David Beharall went straight into Jim Gannon's side following his arrival from Carlisle on Wednesday.

Liam Dickinson started alongside Tes Bramble whilst Michael Wolski and Adam Le Fondre dropped to the bench.

Chester City included Paul Tait who signed in the week from Rochdale in their starting eleven.

As ever this seemed like a home game with the fantastic County support on top form.

The Hatters created the best chance of the opening ten minutes when Sean Hessey headed back to his own keeper and the instinctive Bramble intercepted the ball but could not make the most of the opportunity presented to him.

The home side looked extremely vulnerable at the back, but on a number of occasions showed they could be a threat going forward. McNiven produced the best effort early on.

County thought they had the lead when Tes Bramble hit the back of the net following a long ball from Briggs. Again it was very poor Chester defending. that Bramble exposed only for the referee to disallow for handball.

At the other end mistakes from Matt Hamshaw and then David Beharall allowed Paul Tait to get a header in on goal that went agonisingly wide.

County had a good opportunity when Adam Griffin produced a blistering shot on the volley that had beaten the keeper but hit the cross bar and went over.

The game started to open up and Paul Tait found Drummnd in space and he pulled his hot just wide of the post.

Gregg Blundell also had a great effort moments later when he pulled off a shot from 18 yards but luckily for County it went just wide of the post.

Tes Bramble was the next player to carve out a good opportunity when he volleyed from the edge of the penalty area, in the end though it missed by a whisker.

Seconds later County created another good chance when the ball fell kindly for Matt Hamshaw and the skipper volleyed from just a few yards out, that Gillet did well to save. The Chester defence struggled to clear the ball and after a moment of panic the ball was eventually cleared.

Second Half

A good ball by Liam Dickinson found Griffin in space and the talented winger played a low ball into the box that Dickinson received, unfortunately for him though Gillett pulled off an outstanding save to deny the Hatters the lead.

Seconds later Chester had the ball in the net following a 20 yard pile driver from Ben Davies, the referee turned it down though for infringement and County breathed a sigh of relief.

On the hour mark a mix up in the County defence allowed substitute Branch to get a shot in on goal, his delivery was poor though and it went well wide.

Chester were certainly on top for long periods of the second half but a lack of confidence and an ineptness in front of goal bared fruit for County when on a rare attack, Liam Dickinson ran into the box and slid the ball under a despairing Gillett to send the away fans into raptuous applause.

Dickinson nearly doubled the lead five minutes later when he got a flick on to a Malcolm corner.

County hearts were broken moments later, though, when Ryan Lowe got on the end of a good cross and dispatched the ball into the net with relative ease.

Chester nearly took the lead when Ben Davies made a good run and found the unmarked Branch in plenty of space, the former Toffee had a shot on goal that Spencer did well to save.

It was County, though, that regained the lead when Briggs found Dickinson in space and the former Woodley Sports striker beat Sean Hessey and shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net to send the away fans into wild applause.

Chester desperately rallied the troops as they went in search of a equaliser but in the end the day belonged to Liam Dickinson, what a bargain he has proved to be.

County: Spencer, Clare, Robinson, Allen (Wolski 70), Williams, Hamshaw (Malcolm 76), Briggs, Bramble, Berahall, Dickinson, Griffin (Singh 63)

Subs: Howarth, Le Fondre

Chester: Gillett, Blundell (Lowe 54), Tait, Drummond, Davies, Walker, Asamoah (Branch 60) , McNiven, Regan, Artell Hessey

Subs: S Vaughan, El-Khoti, J Vaughan,

Att: 3,446

Man of the Match: Liam Dickinson. Has to be a contender for bargain of the season.