MARK BECK'S first-half header proved the vital difference as a below-par York City claimed a significant three points in National League North by beating Chester 1-0.

A thrilling finish - when the Minstermen repeatedly came close to adding a second - belied a 90 minutes at the LNER Community Stadium where City were, for a good chunk, once again their own worst enemies on the ball.

But it was two excellent passes that gave City the win. Kurt Willoughby played a perfect long-range pass out wide for Michael Duckworth to cross and Beck to head home.

Chester will come away disappointed, having dominated a York midfield who ranged from ineffectual to anonymous, but, importantly, they failed to create any real clear-cut chances.

And the final 10 minutes were packed with City peppering the goal but denied by keeper Louis Gray as they finished much the more threatening of the sides.

There was just the one change from the Morpeth Town game for York boss Steve Watson, who was able to name Matty Brown in the back line as Sam Fielding dropped out of the squad.

Very positively for York, Sean Newton started the day on the bench after having spent two months on the sidelines with a knee injury sustained at Gloucester City.

Kurt Willoughby started on the left of the front three, looking to build on his hat-trick in midweek.

Among those lining up against the Minstermen was former City man Jack Redshaw, whose two previous league appearances for Chester yielded one goal, during their 5-1 drubbing of Blyth Spartans.

On the bench for Chester was winger Jude Oyibo, whom joint-boss Anthony Johnson hailed as “like a new signing”, having returned from an injury picked up soon after he was signed for the Blues.

Games between York and Chester are often accompanied by a very vocal element, and Saturday was no exception. City fans in the South Stand, geed up by ongoing rancour towards the club’s board, brought plenty of atmosphere to the occasion, matched by the travelling fans at the opposite end of the ground.

On-field proceedings were just as lively for the opening quarter of an hour. City had a couple of corners which brought goal-line clearances and handball appeals as the hosts looked the brighter in the opening exchanges.

Chester grew into game, though, and by the midway point of the half looked to have got a decent hold on the game.

York could be somewhat lax under decent pressing from Chester. Harrison Hopper and Akil Wright both found themselves caught in possession but were relieved to see it come to nothing.

Jameson did very well to deny Redshaw, who looked to round the keeper but the City man stretched out a strong hand to claw the ball in to his possession.

It was far from the only close call City survived. Redshaw later did well to hold of the sturdy attentions of Wright to link up with George Dudley, who squeezed a ball across the box for Paddy Lacey to steam on to and drill into the side netting.

The balance of play meant Mark Beck was showing his worth more in defensive than attacking situations. The big man was responsible for a good few clearances – including a header out from a corner won when Jameson pulled off a good save to deny Redshaw from range – an winning a foul to relieve some pressure.

At the other end, City had no composure on the ball. Whatever scant possession they had, they wasted with overhit passes.

Chester looked certain to open the scoring – until a rare piece of pinpoint passing got City ahead.

Willoughby, dropping back into the middle of the pitch, pinged a perfect ball out to Michael Duckworth on the right wing and the right-back delivered a delightful ball across the six-yard box. Beck rose the highest to nod back across goal and in.

York were not helped by some refereeing decisions, of which a good few seeming 50-50s went Chester’s way – but more importantly, they were not helping themselves, and soon after the opener, the visitors scythed through City’s bewildered midfield on another attack. It again came to nothing and York could take a much-needed one-goal lead in to the break.

City started the second half in a fairly lively manner with Willoughby getting down the wing early on and hitting Clayton Donaldson at the near post.

But the same problems on the ball remained and Brown almost got himself into a spot of bother when he took an unnecessary risk on the edge of the area and lost out to James Hardy.

York fans were audibly pleased when a yellow card was finally brandished Chester’s way, the caution going to Paddy Lacey for a poor challenge on Paddy McLaughlin.

Chester’s second-half substitute Oyibo came close to making an immediate impression when he found himself in plenty of space underneath a lofted ball forward, but Jameson read the danger well and cleared.

A better touch 10 minutes later would have had the winger through on goal but Oyibo miscontrolled Glendon’s pass when in space between the two centre-backs.

York sub Heaney, meanwhile, was inches away from putting his stamp on the game when his free kick from 19 yards was tipped over by Louis Gray.

Hopper almost made it two. His effort from 20 yards was saved by Gray – but the keeper did not hold it and it almost squirmed over the line.

York: Jameson 7, Duckworth 5 (Newton 90), Wright 5, Brown 6, McLaughlin 5, Hopper 5, Woods 5, Dyson 5, Donaldson 5, Willoughby 6 (Heaney 64), Beck 7. Subs not used: Campbell, Haase, Lancaster.

Star man: Mark Beck. Did a good job bringing others into play up top, as well as a sterling defensive effort when York were under the cosh, and finished off a good move well for the goal.

Goals: Beck (42)

Yellow cards: Hopper

Chester: Gray, Grand, Weeks, Cowan, Hardy ) (Oyibo 64), Glendon, Dudley, Lacey (Waring 81), Williams, Askew, Redshaw (Stephenson 71). Subs not used: Clark, Horsfield.

Yellow cards: Lacey

Referee: Paul Cooper

Attendance: 3,154 (417 away supporters)

Stats for York / Chester

Shots (on target): 11 (6) / 9 (3)

Corners: 11 / 7

Offsides: 3 / 1

Fouls: 12 / 15

Yellow cards: 1 / 1