A GOAL two minutes from time by Chester central defender Phil Bolland earned the hosts a well deserved three points in a fiercely-contested top-of-the-table Nationwide Conference clash at the Deva Stadium last night.
Chester are making a habit of leaving things late - they scored a last-minute winner against Forest Green Rovers - but last night they had the relative luxury of registering the winner with 120 seconds to spare.
City were full value for their victory, which saw them bounce back well following the setback at Exeter City at the weekend.
Chester could easily have opened the scoring as early as the seventh minute when a delightful through-ball from Carden found the unmarked Darryn Stamp, but the striker's effort went wide of the upright.
Chester's new signing made amends after 23 minutes when he powerfully headed his side into the lead following a free-kick on the left by Brady.
The ex-Northampton Town striker could easily have doubled his tally 10 minutes from the break, but his effort was thwarted by the bar.
Shrewsbury had their best spell of the game at the beginning of the second period, and Jamie Tolley brought them back to level terms after a through ball from Aiston had dissected the City defence.
City should have had a penalty after 62 minutes, when Ridler handled in the area, but referee Mr Birkett waved play on.
With time running out Chester were awarded a free-kick on the left. McIntyre floated the kick into the area where Bolland latched onto it with aplomb to earn City the victory.
The match was watched by the largest crowd at the Deva Stadium for two years, with just under 5,000 turning up.
After the match City boss Mark Wright said: "It was a battle but we expected that, but in the end I am proud of the lads because we thoroughly deserved the victory."
CHESTER CITY: Brown, Collins, McIntyre, Carden, Bolland, Hatswell, Heard, Davies, Brady (Twiss 86), Foster (Gill 86), Stamp. Subs: Rapley, Harris, McCaldon.
SHREWSBURY TOWN: Howie, Drysdale, Tolley, Tinson, Ridler, Jagielka (Fitzpatrick 86), Sedgemore (Lowe 90), Rodgers, Cramb (Watts 79), Aiston, O'Connor. Subs: Hart, Murray.
