Dean Keates scored the winner as Peterborough United made it 15 games unbeaten with a narrow 1-0 victory over a poor Chester City side at London Road.

The home side should have broken the deadlock within the opening two minutes as George Boyd pulled the ball back for the onrushing Aaron Mclean, but he side-footed the ball wide of the target from close-range.

Posh were certainly enjoying the lion's share of possession in the first 10 minutes without creating any notable chances apart from the glaring miss from top scorer Mclean. A clever pass from Scott Rendell sent Mclean through on the left-hand channel but his attempted cross was well blocked by Lawrence Wilson.

A foul on Charlie Lee just on the edge of the penalty area gave Posh a chance to cause problems with a dead ball situation but Jamie Day's free-kick was blocked and although Claude Gnakpa tucked home the subsequent cross in by Lee, the offside flag was long raised.

Lee tested John Danby from 25-yards on 22 minutes after another patient build-up from Darren Ferguson's men. Tony Dinning was cautioned for a callous trip on Day as he played a neat one-two with Mclean moments later as Posh broke quickly.

A volley from Boyd drifted wide on 26 minutes after Rendell's neat flick into his path, but the frustrations in the crowd were beginning to grow as they demanded a first half strike. A Lee shot then went wide as the opportunities in front of goal became more frequent for Ferguson's side.

An over-head kick from Mclean was directed straight at Danby on 37 minutes after a long throw from Whelpdale caused a bit of panic in the Chester defence. A powerful drive from Whelpdale was then plucked out of the air by Danby as again Posh threatened.

On the stroke of half-time Mclean headed a poor defensive clearance from Linwood wide of the target as once more the opposition at London Road made it to half-time without conceding, although Chester had barely got out of their own half after a determined defensive display.

Aaron Mclean nearly made the much needed breakthrough on 50 minutes after holding off the attentions of Butler, but goalkeeper Danby made a superb save to push his fierce effort around the post.

Lee couldn't bundle a Keates corner kick towards goal on 55 minutes as the pressure continued to grow on the visitors. Rendell completely missed his kick from a Boyd cross before Mclean headed a Keates corner kick over the crossbar.

Rendell then glanced a Whelpdale cross wide of the target on the hour mark to the frustration of the home support who were less than satisfied with the poor effort. Whelpdale's goal-bound shot was then blocked by Kelly while Mclean's shot was tipped around the near post by the over-worked Danby.

Rendell struck the underside of the bar from close range after a Whelpdale knock down and then Rendell had the ball in the back of the net, but the offside flag denied the former Cambridge United front man.

The deadlock was finally broken on 71 minutes as Rendell headed Mclean's cross into the air and KEATES jumped highest to loop a header over Danby and into the back of the net. Lee screwed a shot wide of the target as Posh went in search of the second goal.

Mclean missed another sitter on 78 minutes after a cracking ball from Boyd picked the striker out six yards from goal. Morgan made a vital deflection to a goal-bound Murphy shot to take it inches wide of the post before Partridge somehow managed to miss from six-yards from the resulting corner kick.

Boyd flashed a shot wide of the upright at the other end after being found by Man of the Match Keates. Chester were reduced to 10-men as Dinning was shown a second yellow card for a combination of a minor headbutt on Lee and a bit of dissent to referee Mr Whitestone. Whelpdale was denied by the feet of Danby on 89 minutes after another excellent Boyd cross before three minutes of injury time was indicated. Linwood fired just wide deep into stoppage time after a flick-on by Murphy before the referee brought an end to proceedings.

Final Score: Peterborough United 1-0 Chester City

Referee: Mr D Whitestone (Northamptonshire)
Attendance: 6,457 (144 City fans)