Chester City 5 Leigh RMI 0 by David Magilton: THE failure to heed Phil Starbuck's warning cost Leigh RMI another heavy defeat and dropped them deeper into the relegation mire.

The RMI boss spelled out his frustration last week, when a below par performance from several of his players, saw them lose at home to Accrington Stanley. Starbuck called for a much improved display against the Conference leaders, but was left fuming after he admitted several players under-performed again.

"Chester are the best team we have played. Our game plan was to get at them but we didn't do that and went in at half-time 3-0 down," said the RMI manager. "Too many players are playing for themselves and not the team. It was damage limitation in the second-half. You get out of the game what you put in and today we finished five goals down but it could have been 10.

"It is disappointing for the staff and the chairman and everyone working to keep the club going that the lads have produced performances like that for the past two weeks."

Starbuck admits he would like to change things around but he has limited options.

He added: "We are getting a striker in for next week and I would like to get rid of two or three players, but I can't do that. We haven't got the finances to get too many players in. It is just a case of trying to get the players going and bringing in one or two of the juniors."

RMI's chances were hindered by injuries to Neil Durkin and Ian Fitzpatrick and illness to Andy Roscoe and Gerry Harrison. It forced Starbuck to play three teenagers on the bench. "We were down to the bare bones" he confessed.

Darryn Stamp claimed a hat-trick as Chester tightened their grip at the top. Daryl Clare, hat-trick hero in last weekend's demolition job at Tamworth, scored after 10 minutes before Stamp struck in the 18th, 26th and 73rd minutes. Substitute Kevin Rapley completed the rout three minutes from time.