YORK City picked up a precious 2-0 win at Chester with a goal in each half from Vadaine Oliver and Danny Holmes.

The Minstermen also saw Jon Parkin and Amari Morgan-Smith hit the frame of the goal during a professional performance at the Deva Stadium.

A cagey start by both teams had earlier seen Elliott Durrell and Parkin hit wayward shots well wide, while Morgan-Smith volleyed off target from 15 yards after Oliver had helped on a Holmes throw.

Holmes, meanwhile, lofted a 20-yard opportunity into home keeper Alex Lynch’s hands and Sam Hughes headed wide at the far post from Durrell’s left-wing free kick.

City forged in front, though, on 25 minutes when Morgan-Smith drove up the middle of the park and timed his through ball to perfection to release a charging Oliver.

The former Crewe striker then displayed composure to round Lynch and roll the ball into an unguarded net with just enough power to beat two covering defenders.

In response, after Lynch routinely saved an Oliver header, Chester fashioned their best chance of the match when Ryan Lloyd played Durrell through the right channel, but Scott Loach was equal to his firmly-struck 15-yard drive.

Matty Waters also dragged wide from the edge of the box for the hosts, before a thumping 20-yard Parkin half-volley, following Oliver’s lay-off, bounced back into play off a well-beaten Lynch’s left-hand upright.

On the stroke of half-time, Morgan-Smith went on to have a glorious chance to double the lead when he charged clear after Johnny Hunt misjudged a long ball out of defence from Parkin.

But Lynch was quick out of his goal to smother the former Luton forward’s shot.

Following the restart, Morgan-Smith shot high at Lynch from 15 yards having been teed up by Oliver.

After Lucas Dawson flashed a 30-yard drive at the other end, Morgan-Smith then curled a 55th-minute shot against Lynch’s left-hand upright, having played a one-two with Parkin at the end of a patient passing move.

Holmes, meanwhile, made a terrific covering tackle to prevent the clear-through Hunt firing at an exposed Loach’s goal and Dawson’s strike from distance was safely gathered by the City keeper.

For City, Asa Hall drilled over from 20 yards, before Holmes added a tension-easing, second goal in front of the jubilant away end.

The former Tranmere full back smacked a half-volley into the roof of the net from 15 yards after Oliver had headed down Sean Newton’s free kick into the box.

As City saw the game out, Morgan-Smith’s rising edge-of-the-box effort warmed Lynch’s hands, before the final whistle was greeted with gusto by away supporters.