THAT’S one down and two to go.

Boss Calum McIntyre said Chester needed to win their three remaining games to stand a chance of being involved in the end-of-season National League North play-offs.

Six of the best ensured part one of the quest was completed in style, with the Blues thrashing hosts Gloucester City 6-1.

Harrison Burke grabbed a brace during his 100th appearance for the side, as Chester remain three points off the top-seven.

Tom Peers, George Glendon, Adam Thomas and Ben Tollitt added to the tally.

McIntyre told Chester FC TV: “We never give up. We won’t give up. We’ve had to find something this week.

“It’s been a really tough week. It’s obviously the first time we’ve been in this situation where we’re really not in control of anything other than our own results and what that might mean for us at the end of the season is outside of our control.

“So, I want to pay tribute and massive respect to the players for the personality, the character, the determination they’ve shown since coming back to what was quite a deflated group after what was a really poor result, but a really poor performance, on Monday.

“So, to have hit the levels that we have around performance, to have stuck that result on today, we won’t give up. Let’s see where it takes us.”

Next up for Chester in their efforts to reach the play-offs Saturday’s trip to Brackley Town.

Following this, the Blues will then conclude their season at home to Darlington on April 20.

Other results: Alfreton 0 Curzon Ashton 0; Banbury 1 King’s Lynn 1; Blyth 1 Rushall 2; Boston 1 Brackley 2; Buxton 3 Chorley 1; Darlington 2 Southport 0; Farsley 1 Peterborough Sports 0; Scarborough 1 Spennymoor 1; Scunthorpe 4 Hereford 1; South Shields 7 Bishop’s Stortford 0; Tamworth 1 Warrington 1.