Bernard Morley is delighted that Chester's intense pre-season fitness work is yielding early results, but insists there is more to come from his side.

The new-look Blues look rejuvenated under Morley and joint manager Anthony Johnson, with the club temporarily topping the National League North table with a clinical 3-0 victory at Curzon Ashton.

Goals from Simon Grand, Anthony Dudley and John Pritchard sealed a fine away victory, which was complemented by a second successive clean sheet.

Morley and Johnson have demanded a high-energy pressing game from their side this term, an approach that was clearly evident at Ashton's Tameside Stadium.

And the pair have been encouraged by their squad's receptiveness to new ideas so early in the campaign.

Morley said: "We're only going to get fitter if we keep replicating that workrate week in week out then it'll become natural soon. I still feel the lads are a bit leggy but the work ethic they're putting in is unbelievable.

"The lads are sponges, they've been great in taking in information. I'm not saying we're always right, because we're not. It's just a case of understanding what we want as gaffers and if they want to buy into it then great, and if they don't then ultimately we shake hands and they move on.

"But every single player in the dressing room is buying into what we are and can identify with what we're doing in training."

While Monday's scoreline did not flatter the visitors, the Blues were fortunate hold a two-goal advantage at the interval against John Flanagan's well-drilled Ashton side.

The hosts had enjoyed plenty of possession and looked the most likely to break the deadlock before Grand's headed opener.

While lack of quality in the final third proved costly in their opening day goalless draw with Spennymoor Town, Chester's finishing against Ashton was much more clinical.

Morley offered an honest appraisal of Monday's victory and insists that nobody at the club is getting carried away with the win.

He said: "We're really pleased with another clean sheet and at taking four points from our first two games.

There's still lots to work on from that first half, where our quality at times wasn't good enough.

"But we addressed that at half-time and told the players just to relax, take the reins off and go and enjoy it and I thought we managed the game really well.

"We got the goal against the run of play and I thought we controlled the game really well. I think they edged it first half and they were very good in possession as John's sides always are, but I felt we penetrated really well and the press from the lads was unbelievable and they've done that for 90 minutes.

"I felt we restricted them to just one or two shots and that we looked really organised and for a side that have only been together for four or five weeks playing in an unfamiliar shape they've really adapted well and taken everything on board.

"We've always said we can't guarantee success but what we can guarantee is that our 16 or 17 man squad will work hard and if they can't give us that then they won't be involved.

"We've got to take it game by game and it will be a totally different test at Blyth on Saturday. It's a long drive up there so we've got to do the right things now in terms of recovery.

"We're not going get above our station, but it's important to keep this momentum going."