Nic Corrigan has challenged his players to prove they share the club’s ambitions after admitting he was growing frustrated with his ‘nearly-men’.
Having already pushed top two Stourbridge and Macclesfield close, Chester fell short against third-placed Darlington Mowden Park.
Director of rugby Corrigan believes his side should have beaten Park and fears they are earning a reputation as the ‘nearly-men’ of National League Two North.
“Darlington were a very good team from a defensive point of view and the guys who went out there did a job for us but they did not do it well enough,” he said.
“The reality is that the club has high standards and we are seventh in the league and we have not done ourselves justice.
“We wanted to come into this league and earn respect and we are doing that, but we are doing that by being the nearly-men and that’s not what we want.”
Fly-half Rhys Hayes landed a penalty to put Chester into the lead at the Darlington Arena before the home side scored the opening try on 30 minutes.
Corrigan’s side responded well and edged in front with a penalty try minutes later after the hosts were penalised for collapsing the scrum.
But the scores were tied 10-10 at half-time as the home side knocked over a penalty just before the interval.
Darlington added another penalty and a converted try after the break before Hayes kicked another penalty to secured a losing bonus point for the men from Hare Lane.
“There were 27 penalties awarded in the game and that made things difficult but we should have taken four points,” said Corrigan.
“We are missing five players from our starting 15 and I believe some of the guys who have been given a start because of injuries have yet to grasp that and prove they can perform at this level.
“I want the players to believe and I feel some of them are not respecting themselves at the moment.”
Corrigan was impressed with centre Will Nelson, but said he would prefer to be talking about good team performances as opposed to individual efforts.
He said: “It was great to see Will Nelson playing and enjoying his rugby. The Will Nelson we saw on Saturday was the one I coached with England Students and the reason I brought him to the club.
“But we are a team and I am not going to single people out when we win or lose.
“The challenge for us all is to take the next step and get to where we want to be, not where we are now.”
Chester welcome struggling Hull to Hare Lane on Saturday and Corrigan believes his side have an ideal chance to return to winning ways.
He said: “It is a good opportunity for us to get back to Hare Lane and we pride ourselves on giving a performance and getting Hare Lane on its feet.
“We need to do that by being focused and taking ownership, and I know our senior player group, led by Mike Craven on the pitch, will do that.”
Hull are third bottom in the league, but both of their wins have come on the road.
Chester 2nds went down to a heavy 75-12 defeat at home to Cheshire rivals Macclesfield in the Bateman BMW Premier Division.
Christleton also suffered a defeat on home soil, losing 34-23 to second-placed Firwood Waterloo in Division Three South.
In South Lancs and Cheshire Three, Helsby were beaten 41-16 at Buxton.
