An emphatic second-half ensured Chester FC put a smile back on supporters' faces as manager Steve Burr had demanded with a 3-1 defeat of Dover Athletic.

Chester competed well in a tight opening 45 minutes and had a Craig Hobson 'goal' ruled out for offside but trailed to Stefan Payne's strike in the 36th minutes.

Even so, it was an improvement on recent weeks and there had been signs of promise, which were built upon in the second period.

Chester drew level just seconds after the restart through Oliver McBurnie and further goals from Craig Hobson and John Rooney capped an overdue three points.

Burr made three changes from the 4-1 defeat to Forest Green Rovers on Easter Monday with Hobson, John Rooney and Kieran Charnock replacing Kingsley James, Matty Brown and Michael Kay.

Hobson partnered McBurnie up front as the manager switched to 4-4-2 with Craig Mahon and Matty Hughes on the wings and Peter Winn, recalled from a loan spell at Kings Lynn Town, among the substitutes.

Dover began the season as one of the favourites for relegation but came into this game still with an outside chance of sneaking into the play-offs.

Experienced boss Chris Kinnear made just one change from an excellent 2-1 win over Woking with full-back Tom Wynter replacing Sean Francis.

A strong wind swirled around the Swansway Chester Stadium and contributed to a poor start to the game with both sides struggling to settle and retain possession.

Dover shaded the opening quarter of an hour but created little and the Blues worked themselves into the game with Ben Heneghan heading wide and Mitch Walker saving Mahon's low shot from 20 yards.

Chester almost fell behind when Heneghan diverted Ricky Modeste's cross into his own net but the ball rebounded off the crossbar.

Chester had a strong case for a penalty soon after with the ball appearing to strike Wynter on his arm although referee Ryan Johnson turned the appeals down.

Hobson did have the ball in net on 24 minutes, turning Hughes' shot home from close range, but a raised offside flag denied him.

Ryan Higgins fizzed a shot inches wide of the post from 25 yards as the Blues kept forcing the game but the Whites took the lead in the 36th minute.

Modest swung over a cross and Payne had enough time to bring the ball under control and create the space for fire past Jon Worsnop from 10 yards.

Payne had a decent chance to double the lead a few minutes later but the forward scooped his shot over the bar

Chester continued to look for openings but were restricted to a couple of long range Rooney efforts before Mahon shot straight at Walker as Dover went into the break leading 1-0.

It took less than a minute of the second-half for the Blues to equalise thanks to an absolute howler from Walker.

Hughes dribbled down the right wing and burst into the area before cutting the ball back to McBurnie, who scuffed his shot but it managed to squirm through the arms of the goalkeeper.

Chester had much more of a buzz about them with McBurnie heading wide under pressure and Abbott blasting over from eight yards after Walker failed to hold on to Hobson's header.

Dover couldn't get into the second-half at all and found themselves 2-1 down on 59 minutes when Rooney whipped a corner to the near post and Hobson leaped above the defence to glance a header into the bottom right corner.

That provoked a response from the Whites, who had the better of the next 10 minutes with Wynter shooting tamely at Worsnop when well placed and the excellent Heneghan repelling a couple of dangerous crosses.

Chester rode it out and increased the lead with a killer third goal on 73 minutes with a class strike from Rooney, who touched the ball between defenders and curled a right footed shot past Walker to make it 3-1.

Dover knew the play-offs were now out of reach and had nothing left to give with the Blues coasting through the closing stages of the game.

Worsnop was called into action in the final minute, getting down well to keep hold of Nicky Deverdics' shot and the Blues cruised to a welcome and deserved win.

Chester FC: Worsnop, Higgins, Heneghan, Charnock, Roberts, Mahon (Winn 88), Rooney, Abbott, Hughes, Hobson (Peers 81), McBurnie.

Subs: Viscosi, Touray, Kay.

Goals: McBurnie 46, Hobson 59, Rooney 73.

Dover Athletic: Walker, Essam, Raggett, Orlu, Wynter (Cogan 86), Sterling, Taiwo (Bellamy 72), Deverdics, Modeste, Payne, Murphy (Poole 78).

Subs: Kinnear, O'Cearuill.

Goal: Payne 36.

Booked: Payne.

Referee: Ryan Johnson (Bolton)

Attendance: 1,645.