CHESTER will visit York City having just seen their longest unbeaten league run in five-and-a-half years come to an end at the weekend.

Prior to Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Altrincham, the Deva Stadium outfit had won seven and drawn four of their last 11 National League North fixtures – their best sequence since going 30 unbeaten on the way to topping the division in 2013.

Victory against Alty would have sent the Blues move to the top of this term’s standings – a position where management team Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley finished last season before parting company with champions Salford City.

Instead, their team currently lie fifth, but know they can capitalise on a second chance to hit the summit by taking three points at Bootham Crescent tonight.

Chester will be hoping to welcome back midfield dynamo Gary Stopforth, who was missed at the weekend following a shin problem, but striker Matty Hughes is out for the rest of the season having suffered cruciate ligament damage last month.

Midfielders Scott Burton and George Green are not expected to feature either.

Nineteen-year-old forward Dan Mooney, meanwhile, is the visitors’ leading marksman this season with eight goals since arriving on loan from League One Fleetwood over the summer.

At the other end of the pitch, a record of 25 goals conceded is the worst outside of the division’s bottom six, but that number is swollen by a freak 8-1 thrashing at Blyth Spartans back in August and the team have managed six clean sheets from their 16 league contests.