Didsbury (a Cheshire Cup game there the next day too). And another win. Didsbury managed 154 with Owen striking gold - 6-86. Didsbury can be a difficult place to bat but not so for Lee Dixon with his third league ton of the season, 108. A seven wicket win, six out of six and with others failing, Chester climbed to the top of the league for the first time this season.

And it became seven out of seven a week later with another 'revenge win' as Bramhall were defeated. A vintage Goodwin ton on his birthday, unbeaten with 111 and going head to head with Lee Dixon (73) for the Premier League's top run scorer. Bramhall had looked dangerous; Danny Lamb hit 54 and Ifitikah Nasser struck five sixes in his 33. The spinners did the business however, Williams taking 3-34 to set Chester 244. They finished on 247-2 with ten overs left.

Work to do, big fixtures left but a great position for Chester at the end of July:

1 Chester Boughton Hall 306
2 Alderley Edge 274
3 Nantwich 249
4 Toft 243
5 Timperley 225