Steve Burr was beaming with pride after his side produced a professional performance filled with guts, passion and desire to claim a vital win.

Danny Carlton was the unlikely hero, nodding home the only goal in the first half and sending the Blues into the final day as masters of their own destiny.

Cambridge did not look like the second best side in the league but that was more down to the Blues, who worked hard throughout without the ball and showed patience when in possession.

United created a few openings, most notably in time added on when keeper Aaron Chapman denied sub Ashley Chambers, but the visitors were deserved winners.

After the frustrating goalless draw with old foes Wrexham, securing a positive result at the Abbey Stadium became even more important.

Aldershot defeated Woking in the lunchtime game to banish any relegation fears, leaving the Blues, Dartford, Hereford United and Southport battling to beat the drop.

Burr was forced into making one change with Gareth Seddon unable to have a pain-killing injection in his broken toe.

Winger Jamie Menagh came into midfield with John Rooney pushed further forwards and George Horan continued in defence despite limping off against Wrexham.

Cambridge were all but certain to finish in second place but manager Richard Money fielded a strong side as he looked to build momentum going into the play-offs.

Chester lined up with Danny Carlton as a lone striker and found themselves on the back foot early on with the Us looking threatening in wide areas.

Carlton got the first shot of the game on target on nine minutes, flicking a low Rooney corner goalwards but keeper Will Norris made a comfortable catch.

Cambridge should have taken the lead when ex-Manchester United winger Luke Chadwick was allowed a free header six yards out but he could only nod the ball straight at Aaron Chapman.

United paid for that miss on 13 minutes when Carlton put the Blues in front. Norris came to collect Jason Jarrett's deep cross but was caught in no man's land, allowing Lewis Turner to clip the ball over his head and Carlton to nod home the opening goal.

Chester were working hard to shut down the Us in midfield and retaining the ball well in when in possession as the opening 20 minutes went according to plan.

Horan had been rated as a major doubt before the game with an ankle problem and lasted only 26 minutes before having to be replaced with Luke Ashworth.

Linwood picked up the game's first booking when he used two feet to bring down Tom Elliott, although the defender slipped on going to ground making the foul look worse than it was.

Cambridge came close to equalising on 34 minutes when Andy Pugh skinned Linwood and pulled the ball back to Elliott but the big striker fired wide under pressure from Ashworth.

Chester had chances too with Linwood heading Rooney's free kick wide, although the offside flag had been raised, and Rooney failing to get hold of a shot from the edge of the box.

United ended the half the stronger with Chadwick looking the biggest threat but were unable to break down a stubborn Blues backline before the break.

Frustration among the home fans grew in the opening 10 minutes of the second period as the Us struggled to put enough passes together to trouble the visitors.

Chester continued to take the patient approach and created a half chance on 55 minutes when Menagh floated a cross into the box but Carlton couldn't get his header on target.

Cambridge boss Money threw on Ashley Chambers and Matthew Barnes-Homer three minutes later as he looked to inject some life into his side.

But the best stuff continued to come from the Blues with Carlton breaking the offside trap and seeing his shot deflect to safety before Rooney released Andy Bond but the midfielder lifted his shot over the bar with only Norris to beat.

Menagh was looking dangerous down the left and won a free kick on the corner of the box, which Rooney curled just the wrong side of the crossbar.

Barnes-Homer forced Chapman into a save with a scuffed strike from 12 yards as the Us began to see more of the ball and the excellent Andy Griffin limped off with a hamstring strain before the hosts created a great chance on 75 minutes.

Chambers went on a weaving run and found Barnes-Homer but Linwood made a desperate block to prevent his strike finding the target and Chadwick screwed wide on the follow up.

Chester found themselves having less and less possession as the game moved into the closing stages but defended manfully, showing the guts and desire needed in relegation battles.

Cambridge threw men forward and Chapman got down to save a deflected Greg Taylor strike as Craig Hobson came on for the final few minutes to hold the ball up.

Chester battled for every ball and showed outstanding commitment to the cause but there was still time for one last chance for the Us.

Ashworth missed his header and Chambers beat Turner to the ball before rounding Chapman, he looked destined to slot home but the big keeper recovered brilliantly to pull the ball off his toes.

Chester survived and saw out what was left of the four minutes of time added on to claim a deserved three points, that means a win in the final game will be good enough to keep them up.

Cambridge United: Norris, Tait (Chambers 58), Miller, Coulson, Taylor, Hughes, Champion, Berry (Dunk 46), Chadwick, Elliott (Barnes-Homer 58), Pugh.

Subs: Roberts, Bonner.

Booked: Hughes.

Chester FC: Chapman, Griffin (Mahon 68), Horan (Ashworth 26), Linwood, McIntyre, Turner, Bond, Jarrett, Menagh, Rooney, Carlton (Hobson 82).

Subs: Danby, Lindfield.

Goal: Carlton 13.

Booked: Linwood, Jarrett, McIntyre.

Referee: Jason Whiteley (Leeds)

Attendance: 3,521.