Harriers took a deserved lead but sloppy play and controversial officials ensured they slipped to yet another defeat.

Dino Fazlic came into the side for his first start in a Harriers shirt but latest signings James McQuilkin and George Obosu had to be content on the bench.

Harriers looked bright in the early stages, passing the ball around well, and could have gone ahead after just eleven minutes when the dangerous Ben Whitfield made a strong run on the right before setting up Jordan Murphy who shot over the bar.

At the other end former harrier Tom Shaw was allowed to run through the middle of the Harriers defence but his shot, which was going wide, was cleared.  Whitfield and Murphy combined again ten minutes before the break when the latter headed the former's corner straight at Jon Worsnop in the Chester goal.

Harriers took the lead four minutes later; Whitfield's free-kick from deep on the left was kept in play beyond the far post by Matthew Barnes-Homer, pulling it back into the goalmouth where Kelvin Langmead was on hand to fire home from close range.

The lead lasted just two-and-a-half minutes, though, James Roberts' cross from the right turned in by Ross Hannah who was being played onside by a Harriers defender who was down with injury in the penalty area.

Things could have got got even worse for Harriers in the last minute of the half when Hannah followed up to fire in after Luke George's shot was parried but his effort was ruled out for offside.  They did get worse, however, just 27 seconds after the interval when sloppy defending allowed a low cross from left to reach John Rooney on the edge of the penalty area who slotted a low shot past Dean Snedker to give the home side the lead.

Rooney could have added another five minutes later but his 25-yard free-kick that went through the wall was straight at Snedker.  Harriers heads went down after falling behind and they offered little in the second half; their main threat of the first half, Whitfield, was marked out of the game.

There was further controversy surrounding Chester's third goal nine minutes from time; Rooney was several yards offside when receiving the ball on the right but the linesman who had been unable to keep up with play all evening kept his flag down.  Rooney's shot was saved but Hannah was following up on the far side to slot home his second of the night and condemn Harriers to another disappointing defeat.