Wrexham ended a seven-year wait for a win in the cross-border derby with a deserved victory over a disappointing Chester FC at the Racecourse.
Keiron Morris' excellent strike on eight minutes proved enough to halt the Blues four-game unbeaten run against the Reds, whose first-half performance merited the three points.
Chester never really got going, showing the rustiness you might expect from a team that hasn't played for two weeks and Wrexham's energetic display restricted them to a handful of chances, none of which could be classed as clearcut.
Given the build-up and excitement that surrounds these fixtures, the performance fell well short and in the wider scheme of things it's important the Blues don't let the season peter out from here.
Chester had held the upper hand in these games of late and had not lost to Wrexham since March 2008. If the Blues could avoid defeat for a fifth successive derby then Steve Burr's team would equal a record dating back to the 1930s.
Another incentive was the chance to claim a first league double over the Welsh club since 1960-61, however such records and statistics mean little to supporters when these two clubs meet.
Chester's improvement through the season had pleasing for the fans, and 1,200 of them made the trip across the border hoping for a repeat of the 2-0 win at the Racecourse in August 2014.
In comparison, Wrexham's campaign had been hugely disappointing even allowing for runs to the FA Trophy final and the third round of the FA Cup.
For a club with aspirations of a return to the Football League, 18th place in the table was not good enough, although two wins over long-time leaders Barnet and the cup performances demonstrated the Jekyll and Hyde nature of Kevin Wilkin's side.
Chester welcomed back Oliver McBurnie, who completed his return on loan from Bradford City the day before the game, came straight into the starting line-up.
Craig Hobson dropped to the bench in the only change to the team that had lost 1-0 at home to Eastleigh two weeks earlier.
Wilkin had chopped and changed his team through the season and that theme continued as he made three changes from a midweek defeat at Gateshead.
Blaine Hudson, Kyle Storer and Rob Evans came in for Luke Waterfall, Dean Keates and ex-Chester City midfielder Jay Harris.
As is the norm on these occassions, the match started at breakneck pace with Wrexham asserting themselves from the first whistle, just as they had in the previous meeting.
Louis Moult came close to opening the scoring in the fifth minutes when he poked a deep cross towards goal and the ball crept between Jon Worsnop's legs before Kieran Charnock booted clear off the line.
Wrexham kept pressing and the positive start was rewarded on eight minutes when Keiron Morris gave them the lead.
Connor Jennings found Morris in space on the edge of the area and the winger turned and fired a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Chester had been second best but began to work themselves into the contest with Charnock heading McConville's corner wide and McBurnie having a shot blocked.
Rob Evans picked up the game's first booking on 22 minutes for clattering Sean McConville and Matty Hughes came close to equalising from the resulting free kick, sending a volley whistling past the post.
Wrexham came back with Manny Smith heading Steve Tomassen's cross over from 10 yards and Worsnop holding on well to Kyle Storer's whipped free kick.
Storer and Neil Ashton went into referee Ross Joyce's book but the Reds remained the more dangerous and should have gone 2-0 up on 32 minutes when Louis Moult released Morris and he had just Worsnop to beat but rolled his shot wide of the post.
Chester found themselves outnumbered in midfield and looked off the pace with too many misplaced passes and heavy touches, and in truth Wrexham could have been three goals clear.
A mix up gave Hudson a free run on goal in the 40th minute but he produced a centre half's finish, allowing a hesitant Worsnop to save with his legs, and the keeper made an excellent stop on the stroke of half-time, tipping Evans' shot wide as the half finished 1-0.
With a strong wind now swirling around the Racecourse, both teams struggled to get the ball down in the opening 10 minutes of the second period.
Chester eventually settled down and created two good chances in quick succession with Andy Coughlin getting down well to push Gareth Roberts' sweet strike behind and then gathering McBurnie's bullet header at the second attempt.
With half an hour to go, Matty Brown and Kingsley James came on for Charnock and Brad Abbott as the Blues looked to find a breakthrough.
Wrexham seemed content to protect the lead and brought on the veteran Dean Keates to keep order and retain possession better.
Brown crashed a shot over under pressure but Keates' introduction brought about an improvement in the home team with Morris having a volley charged down.
Hobson replaced McConville with 15 minutes left in the last throw of the dice for Burr, whose team seemed to be tiring with Hughes and Mahon struggling with cramp.
Wrexham finished the stronger and fitter, and as the game became more stretched so the likelihood of them scoring again improved.
Wes York, who had replaced Morris, had a golden chance to wrap up the win when he broke through but Worsnop stood up well and blocked with his legs.
It had been a frustrating afternoon for the Blues and the home defence, with the excellent Manny Smith at its heart, never came under serious pressure as the game ended with a whimper.
Chester FC: Worsnop, Higgins, Heneghan, Charnock (Brown 60), Roberts, Rooney, Abbott (James 61), Mahon, McConville (Hobson 74), Hughes, McBurnie.
Subs: Viscosi, Richards.
Booked: Mahon, Higgins, Brown.
Wrexham: Coughlin, Tomassen, Smith, Hudson, Ashton, Clarke, Evans, Storer (Keates 61), Morris (York 87), Moult (Bishop 76), Jennings.
Subs: Durrell, Waterfall.
Goal: Morris 8.
Booked: Evans, Storer, Ashton.
Referee: Ross Joyce (Billingham)
Attendance: 6,430.
