Shrewsbury 1-0 Chester

A second-half strike from substitute Richard Walker lifted promotion-chasing Shrewsbury to fourth place, within a point of the League Two top three.

Kevin Ellison hit the post for City while Ritchie Partridge spurned a golden chance from close range.

Walker then bundled home a close-range winner after Chris Humphrey's low cross somehow made it through a crowded box.

Chester midfielder James Harris was shown a straight red card late on for a challenge on Humphrey.

Struggling City are only seven points clear of the drop zone, having drawn just two games and lost eight (six of them now in a row!) in a dreadful 10-game run since Boxing Day.

And 23rd-placed Bournemouth, who have picked up 11 points out of a possible 15 from an unbeaten five-game run, now have two games in hand.

Shrewsbury: Daniels, Herd, Coughlan, Jackson, Ashton, Humphrey, Dunfield, Leslie, Davies, Holt, Chadwick (Walker 46).
Subs Not Used: Pugh, Langmead, Symes, Cansdell-Sherriff.

Goals: Walker 57.

Chester: Danby, Linwood, Roberts, James Vaughan, Partridge (Rutherford 69), Barry, Rule (Mannix 86), Harris, Wilson, Jones (Ellans 46), Ellison.
Subs Not Used: Dinning, Platt.

Sent Off: Harris (79).

Booked: James Vaughan, Partridge.

Att: 6,133

Ref: Scott Mathieson (Stockport).