Craig Mahon is certain Chester FC will put the disappointment of last weekend behind them and prove themselves this season’s surprise package.

And the popular Irish winger is determined to up his game and fight off increased competition for his place in the team.

Having started 44 times in all competitions last season, Mahon has been in and out of the side this term with Jordan Chapell and Craig Hobson edging ahead of him in the pecking order.

Dublin-born Mahon found himself among the substitutes at Woking on Saturday, replacing the injured Ross Hannah after 16 minutes on a rotten afternoon for the Blues, who were thumped 5-2 and had Ben Heneghan dismissed .

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Mahon insists Chester can be still be well pleased with their form over the opening month and recognises the need to step up his performances to cement his spot.

"All of the lads are really pushing hard for a place in the team and when the team’s doing well you want to be a part of it," said the 26-year-old, who joined the club in summer 2013 from Vauxhall Motors.

"Myself and Hobby have been battling it out for that position on the left wing and obviously I want to play as many games as I can.

"No matter what position you play in now, there’s always somebody pushing you which makes you give that extra percentage and work harder for the team.

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"We’re in a great position and we’re looking to the next match and looking for all three points.

"I do believe that this year we are going to be the surprise package.

"I think with the lads we have at the club, the facilities we’ve got and the sessions the gaffer and Macca (Jon McCarthy) are putting on, we’re going in the right direction and we can surprise a few people.

"Every game in this league is tough and every team starts off with the same attitude of wanting to get promoted or get into the play-offs.

"Every team we play against now is going to look at us and think ‘Chester are a team to be a bit afraid of’ and we’ve got to go into every single game thinking ‘we can win this’.

"You want to go into games with people anxious about playing against you because if people go in thinking ‘it’s just Chester’ then they won’t have anything to worry about and they’ll play their game.

"But this year I think they’re going in thinking ‘we’re playing against a good side’ and they’re going to be a bit more cautions in what they do so that gives us that chance to show them we’re here for a reason."

LOOK: Craig Mahon's career with Chester FC so far