A FAMOUS victory beckoned for Witton Albion before they were thwarted in the cruellest way.

Not for the first time, they matched opponents ranked more than 60 places higher.

But Chester, just as they did at the weekend when they were similarly underwhelming, managed to somehow avoid a knockout blow.

Carl Macauley’s post-match criticism of referee Joseph Johnson, whose disastrous display caused chaos in the second half, followed a glowing tribute to his crestfallen players.

Visibly upset, he was right to draw attention to both.

Meanwhile Elliott Durrell’s expertly-taken goal in stoppage time secured his side’s passage to the last 32.

It left Albion, by that time reduced to nine men following the dismissals of Tolani Omotola and Matty Devine, on their knees – both literally and metaphorically.

To lose to opponents from three levels above is normal, but to do so in the manner they did is spirit-sapping.

Indeed, Macauley admitted his challenge now is to retrain focus in time for an important league game this weekend.

His Chester counterpart, Jon McCarthy, made five changes to a side that started Saturday’s compelling draw at Wincham Park.

It left the hosts disjointed.

Witton did not care, and took the lead inside a minute when Brad Bauress swept in a rebound after his spot kick had been saved by goalkeeper Alex Lynch.

Johnson had blown his whistle after six seconds when Blaine Hudson, after miscontrolling Karl Noon’s punt forward from the kick off, floored Omotola in a panicked reaction to the striker nipping onto the loose ball.

The Chester defender was booked, his foul judged accidental.

Albion were then forced to reshuffle after Rob Hopley limped off after quarter of an hour with a hamstring complaint.

His replacement, Ryan Hickman, was stationed in midfield.

It meant the visitors ceded the initiative, a tactic that worked while their hosts laboured in possession.

Luke George shot wide, and Alabi skidded a header off-target too.

In between, Will Marsh’s header thumped the crossbar after he connected cleanly with Evan Horwood’s cross.

Michael Wilson blocked brilliantly to stop Jordan Chapell, Chester’s scorer at the weekend, in shooting stride too.

Witton suffered another blow before the break when Omotola was needlessly sent off.

The teenager was unlucky to be cautioned for diving after Wade Joyce clipped his ankle, but he had only himself to blame for reacting badly to another free-kick award moments later.

With no other forward available, Albion opted to play without one after the interval.

And yet, they defended stoically.

McCarthy revolutionised his midfield, sending on Durrell, Tom Shaw and Ryan Lloyd before the hour, although the impact was only slight.

Durrell crossed often from the right, although rarely did it create discomfort for Witton.

They survived a scare though when Sam Hughes, stretching, narrowly failed to connect with Shaw’s perfectly-cushioned assist across the six-yard box.

Albion’s hopes soared when Hudson was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Tom Owens, although they were to be ruined beyond repair by Johnson’s next big call on 77 minutes.

Bauress arced in a free kick from the right, after Lloyd had shoved over Anthony Gardner, that was sliced into his own net by a retreating Hughes.

Witton’s players celebrated jubilantly, only for the match official to rule the defender had been unbalanced by a push from Wilson.

Coach Paul Moore was dismissed from the dugout as a punishment for his furious reaction.

His blood will have boiled further when Johnson awarded a spot-kick for Chester with four minutes left after Shaw was sent sprawling by a nudge from Devine.

The full-back was shown a red card, and Alabi emphatically drilled in off the crossbar.

Durrell then danced through a desperate Albion defence to nick it for Blues shortly afterwards.

It was more than his side’s unconvincing performances in both matches merited, but a calm head among the mayhem was always likely to be one that made the difference.

Chester | 4-4-2 | Lynch (GK), Hughes, Hudson, Astles, Horwood, Waters (Shaw 62), George (Lloyd 62), Joyce, Chapell, Marsh (Durrell 46), Alabi Subs not used Liam Roberts (GK), Hunt Goals Alabi 86 (penalty), Durrell 90 (+2)  Booked Hudson, Marsh, George, Durrell, Lloyd (all fouls) Sent off Hudson (second caution, foul)

Witton | 4-4-2 | Daniel Roberts (GK), Gardner, Brown, Wilson, Devine, Owens, Haywood, Noon, Bauress, Hopley (Hickman 17), Omotola Subs not used Lycett, Eves, Garner (GK) Goal Bauress 1 Booked Omotola (simulation), Devine (foul), Roberts (time wasting), Wilson (ungentlemanly conduct) Sent off Omotola (second caution, ungentlemanly conduct), Devine (foul)

Referee Joseph Johnson

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