The Chester club are currently fourth in Division One, just four points behind early pacesetters Runcorn Town.

But Upton boss, Dave Wright, believed the scoreline failed to reflect his team's dominant performance.

He said: "It was a mixed performance, but we did well to break Ellesmere Port down because they put eight men behind the ball.

"They went 1-0 up just after the break, but Akos equalised with a brilliant header, and Danny then scored our winner from the penalty spot.

"It's nice to see us still up near the top of the league table."

Blacon Youth Club suffered their eighth league defeat after a 3-1 setback at Maghull.

Mike Mackin scored Blacon's consolation from the penalty spot, while Larry Smith and two-goal Barquar Parvas accounted for Maghull's replies.

Blacon boss, Peter Hughes, admitted his team were the most impressive of the two sides on display.

He said: "Of all our defeats so far this season this was the hardest to take because we were by far the better team.

"We played really well, but we paid the price for mising our chances in front of goal.

"Sixteen-year-old Niall Peaker, and Will Collins both had chances, and Simon Quinn also spurned a scoring chance.

"Maghull took the lead after just 30 seconds from a free kick, but Mike Mackin levelled matters from the penalty spot.

"We were on top again after the break but we didn't take our chances.

"Maghull took the lead 15 minutes from time and they secured all three points with the last kick of the match."

Christleton suffered a 3-0 home defeat against third placed Cammell Laird reserves who had Rob Courtenay, Terry Cotgrave, and Alan Bull on target.

Matty Vickers and Mike Price scored for Blacon Youth Club reserves in their 3-2 home defeat against Southport Trinity reserves in the Division Three Shield first round.

Danny Carter accounted for Christleton reserves' winning goal in their Division Three clash at Manor Athletic.

St Werburghs suffered a 4-3 home defeat against Mersey Royal in Division Three despite having Shaun Campbell and two-goal Carl Reed on target.

Division One leaders, Runcorn Town, stayed two points ahead of the chasing pack in the race for the title following their 4-2 eclipse of Halton. John Cody and Andy Dunning found the net for the visitors.

Reigning champions, West Kirby, maintained their bid for a third successive title, after a Carl Maughan double sparked a 4-0 victory over Aintree Villa.

Poulton Victoria striker, Kevin Davies, scored a hattrick in the 6-2 rout of Castrol Social. Further efforts from Kevin Bimpson, Ian Burrows and Lee Hammond completed the stats.

Heswall lost 1-0 in their home match against Marine reserves, and respective scorers in Newton's 1-1 stalemate with Vauxhall Motors reserves were Frankie Strode and Leigh Hammill.

Two goals from Danny McGill were supplemented by a Paul Howell effort as Division Two pacesetters Poulton Vics reserves won 3-1 at Mossley Hill Athletic.

Owen Hassall put Mallaby in front against Heswall reserves before doubles from Gary Knight and Eddie Hutchinson sealed an impressive 5-1 triumph.

Despite winning in midweek, Ashville's chances of an immediate return to the top flight came unstuck after they were held 2-2 by Southport Trinity.

Free scoring Capenhurst Villa, with goals from Ryan Nichol (2) Mike Hayes (2) Tom McGill and Alan Locke, beat Maghull reserves 6-2 and moved into fifth place in the table.

Efforts from Ashville's Colin O'Hanlon and Liam Kelly were negated by replies from Southport Trinity's Callum Kelly and James Nielsen, while Matty Gill, Jonathan Oliver and Chris Kennedy netted in Bebington Athletic's 3-2 success at Grange Athletic.

In Division Three, Marshalls assumed pole position after efforts from Richie Jones and Dave Powell secured a 2-1 result against Ashville reserves.