Chester stretched their unbeaten run to six games with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough.

Matty Hughes' first-half goal proved decisive as his side wrapped up three points in the glorious midlands sunshine - their first win at Harriers since 2005.

An assured display saw the visitors carry the greater goal threat, while their tireless pressing when out of possession continually frustrated John Pemberton's Harriers side.

It was the hosts who fashioned the first opening in the opening two minutes though as midfielder Milan Butterfield curled an effort over the bar from the edge of the box.

Attacking towards a healthy away crowd, the Blues then had their first sight of goal when Brad Jackson latched onto George Waring's flick-on and drove into the box but saw his shot blocked by a covering defender.

With the early exchanges played at a rapid tempo despite the heat, Chester threatened again on 11 minutes when former Harriers defender Joel Taylor launched a throw-in into the Kidderminster box which reached Anthony Dudley, who swivelled and sent a low right-footed effort inches wide of the post.

Harriers responded in kind a minute later, as Ashley Chambers evaded an attempted tackle from Gary Stopforth and surged into into the box before Blues stopper Russ Griffiths tightened the angle and smothered his shot well.

Inventive free-kick routines paid dividends for Chester last season and another stylistic variation almost came off for them when Gary Roberts disguised a slide pass to the on-running Matty Hughes whose shot looked destined for the bottom corner before a vital goalline clearance by Harriers defender Rhys Williams.

An opener seemed imminent, and they went close again soon afterwards when Brad Jackson fed overlapping right-back Kev Roberts who fizzed a cross across the face of goal which eluded all of the lurking Chester attackers.

But sustained Blues pressure was rewarded on 27 minutes when Jackson played a neat low ball beyond the Harriers defence for Hughes who made no mistake with a well-placed finish from a tight angle beyond home keeper Cameron Gregory.

Deservedly ahead at the interval, Chester's lead owed as much to another disciplined defensive display as it did to their attacking endeavours.

There was no drop in intensity after the break, as Harriers forward Ed Williams tested Griffiths with a low effort from the edge of the box within a minute of the restart.

The attacking instincts of both sides were blunted by some solid midfield tackling and timely blocks, with neither keeper seriously tested again until the 67th minute when Jackson found space for himself before firing inches wide of the far post.

Combative Blues midfielder Gary Roberts then picked out Dudley, who drove forward into the box and lashed a left-footed effort into the side netting.

Heading into the final five minutes, Dudley then spurned a golden chance to wrap up victory when he was slipped through on goal following a swift counter-attack but fired straight at Gregory.

If that was a let off for Harriers, it was the Blues breathing a sigh of relief a minute later when Griffiths' attempted punt upfield took a deflection and looped into the air, with the ball dropping to Ashley Chambers who fired wide with the goal at his mercy.

Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley's men held firm in the closing stages to seal an impressive win that moved them up to third in the National League North standings.

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