Goals from Craig Hobson, Kingsley James and Peter Winn ensured the Blues overcame a slow start to record a third win in seven pre-season games.

Stafford began the contest with more enthusiasm and took the lead on eight minutes through a fine Dan Cope finish.

But once Hobson pulled the Conference Premier side level on 28 minutes, there was only ever going to be one winner with James and Winn netting in the second period.

Steve Burr started out as a centre forward with Stafford in the 1980s, although back then club, which has now dropped into the Evo-Stik League First Division South, was one of bigger fish in non-league football.

His squad included a new trialist in ex-St Johnstone forward Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, but there was no place for Bohan Dixon, Jack Rea or Freddy Hall, who have been with the club for the past five weeks.

It was the home side who started the brighter, although the first chance fell to the Blues when Craig Hobson headed John Disney's cross into the side-netting.

Stafford went in front on eight minutes when Oliver Davies' raking pass found an onside Dan Cope and he curled the ball over keeper Jon Worsnop from the edge of the box.

With his team struggling to make an impression, Blues captain Matty Brown tried his luck from 30 yards on 11 minutes but his shot drifted wide.

Chester were shading the possession but were too laboured to trouble an enthusiastic and hard-working Rangers side.

But the breakthrough came on 28 minutes when John Rooney clipped a pass into the area after his free kick had hit the wall and Kieran Charnock nodded down for Hobson to stab home off the post from 10 yards.

Having got back on level terms, the Blues began to assert themselves a little more and it took a good block from home captain Wayne Daniel to prevent Kingsley James putting them ahead.

An unmarked Charnock should have scored on 34 minutes but he headed Jamie Menagh's corner over the bar and the sides went into half time level.

Burr made four changes during the break with Danny Taylor, Peter Winn, Sean McConville and Wayne Riley coming on for Craig Hobson, Craig Mahon, Jamie Menagh and Matty Brown.

His side went ahead seven minutes into the second half when James out-muscled Daniel in the area and smashed past keeper Callum Preston despite the home side claiming the defender had been fouled.

Chester replaced Worsnop with John Danby and the transfer-listed stopper was straight into the action, grasping a Ryan Edmunds shot with ease before making a good stop down low from James Dance.

Liam Blake came on for James, who again impressed in midfield, and Rooney fired into the side-netting on 66 minutes after a smart pass from Danny Harrison, who continued his comeback with a solid performance.

Stafford found themselves pegged back as the game wore on and the Blues began to move the ball around with confidence with Blake showing some smart touches and Winn threatening from the left.

Both sides made changes every few minutes as time ticked on with Burr throwing on Fortnam-Tomlinson for the final 10 minutes.

As is so often the case, the changes meant the contest became a little less fluid but the Blues kept shifting the ball well and a third arrived on 85 minutes.

Riley found Winn on the left and he used Gareth Roberts' overlapping run as a foil, cutting inside and firing into the bottom corner from 20 yards for his third pre-season goal.

McConville fired over on the half-volley with seconds left but a fourth would have been harsh on the game hosts, who provided the Blues with another valuable workout as the new season draws ever nearer.

Chester FC: Worsnop (Danby 58), Disney, Roberts, Brown (Taylor 45), Charnock, James (Blake 63), Harrison (Peers 79), Mahon (Winn 45), Rooney (Fortnam-Tomlinson 79), Menagh (Riley 45), Hobson (McConville 45).

Subs: All used.

Goals: Hobson 28, James 52, Winn 85.

Stafford Rangers: Preston (Hopwood 80), Williams (Fincher), Branch. Davies (Mills 75), Daniel, Reid (Pamer 61), Smith (Edmunds 45), Dance (Bromley 79), Wynter (Berkeley 75), Cope (Geaves 61), Curtis (Edwards 58).

Subs: All used.

Goal: Dan Cope 8.

Referee: Greg Rollason (Staffordshire)

Attendance: 297.