Two goals in the first seven minutes put Shrewsbury on course for their first victory since September 24th – during which they have drawn three and lost three of the six matches played in that period – and although former Gay Meadow favourite Ryan Lowe pulled one back fore the visitors before half-time, Shrewsbury wrapped up the points with a third goal just before the hour.
After seeing his side slump to a hugely disappointing 3-0 reverse at Rushden & Diamonds last Saturday, Town boss Gary Peters made sweeping changes to his Shrewsbury side, with defenders Dave Walton and Kevin Sharp along with striker Duane Darby all axed from the squad.
His shake-up, however, paid immediate dividends as Shrewsbury grabbed a first minute lead. When the Chester defence failed to clear a Mark Jackson free-kick, Colin McMenimen was on hand to stab home his sixth goal of the season from close range.
Worse soon followed for Keith Curle's men – who began the afternoon in fifth place – as centre-back David Artell (who had a seven month loan period with Shrewsbury during their third division relegation season of 2002/2003, when he was a Rotherham player) saw his attempted header back to goalkeeper Chris Mackenzie fall short, which allowed Mark Stallard to nip in and nudge the ball past the advancing 'keeper.
Two enforced injury substitutions just after the half-hour disrupted Shrewsbury's rhythm – one of which was the lively Stallard – and ten minutes before the break Chester reduced the arrears.
From the edge of the box Lowe curled a sweet free-kick around the wall and into the net – reminiscent of many of the fine goals he scored for Shrewsbury during a five year spell with the club, which ended when he moved to Chester in March.
Although Lowe and Chester began the second half brightly, the match was put beyond them in the 58th minute when Stallard's replacement, Kelvin Langmead, pounced on more hesitant defending to slot the ball home from 12 yards.