BRAD JACKSON hopes Chester can build on a ‘solid’ start to their National League North season against Altrincham on Tuesday night.

The Blues opened their 2019/20 campaign with a 1-1 draw at Boston United, with midfielder Jackson’s pin-point delivery supplying the assist for George Waring’s headed equaliser.

And Jackson, who signed from Ashton United this summer, was encouraged by how his side acquitted themselves in a testing opening day clash.

“In terms of the result I thought it was good,” said the 22-year-old.

“We’d travelled a long way and played on a pitch that was very dry, and I think our performance wasn’t as good as we know it can be.

“But a point away from home is positive and gives us something to build on. Going to a place like Boston and taking a point can be difficult, so it was a solid start for us. Hopefully we can push on now with another good result against Altrincham.”

Joint-managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley deployed a traditional back four at York Street and the Blues looked disciplined and compact throughout an attritional second half.

Jackson believes the work done on the training ground in the the aftermath of their 4-1 pre-season humbling at FC United of Manchester has paid dividends.

And despite playing a key role in Chester’s leveller at York Street, Jackson feels he has more to offer this season.

“I wasn’t massively happy with my own performance - there were some things I felt I could have done better. But hopefully I’ll be kept in the team and the managers will give me another chance against Altrincham. Overall the team’s done well though and that was the most important thing.

“I think FC United was a wake-up call for us and we realised that if we played like that we will struggle this season. So we trained well in the days afterwards and that gave us a boost ahead of the Boston game.”

Chester now host an Alty side, who were downed 3-1 at home by title-favourites York City on Saturday.

And Blues boss Johnson expects a wholly different test to the Boston game, which grew increasingly scrappy as it wore on.

He said: “We know how they are going to play and it’ll be night and day compared to what we saw at Boston. They’ll absolutely love coming to our place on a big pitch. It’s a good test for us and after just two games we’ll know exactly where we’re at as a group. Defensively we’ll have had two different types of games in four days, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Johnson also hailed the club’s supporters, 223 of whom made the long trip to Lincolnshire and were in fine voice throughout.

He added: “The lads were all talking about it in the changing room after the game, the noise they made throughout the game was different class.

"They are a 12th man. I know that’s an awful cliche, but they live and breathe it."

Chester look set to be without injured duo Akwasi Asante and James Jones, with fellow Boston absentee Iwan Murray set to return to training this week.