Chester FC fell to a 3-0 defeat at home to Championship side Burton Albion in their penultimate friendly before the National League begins in earnest next Saturday.

A Lucas Akins brace and one from Stuart Beavon saw the Brewers to a comfortable success in a contest that they controlled for long periods.

Chester weren't without their bright moments and plenty of positives can be taken from an encounter with a team in the second tier of English football who brought with them one of their strongest line-ups at their disposal.

The game was stopped for six minutes just 10 minutes into the contest when Burton defender Tom Flannagan fell awkwardly under an innocuous challenge from Craig Mahon.

Flannagan suffered a head injury and left the pitch in a neckbrace and on a stretcher to a round of applause before being taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Chester fell behind on 21 minutes when Lucas Akins was afforded far too much room on the right-hand side of the area and picked out Beavon with a low cross and the ex-Wycombe Wanderers man scuffed a low effort across Liam Roberts' goal that bounced off the post and into the net.

Burton were, as expected from a Championship side, giving Chester plenty to think about with some neat passing play around the final third, with the Blues struggling to get a foothold in the game.

Damien McCrory was a constant threat in the opening half and spurned three good chances to tighten the Brewers' stranglehold on the game.

One cause of concern for Chester boss McCarthy was the sight of Evan Horwood leaving proceedings clutching his thigh, with the experienced full-back taking no chances and replaced by Johnny Hunt.

Four minutes after the break and Burton doubled their lead.

A cross from the right flank from Phil Edwards found Lucas Akins six yards out and unmarked and he made no mistake in heading past Roberts in the Chester goal.

Jordan Chapell did go close seven minutes later when he latched on to Ryan Atles' long ball but his close-range effort was saved by Brewers custodian Jon McLaughlin.

And Blaine Hudson saw his 12-yard header from a Hunt corner saved at the second attempt by McLaughlin on 70 minutes.

And Kane Richards went close two minutes later when he fired at McLaughlin after good work from substitutes Elliott Durrell and James Akintunde.

But Burton weren't done yet and made it 3-0 on 86 minutes when Jackson Irvine broke down the right before cutting the ball back to Akins who smashed an excellent effort beyond Roberts for his second of the afternoon.

On balance, it was no less than Burton deserved after bossing the contest for much of the 90 minutes.

Chester FC: Roberts, Vassell (Waters 46), Hudson (Hughes 80), Astles, Horwood (Hunt 37), Shaw, George, Mahon (Durrell 69), Chapell, Alabi (Akintunde 69), Richards (Joyce 80).

Subs: Worsnop, Evans.

Goals:

Bookings: Shaw

Burton Albion: McLaughlin, Flannagan (Edwards 17), Dyer, Mousinho, McFadzean (Harness 75), Turner, Palmer, Akins, Beavon, McCrory, Irvine.

Subs: Bywater, Butcher, Delaney, O'Grady.

Goals: Beavon (21), Akins (49, 86).

Bookings: Turner

Attendance: 721

Referee: David McNamara (Preston).