A tremendous injury-time strike from Tristram Whitman gave Doncaster a draw they barely deserved in a disappointing promotion play-off clash.
Rovers were second best for most of the match but Whitman produced a never-say-die display to give them hope for Monday's second leg.
Chester finished the match with ten men after substitute Mark Quayle had been harshly sent off five minutes from time - less than four minutes after coming on.
But despite a late flurry of action Doncaster did not look like taking advantage of their numerical superiority until Whitman's goal came out of the blue.
It was scrappy in the first half but once Chester settled to their task they looked the better side and played the game at their pace.
Simon Marples hit a 25-yarder on target following a ninth minute free-kick but that was the best Rovers had to offer until just before the interval.
Chester took charge with Daryl Clare and Ryan Sugden working tremendously hard in attack.
Danny Collins sent a powerful header just wide before City deservedly went ahead in the 36th minute.
Former Doncaster left-back Kevin McIntyre hammered a great left foot shot from just inside the penalty area.
Ricky Ravenhill hit the crossbar when Doncaster tried to battle back following good work by Marples and Paul Barnes in the 40th minute.
Whitman gave a taste of what was to come when he fired narrowly wide after dribbling through a couple of minutes later.
Doncaster won a couple of corners at the start of the second half but the game followed a similar pattern with Chester in control.
Clare fired narrowly wide before Barnes sent a misplaced header off the mark at the other end.
Quayle's sending off gave Rovers fresh impetus and Whitman's 25-yard stunner four minutes into injury time sent the crowd wild with delight.