Nic Corrigan has demanded his players show more character after branding their defeat in Herefordshire on Saturday as ‘totally unacceptable’.

Despite the Hare Lane outfit falling to defeat by the narrowest of margins, head coach Corrigan said that everybody, including himself, had to take ‘a long hard look at themselves’ in the wake of the defeat.

The young Chester side, who have impressed in their debut season in the SSE National League Two North, lie in fifth position after winning 15 of their 24  games, losing nine.

Despite their solid season, Corrigan was unhappy at the way the side approached the game against the eighth-placed Luctonians, a game which Chester could have won had they not missed a last minute penalty kick.

“The performance was beyond frustrating if I’m honest,” said Corrigan.

“I was annoyed at the way we approached the game and disappointed with our attitude.

“I include myself in that as we take the credit and the criticism as a team and that’s how we will continue.

“We turned up with the wrong attitude and people are thinking that they’re comfortable and just going through the motions and I’m not having that.

“We didn’t deserve anything from the game because of our attitude. Yes, the guys have done well this season but I’m not having them playing like that again. It was totally unacceptable from all involved and I apologise to the travelling fans who came to cheer us on.”

Corrigan has now challenged his players to right the wrongs of last weekend and display their passion and character when they take on high-flying Darlington Mowden Park at Hare Lane on Saturday (3pm).

Darlington occupy second place in the league having lost only two of their 23 games this season and, along with table-topping Macclesfield and third placed Stourbridge, have proved too hot to handle for many teams this season.

“I want to see these lads show me some character again and give the fans something to cheer,” said Corrigan.

“Darlington are an excellent side. They’re semi-pro but they are like a professional club and it’ll be a good chance for some of our young lads to test themselves.

“Some of our lads are 19 and playing the likes of Darlington will be a real test for them and will help them to develop. It’s an opportunity that I want to see them grasp.

“The weekend’s game has gone now but I have told them that I want a reaction and I want to them to show they care.

“They (Darlington) have been excellent this season and are pretty much a Division One club. We know that it’s going to be difficult to get a result but what I’m wanting to see is the character. If they can display that again then I’ll be happy.

“This has been a great season so far and I don’t want us to let our standards slip and get too comfortable as that is when things start going wrong, just like they did on Saturday.”

Chester 2nds claimed the spoils with an emphatic 50-0 rout of Altrincham Kersal B on Saturday to claim their third win of the season in the Bateman BMW Conference B.

The 2nds face a trip to Wilmslow 2nds this Saturday (3pm).

 Chester’s under 16s were in fine form as they registered a 27-0 home triumph over Wirral on Saturday.