WITTON Albion improved on their previous performance in a friendly, but still succumbed to higher-ranked Chester on Thursday.

A goal in each half, first from James Akintunde and later from Rhain Hellawell, secured for Blues a deserved victory in their sixth game of a busy summer programme.

Carl Macauley included Prince Haywood, who signed forms for the new season after the final whistle, for the first time after the midfielder missed last weekend’s reverse at Runcorn Linnets.

However he was without Anthony Brown, Paul Williams and Matty Devine, while Steve Tames was restricted to half an hour as a substitute.

Chester quickly assumed control, and Akintunde angled a smart finish out of goalkeeper Calvin Hare’s reach after Nick Ryan failed to cut out Lucas Dawson’s lofted pass.

He might have repeated the trick midway through the half, this time from Tom Shaw’s assist, only for Hare to block.

Witton’s number one intervened twice more before the break.

He denied Akintunde with a boot after the front man had wriggled away from Ryan, then stretched to parry a drive from Liam Davies – who had a spell on loan at Albion from Tranmere the season before last.

Albion had chances too.

A trialist’s shot rattled an upright, then Micah Evans’ appeal for a penalty was turned down by referee Oliver Byron.

The wide man also shot weakly after side-stepping a defender’s challenge shortly before the break.

Will Jones, on as a substitute to partner Rob Hopley in attack, headed off-target from an Evans cross early in the second period.

There were few chances thereafter, although a Chester trialist was unlucky to when he curled a free kick against a post with Hare beaten to his left.

Witton’s clearest sight of goal fell for Michael Wilson, but his header prompted a stunning reaction save from the visitors’ substitute goalkeeper.

Two minutes later, Hallawell arrowed a rising shot into the corner after the ball rebounded into his path.

A third Chester goal almost followed with time running out, but substitute custodian Ryan Neild steered his drive around an upright.

Witton | First half | Hare (GK), Gardner, Wilson, Ryan, Trialist, Evans, Haywood, Trialist, Trialist, Newby, Hopley

Witton | Second half | Hare (GK) (Neild (GK) 70), Gardner, Lycett, Wilson, Trialist, Evans, Haywood (Trialist 50), Trialist, Trialist (Sloane 65), Jones, Hopley (Tames 60)

Chester | First half | Trialist (GK), Trialist, Jones, Trialist, Trialist, Shaw, Joyce, Dawson, Davies, Bell, Akintunde

Chester | Second half | Trialist (GK), Thomson, Jones, Trialist, Waters, Trialist, Trialist, Hellawell, Marsh-Hughes, Brown

Referee Oliver Byron

Attendance 231