Already trailing to Jack Redshaw’s first half strike, United’s afternoon unravelled spectacularly when referee Michael Crusham extraordinarily handed Duxbury two yellow cards in two minutes and then Elliott two in seven minutes.

It was damage limitation thereafter for the Pilgrims, but Matty Williams, Charlie Jolley and Darren Stephenson did add to Chester’s tally in the closing stages.

Elliott and strike partner Jordan Burrow had seen half chances go begging by the time Chester took an 18th minute lead, with REDSHAW tucking home at the back post on the end of Jolley's cross from the right.

Peter Crook made two brilliant saves before half-time to keep United in contention - low to parry Danny Livesey's diving header and then an instinctive save to deny Williams.

United's uphill task got even harder when Duxbury was dismissed in the 56th minute for two soft fouls in front of the home dugout inside two minutes.

It became mission impossible in the 69th minute when Elliott received two hardly believable cautions - the second of which awarded despite him winning the ball in a sliding challenge on the touchline.

WILLIAMS tapped home Chester's second two minutes later, with JOLLEY and substitute STEPHENSON completing the rout on 79 and 85 minutes respectively.

Chester (4-2-3-1): Louis Gray; Kevin Roberts, Danny Livesey (Luke Clark 53), Matty Williams, James Horsfield; Declan Weeks, Paddy Lacey; Anthony Dudley (Darren Stephenson 77), George Glendon, Charlie Jolley; Jack Redshaw (Jude Oyibo 72). Subs (not used): George Waring, Josh Askew.

Boston (4-4-2): Peter Crook; Matt Tootle, Scott Garner, Loick Ayina, Scott Duxbury; Fraser Preston (Jordan Preston 62), Tom Platt, Shane Byrne, Joe Leesley; Jordan Burrow (Keenan Ferguson 74), Danny Elliott. Subs (not used): Paul Green, Jake Wright Jnr, Milan Lalkovic.

Referee: Michael Crusham.

Attendance: 1,438.

PIC: Eric Brown.