Chester City ended their home league campaign on a high with an eventually comfortable 2-0 win over Stevenage Borough at the Deva Stadium.
The Blues must of course do battle in the play-offs next month but gave themselves a boost picking up a much needed confidence lifter after ending their recent barren run.
A scrappy start to the game was typical of one of those end of season affairs with little to play for and in fact, the first effort on goal did not come until the 10th minute when Daryl Clare sent a header goalwards which keeper Mark Westhead pushed away at full stretch.
Chester boss Mark Wright fielded a team close to that which would be expected to carry his side's hopes in the play-offs as they sought to halt a run of three games without a win.
Scott Guyett looked set to give his side the advantage as he pounced on a loose ball just inside the box, but his 25th minute goalbound effort was blocked by a brave challenge by Jason Goodliffe.
A clumsy tackle by the same Stevenage defender presented Chester with a good shooting opportunity and Jon Brady's free-kick was palmed out by Westhead with Ryan Sugden's rebound finding only the sidenetting.
The second period had looked likely to follow the same pattern as the first with little adventure from either side. But 19 minutes from time Chester were thrown the lead after a needless penalty was given away.
There appeared to be no real danger when Barry Laker made a clumsy challenge on Sudgen and Clare gave Westhead no chance sending the keeper the wrong way with the resultant spot-kick.
The goal put a spring in the step of the home side and on 78 minutes they made the game safe with Brady getting a touch on Clare's cross-cum-shot to slot home from close range.
A chance to put the icing on the cake went begging late on as Sugden fluffed his lines in a one on one with Westhead, who saved well at the City forward's feet.