CHESTER'S miserable campaign last night suffered another setback.
The rock-bottom Blues produced a disappointing performance in front of a crowd of only 425 spectators - Chester's lowest home attendance since their match against Telford United in September 2001.
City always looked second best against a depleted Salisbury City outfit who celebrated their first win in the league since a 2-1 victory at Kettering on December 5.
Chester looked every inch like relegation candidates and were condemned to another night of misery courtesy of an 85th minute penalty by Matt Tubbs after Kevin Roberts had been accused of a handling offence.
Newly-appointed Director of Football, Morell Maison, in his first game as manager since Jim Harvey's departure earlier in the month, made two changes from the Chester side that had suffered a 2-0 league defeat in their previous appearance at Kidderminster Harriers on Boxing Day.
Rhys Meynell and Ryan Davidson were named in place of young midfielder Jack Rea and James Owen who had terminated his contract with the Blues last week.
Chester's leading marksman, Nick Chadwick, was named as a substitute alongside teenage midfielder Gethin Maxwell who was hoping to make his first appearance for the club.
The opening minutes were played out to loud protests in the main stand from City fans voicing their dissent about the Vaughan family's ownership of the club and about the departure of former manager Jim Harvey.
Both sides seemed to struggle during the early exchanges and City paid the price for a couple of late challenges, with both Shaun Kelly and club skipper Tim Ryan being cautioned by Lancashire referee Lee Metcalfe.
Salisbury created the first half chance of the match in the tenth minute when Jamie Turley couldn't quite steer his header on target from a Sean Clohessy cross.
And Clohessy showed the first real signs of a purposeful attempt on goal in the 18th minute when he carved a promising path to the edge of the City area before drilling a shot fractionally over the bar.
Striker Matt Tubbs maintained Salisbury's forward thinking initiatives in the 21st minute, but he was unable to produce power and direction on his shot which was shepherded out of play by Blues keeper John Danby.
Chester engineered their first noteworthy incident after 26 minutes with Ryan launching a long ball to Kevin Roberts on the edge of the area who glanced a header towards Ben Jones, but the young striker and visiting keeper, James Bittner, both missed the ball which bounced wide of the left post.
Tubbs responded for the visitors in the 34th minute with an unchallenged header which he steered wide of the right post while in an offside position.
But Chester hit back six minutes later when Ryan Davidson created space for himself on the left of the box and delivered a chance for Jones whose first time shot was blocked and rebounded for Ben Wilkinson who blazed his 15-yard effort over the bar.
Michael Lea became Chester's third player to pick up a booking on the stroke of half-time after a late challenge.
And Tim Ryan was perfectly placed seconds later to block a powerful goalbound effort from Bradley Gray.
Disjointed passes and stray shots seemed a hallmark of the contest after the resumption.
Gray turned in space to attempt Salisbury's first shot of the half, but his effort was well wide of the target.
And Flood then tried the most ambitious shot of the match from 45 yards which unsurprisingly sailed closer to the corner flag than City's net.
Chester were showing a distinct lack of discipline, direction, and focus, and rarely threatened to work visiting keeper James Bittner.
Striker Ben Jones was presented with a superb goalscoring opportunity in the 63rd minute after Lloyd Ellams had delivered a fine cross from the left to his feet, but Jones' first time effort was ballooned inexcusably over the bar from six yards.
Tubbs reacted to the flicker of pressure from Chester seconds later when Tubbs broke and set himself up for a 12 yard strike, but his attempt was easily gathered by Danby.
Ben Adelbury exerted further pressure for the visitors in the 69th minute, but his shot was deflected wide of the mark.
And Flood then charged forward in search of a breakthrough seconds later, but his low shot was easily gathered by Danby in a one on one situation.
Salisbury looked favourites to grab at least a point from the contest as time began to run out, but Adelbury was guilty of steering a close range header over the bar from Gray's 80th minute right-sided corner kick.
Ben Jones tried to capitalise on a quick counter-attack seconds later, but his strong and spirited chase for the ball was intercepted by Bittner who cleared the danger.
Bittner then kept his side level with two brilliant saves to deny Roberts and Ellams from point blank range.
Salisbury then capitalised on a penalty decision which was awarded after Roberts had handled Gray's corner, and Tubbs converted the spotkick - his first goal from the spot in three attempts.
Roberts was booked for the handling offence and City were staring at the prospect of another depressing home defeat.