A DOGGED display earned Chester City three vital points against championship-chasers Boston United.
The City fans arrived full of voice at York Street, drums included, and their team also wasted no time in finding an early rhythm.
With table-toppers Boston --on the back of four consecutive victories - still wondering what had hit them, Chris Tate saw two early efforts saved by Paul Bastock.
Boston finally came into the game midway through the first half and Daryl Clare and Paul Ellender brought Wayne Brown into action but their efforts lacked the venom to test the keeper.
Tate again threatened with an adventurous 30 yard volley that whizzed inches wide of United's goal before a Boston fightback had Chester on the defensive.
The home side finished the first half the stronger of the two and when Ellender's header got the better of Brown, debutant Richard Peacock cleared off the line.
Seven minutes into the second half Chester made the match-winning breakthrough. Leading scorer Mark Beesley headed home from Peacock's curling free kick from the left flank and, despite Bastock getting a hand to the ball, he couldn't prevent Chester drawing first blood.
Content with hanging on to the one goal advantage, the visitors sat back and soaked up Boston's pressure.
A snap shot from Jamie Cook and a close range effort from Clare brought out the best in Brown, whose safe hands kept Chester in the match. His day rounded off well with a vital and brave block from the feet of David Town with 10 minutes remaining.
BOSTON: Bastock, Clifford, Gould ( Tarrant 62), Ellender, Warburton (Costello 85), Rodwell, Brown, Cook (Town 69), Clare, Rusk, Angel. Not used: Elding, Conroy.
CHESTER: W. Brown, McGorry, Rose, Lancaster, Bolland, Brabin, Carey, McElhatton (Williams 69), Tate, Beesley, Peacock. Not used: D. Brown, Carden, Haarhoff, Blackburn.
