Craig Mahon's clever finish with 93 minutes on the clock gave the Blues a deserved win over a stubborn and determined Alfreton side.

There can be few arguments with the end result, even though Chester had to come from behind after Tom Shaw gave the Reds the lead on 15 minutes.

Matty Hughes' smart strike had them level on the half hour and Steve Burr's side created numerous chances but couldn't find a second goal until Mahon finished off an inviting cross from sub Jamie Menagh with seconds to go.

Alfreton boss Nicky Law had tried to build the fixture up as a six-pointer but the Blues, seven points better off, hadn't taken the bait.

Chester have designs on a place on in the top half and although the 2-0 loss to Dover Athletic gave a reminder there was work to do the progress made had been encouraging.

Unbeaten in four home games, the Blues have started to find a blend that seems to be working. Burr made one change with top scorer Craig Hobson returning and Peter Winn dropping to the bench.

Alfreton failed to take a point from the opening seven games but four wins from nine - including a 4-2 win over Torquay United - since suggested Law's men were not to be written off.

Law was forced into two changes with Tom Davies, making his debut after signing on loan from Fleetwood Town, and Joe Ironside replacing Daniel Gray and Paul Clayton.

Both sides took a few minutes to settle down and get used to the swirling wind but the Blues soon gained the upper hand.

A good move down the left on five minutes ended with John Rooney unleashing a thumping shot that Cameron Dawson palmed out and the keeper made a fine save on 10 minutes when he flicked Matty Hughes' curler behind.

Sean McConville had a low shot deflected behind on 14 minutes and Dawson was called action again when he clawed Rooney's corner from underneath the bar.

Alfreton hadn't threatened but took the lead on 15 minutes when Ironside held the ball up well and rolled a pass to Tom Shaw who slid his shot through Jon Worsnop's legs.

Chester didn't allow the goal to unsettle them and kept moving the ball around with pace and purpose.

Rooney twice fired wide from distance and Gareth Roberts should have done better when he had the chance to pick out his man with a cross.

Davies made an excellent block when McConville looked certain to score and Alfreton might have gone two up on 24 minutes when the same man failed to capitalise on a free header.

Craig Mahon created a chance for Hobson, who lost his footing and skied over but the pressure paid off on 30 minutes when the Blues levelled.

Roberts found Matty Hughes and the on-loan forward did the rest, standing up his marker and creating the space to drill a shot past Dawson.

Chester continued to look the more dangerous and produced some excellent stuff with Hobson flicking a decent chance over from close range.

Karl Hawley caused problems down the other end and teed up Shaw inside the box but his goal-bound shot was blocked and the sides went in all square.

Compared to the first half, the second period was slow to get going but the Blues began to get back on top.

Hughes had the beating of right back Bradley Wood and his pass found Rooney but the midfielder couldn't guide his shot on target on 52 minutes.

Dawson then made an impressive double save to keep the scores level, pushing out Rooney's shot after more good work from Hughes and then smothering Hobson's close range touch.

Hobson did beat Dawson on 60 minutes when he reached a through ball before the keeper but his shot went the wrong side of the post.

Alfreton struggled to get into the Blues half and found themselves under increasing pressure with Rooney, Michael Kay and Kingsley James all missing with attempts from outside the box.

Jamie Menagh replaced Hobson for the final 15 minutes and Chester kept forcing the game but the Reds didn't look in the mood for cracking.

Menagh flashed a shot over the bar on 85 minutes but in truth the longer the match went on the less threatening the Blues became.

Alfreton had battled hard and were about to celebrate a hard-earned point when the resistance broke and Chester snatched a winner deep into time added on.

Menagh outpaced Lathaniel Rowe-Turner and swung over a superb cross that found Mahon and the little winger produced a clever finish to lift the ball over Dawson and into the net.

Chester FC: Worsnop, Heneghan, Kay, Charnock, G Roberts, Mahon, Rooney, James, McConville, Hughes, Hobson (Menagh 76).

Subs: C  Roberts, Harrison, Touray, Winn.

Goals: Hughes 30, Mahon 90.

Booked: James, Roberts.

Alfreton Town: Dawson, Wood, Davies, Graham, Rowe-Turner, Shaw, Courtney, Howell, Mellor (Bradley 49), Hawley (Keane 79), Ironside (McDonald 63).

Subs: Sheridan.

Goal: Shaw.

Booked: Davies.

Referee: Ian Hussin (Liverpool)

Attendance: 2,084.