Impressive Chester stretched their unbeaten run to five games with an assured victory over in-form Kidderminster Harriers.

The injury-hit Blues defied the odds to beat a team described by Blues joint-manager Anthony Johnson as 'the best footballing side in the league'.

An early penalty from Anthony Dudley and a brace from substitute Matty Hughes clinched the 3-1 win, which lifted the Deva side five places to ninth in the National League North standings.

The hosts made a positive start on a slick, rain-soaked playing surface with debutant Iwan Murray involved in some crisp one-touch passing from the outset.

Pressing high into Harriers territory, the Blues had their first sight of goal in the second minute when Gary Stopforth's cross-field ball was met by Simon Grand, who sent a half-volley a foot wide of the post from 35 yards.

Making light of the conditions, Chester moved the greasy ball with purpose and when Murray ran onto some neat interplay on the edge of the box he was clumsily challenged by full-back Joel Taylor.

To his credit, the young Blues midfielder remained on his feet but referee Michael Barlow had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Anthony Dudley stepped up to expertly stroke the ball into the bottom right corner and beyond Harriers stopper Brandon Hall.

Heartened by their opener the Blues pressed forward at will, with Craig Mahon's curling ball to the far post gathered by the stretching Hall with Simon Grand lurking.

Imbued with some early confidence, the diminutive Murray gathered possession and ran at the Harriers defence again soon afterwards and was clumsily felled by centre back Fraser Horsfall.

After a sluggish start, Harriers grew steadily into the contest with midfielder Billy Daniels trying his luck from the edge of the Chester box but flashing his effort well wide of the target.

A 17th minute corner offered Harriers a foothold in the game, with the Blues defence clearing only as far as Daniels, who slashed at the ball with the effort failing to trouble Blues keeper Grant Shenton.

The visitors were handed a reprieve two minutes later when Dudley dispossessed the casual Kennedy Digie and drove into the box before sending his angled effort beyond the far post with Hall well beaten.

The lively Dan Mooney was he next to try his luck, but his 23rd minute effort curled wide of the target.

By imposing their high-pressing game on Harriers, Chester nullified the visitors' attacking threat as the midlanders' frustrations grew.

Ashley Chambers came closest to a leveller on 37 minutes when, after working his way into the Blues box, he let fly but Danny Livesey denied him with a well-timed block.

The hosts' disciplined and cohesive display in defence looked impenetrable at times as the Blues took a deserved one-goal lead into the break.

Both sides made changes in attack for the second half as Matty Hughes replaced goalscorer Anthony Dudley, and Daniel Bradley came on for Harriers forward Joe Ironside.

But it was the mercurial Murray who continued to impress after the restart, surging at the Harriers defence before firing an angled cross that was deflected behind by the home defence.

Mooney's wicked inswinging corner caused havoc at the near post with Hall clawing the ball up into the air and Hughes bundling home from close range to double the lead on 51 minutes.

From there, the Blues showed no signs of easing up their attacking intensity as Hughes latched on Hughes' through-ball on 71 minutes and fired a fierce low strike that Hall saved smartly.

Having carried little threat for much of the contest, Kidderminster reduced arrears on 73 minutes when Ed Williams sent Shenton the wrong way from the spot after Danny Livesey was adjudged to have handled.

After a memorable debut Murray was then given a standing ovation by the Blues faithful as he made way for defender Jon Pritchard on 77 minutes.

Any concerns that the Blues were looking to close the game out were allayed just four minutes later when Hughes charged down an attempted pass and outmuscled defender James O'Connor before firing emphatically into the roof of the net to seal victory.

Chester: Shenton, Moran, Grand, Murray (Pritchard 77), Livesey, Howson, Mooney (Jordan 57), Stopforth, Dudley (Hughes 46), Roberts, Mahon. Subs: King, Waters

Kidderminster: Hall, Vaughan, Taylor, O'Connor, Horsfall, Digie (Richards 63), Daniels, Weeks, Williams, Ironside (Bradley 46), Chambers. Subs: Austin, Johnson, Baxendale

Attendance: 1,512