Steve Burr felt his Chester FC players and the 250-strong travelling support deserved more than a solitary point from the trip to Lincoln City.

Delano Sam-Yorke punished a defensive lapse to give the Imps the lead on 16 minutes and the Blues were out of sorts in the first period.

But the visitors came on strong in the second half and once Matty Taylor smashed home the equaliser on 52 minutes there looked to be only one winner but home keeper Nick Townsend ensured his side remained on level terms.

"I thought the lads worked very, very hard and there was a terrific following for the lads and they didn't get their rewards because I felt we dominated the second half and we should have won the game," said Burr.

"It was particularly frustrating in the second half because I felt there was one winner. I thought we were virtually camped in their half and how we never scored the second I'll never know."

Lincoln had a golden chance to retake the lead on 62 minutes when referee Colin Lymer ruled Matty Brown handled in the box and awarded the hosts a penalty - a decision Burr did not agree with.

Imps captain Alan Power - who scored a spot kick in the 3-3 draw between the sides at the Swansway Chester Stadium in December - stepped up but on-loan keeper Aaron Chapman used all of his 6ft 8ins frame to keep his strike out.

"I'm glad Aaron saved it because it should be deliberate handball and that's not deliberate handball," he said.

Chester struggled in the opening 45 minutes, conceding possession too cheaply and the hosts created a number of good chances.

"We just never really quite got going in the first half," said Burr, who felt his side looked 'anxious' early on.

"We were a bit open so we changed the shape a little bit."

The switch had the desired effect and the Blues produced a stirring second half performance that was in clear contrast to the error-strewn display before the break.

"I was pleased with the way we counter attacked which is something that we've been working on," said Burr.

Brown sent a powerful head inches over the bar and Townsend denied Ross Killock, Gareth Seddon and sub Jamie Menagh before pushing a John Rooney shot on to the post, with the ball rolling back into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper.

"It comes back either side and we've got two men waiting there to tap it in but it's fallen straight into the goalkeeper's arms," said Burr.

"It was very strange how it didn't run for us but I said to the lads you make your own luck.

"But we've come away to Lincoln, who have had a good little run of late, so we can't be too disappointed with a point."

Resurgent relegation rivals Dartford beat financially-troubled Hereford United 2-0 but the Blues remain outside of the bottom four on goal difference.

Chester travel to second-bottom Tamworth, who drew 1-1 at home to Welling United at the weekend, on Tuesday (7.45pm).