CHESTER extended their winning run to three matches with an ultimately well-deserved victory over a Worksop team better than their lowly position suggests.

The Blues had to work hard for the three points and it was not until they had broken the deadlock two minutes after the restart, through a scrappy Chris Wood own goal, that they took control of proceedings.

Matty McGinn continued his fine scoring form since signing on loan from Southport before Wes Baynes broke his duck for the club to round off a win which kept Neil Young’s men in fourth and two points behind leaders Bradford Park Avenue.

Don’t let the league table kid you. Worksop are a solid, well-organised side and they would have led going into the interval had their forwards been able to take one of the two stand-out chances of a first half high in effort but low in quality.

The first came 13 minutes in when Michael Whitwell picked out strike-partner Dennis Sherriff in the area. Sheriff had the time and space to direct his header past John Danby, but instead he placed his attempt wide of the post.

Whitwell wasted an even better opportunity eight minutes before the break when he beat the offside trap and curled the ball wide with just Danby to beat.

They windy conditions were making life difficult for both teams but unchanged Chester needed to step it up after the break – and, after a short and sharp half-time team talk, that is exactly what they did.

The opener came in the 47th minute. A trademark McGinn long throw was headed on by George Horan and eventually turned into his own net by Wood.

The visitors now had the bit between their teeth and, either side of Whitwell clipping the crossbar for the hosts, Matty McNeil twice went close with headed efforts.

A goal was all that was lacking from another excellent centre-forward’s performance from McNeil. The veteran striker led the line superbly and it was he who won the 84th-minute penalty which ended any hopes of a Worksop fightback.

McNeil beat two players before being brought down in the box by Jon Worsnop and up-stepped top-scorer McGinn to make it five goals – and four spot-kicks – in six games.

Former Chester City goalkeeper Worsnop was beaten again in injury-time as substitute Baynes opened his account for the campaign with a crisp 12-yard finish.

Worksop: Worsnop, Gardner, Shiels, Roberts, Wood, Gray (Fox 78), Hudson, Sharry, Jackson, Sherriff (Muller 61), Whitwell (McDonald 78). Subs: Williams, Matthewson.

Chester:  Danby, Brownhill, Taylor, Horan, McGinn, Booth (Baynes 85), Smith, Powell, Howard, Simm (Rainford 79), McNeil (Reed 86). Subs: Brown, Barnes.

Goals: Wood OG 47, McGinn 84pen, Baynes 90.

Referee: Neil Guest (Grimsby).

Attendance: 570.