PAUL Linwood's goal was enough to inflict Stanley's 10th league defeat in 16 games and leave them still perilously close to the relegation zone.
He struck in the 22nd minute after the Reds debutant keeper Prezemyslaw Kazimierczak flapped at a Kevin Sandwith ball in and Linwood was first to fire home.
Stanley failed to create many clear cut chances with City's keeper John Danby only having one save to make - and easy Paul Mullin header.
Sub Andy Mangan also had an opportunity at the end but blasted over while Chester had two efforts cleared off the line, Alex Meechan was one-on-one with the Polish keeper but Kazimierczak denied him and new boy Simon Yeo and one-time Stanley target Lee Steele did look a threat up front.,
Assistant manager Jimmy Bell was gutted - especially as Chester's tactic of playing five at the back worked to stifle his team.
"They came for one thing in my mind - to steal a point - and they have done a job and won the pools but taking all three," said Bell.
"They put out a negative team, with five centre halves, and they are a very dour team. How far that will get them is up to their manager and how they want to play. I found it frustrating and I would be frustrated if I was a Chester supporter."
Full report in Friday's Observer
