YORK City moved up to sixth in the Vanarama National League North after beating Chester 1-0.

Lenell John-Lewis made amends for two missed first-half chances with a 68th-minute finish after some brilliant work by Olly Dyson and Maziar Kouhyar in the build up.

The goal had been a long time coming for York who brushed off some dire recent performances to largely outperform a Chester side, who’d been beaten just twice in their last nine matches.

Regardless of performance at this stage of the season though, the points are all important and, with three games to go, York are in the play-offs and know that a top seven finish is in their hands.

Even more impressively was that this was a York side without two of its starting back four.

Having lost starting right-back Michael Duckworth to a calf problem only last week, York were forced into another defensive switch as Matty Brown dropped out with injury.

Sam Sanders moved inside to partner Maxim Kouogun in the middle, with Olly Dyson resuming his role as deputy right-back.

Fortunately for City, they were able to call upon Josh King again, with the defending, who last appeared in December returning to the bench after a long spell injured.

In the front line, Jack McKay replaced Kurt Willoughby on the left wing, the latter dropping to the bench as a result.

The two changes to the York starting 11, with Chester making the same number, failed to bring about a lively start to the game, with neither side threatening much in the opening quarter of an hour.

Chester’s Matty Williams registered the first and only shot of the first 20 minutes when he blazed over the top inside the box.

York soon found their footing in the game and three chances came in the space of 10 minutes provided their best opportunities of the half.

First, some wonderful work by Dyson saw him turn past a defender before crossing to Lenell John-Lewis who, seeing the header late, could only meekly head straight at goalkeeper Wyll Stanway, who saved with his legs.

Mitch Hancox then did well to keep an attack live and cross into the box, with Simon Grand only able to slice over his own crossbar.

Chester showed more panic in defence when Stanway had to rush out of his goal to try and claim a back pass and, though he was beaten to the ball by John-Lewis, the Grimsby Town loanee’s strike was stopped by the keeper.

The hosts just about managed to weather the City storm and further highlighted York’s weakness at set pieces in a rare corner.

Peter Jameson partially punched away the initial delivery before Sanders was forced into a goal-line clearance amid dismissed handball appeals.

At the other end, Hancox stung the palms of Stanway late on but York were unable to force a breakthrough their first-half display arguably warranted.

York struggled to find some of their first-half spark after the restart and, aside from a long-range Hancox strike which go too far wide of the far post, it didn’t take manager John Askey long to call for Clayton Donaldson from the bench.

Despite the forward’s introduction, it was Hancox who continued to threaten. Once more he worked room on the left flank and had a shot deflect agonisingly off target.

After over 20 second-half minutes, Chester finally registered a shot on goal, calling Jameson into a save for the first time in the match.

Marcus Dackers was free to direct a header at the keeper but not get any great power on the effort.

Minutes later, York duly punished the home side and it was a goal that you could not begrudge them, having had the majority of the chances and possession.

Excellent work by Dyson saw him lift the ball over the top for Kouhyar who showed further fine feet by beat a defender on the touchline and pull the ball back for John-Lewis to hammer home a first-time finish at the near post.

Having been on top for large periods, York suddenly dropped deeper with the goal advantage, inviting some pressure.

It was hardly an immensely-dramatic grand-stand finish but Chester had the game’s best late chances.

Dackers blazed a shot over while Harrison Burke headed straight at Jameson from a corner.

In the final five minutes, Dyson made a hearts-in-mouth tackle in the box on Darren Stephenson which was just about successful.

And, in added time, there was one last Chester chance. Substitute Okera Simmonds got past Sanders and went down in the box from his slight pull.

The referee waved the penalty away the appeals, fortunately for City.

At first glance, it looked a penalty but that will not bother York one bit. The play-off race is still well and truly alive.

Chester: Stanway, Roberts, Grand, Weeks, Fitzpatrick, Glendon (C), Stephenson, Sargent, Burke, Williams (Apter 46’), Dackers (Simmonds 79’).

Subs not used: Gray, Livesey, Roache.

Yellow cards: Glendon, Dackers, Grand

York: Jameson 6, Dyson 6, Kouogun 7, Sanders 6, Barrow 6, Wright 7, McLaughlin (C) 7, Hancox 7 (Woods 89’), Kouhyar 7, John-Lewis 7, McKay 5 (Donaldson 60’ 5).

Subs not used: Campbell, King, Willoughby.

Goals: John-Lewis (68’)

Yellow cards: Dyson, Jameson

York’s star man: Mitch Hancox. Battled well in midfield all evening and a few good long-range chances.

Referee: Michael Crusham

Attendance: 1,528

Shots (on target): 7 (3) | 10 (5)

Corners: 4 | 5

Offsides: 1 | 2

Fouls committed: 7 | 7