CHESTER CITY 0 MILTON KEYNES DONS 3

Milton Keynes Dons stormed to a sixth consecutive win to draw within two points of League Two leaders Walsall.

Clive Platt's follow up from Izale McLeod's penalty, another for McLeod himself and a wonderful free-kick from Jon-Paul McGovern secured their biggest away win of the season in a bad-tempered affair at the Saunders Honda Stadium.

The home side picked up five bookings, two of which were for defender Paul Linwood who was sent off with two minutes to go as the Dons completed a 100-per-cent record for December.

Chester's outstanding record against the top sides this season has been tainted by their inability to overcome some of the lesser teams they have faced. It was a record which meant the Dons would have to be on top of their game to get anything and the Blues assured them of their qualities with a series of early attacks.

Jon Walters and Gregg Blundell have 17 goals betweent them this season and when the former hooked a cross in from the right, Lee Harper had to be out quickly to prevent the latter nipping in to score from close range. Both strikers got a bite at the cherry four minutes later as Sean O'Hanlon's slip let in Blundell and when his shot was blocked by Paul Butler, the rebound fell to Walters who had his pocket picked by the superbly responsible Lloyd Dyer.

The home side were turning up the pressure and when a cross from the right came all the way through to left wing back Sean Hessey, whose drive towards the top corner was brilliantly beaten away by Harper.

But Dons have not won five on the bounce by chance and as they began to find a foothold they started to threaten. Drissa Diallo's angled cross from the right was met by McLeod, who seemed to hang forever before direcing his header wide from just inside the box.

Simon Marples wandered forward from his defensive position to find shooting space just before half time but his shot was straight down Harper's throat. The outstanding Aaron Wilbraham almost showed him how it's done when he hammered a shot goalwards from McGovern's pass but John Danby somehow clawed it out of the top corner to Wilbraham's disbelief.

His first-half header aside, McLeod had been reasonably quiet until he burst into life on the hour with a piece of absolute brilliance to win a penalty. Chasing a lost cause down the left, he meandered into the box, slipping the ball between Paul Linwood's legs before being scythed down by a reckless challenge from Marples. With his form of late, the only surprise was that the 22-year-old didn't bury the penalty himself. Danby saved it to his right but Platt was racing in to slam home the rebound.

Chester were fired up by the penalty award and raced down the other end to almost draw level. Marples low cross from the right found a way through to Roberto Martinez but his shot was blocked by Harper who unquestionably saw it late.

McLeod's denial seemed to ignite him and he didn't have to wait long before making it 10 goals in his last eight games. McLeod himself won a free-kick on the left and McGovern floated it towards the far post and a waiting Wilbraham. His header across goal was met by Butler and when Danby parried his goal-bound header, McLeod reacted sharply to turn the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

The afternoon was only to get better as McGovern magnificently made it three on 76 minutes. Scott Taylor, on as a sub for the withdrawn McLeod, won a free kick on the right corner of the penalty area and McGovern confidently whipped it over the wall and into the top corner.

Chester refused to give up the ghost and Harper was forced into a series of excellent saves at the death as Martin Allen's side clung desperately to another clean sheet.

Three points, six in a row and Swindon to come on New Years Day. Game on for Allen's men.