CARL Macauley said Witton Albion can still be optimistic of progressing further in the FA Cup after a 1-1 draw with Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday.

The teams meet again at Bower Fold for a replay on Tuesday, kick off 7.45pm.

Despite losing home advantage to a higher-ranked opponent, the Northern Premier League side have not given up hope they can cause an second qualifying round upset.

“We’ve got every chance,” said Macauley.

“We should be positive, particularly after going toe to toe with them like we did in the second half.

“I felt we were stronger than we had been before half-time, and in the end did enough to earn a replay.

“Stalybridge made it tough for us, and we expected that.

“But the message to our lads was to still be in the competition come Monday, and we are.”

Brad Bauress’ deflected goal with four minutes to play cancelled out Aaron Chalmers’ stunning opener – a perfectly-timed volley from 20 yards – for the National League North visitors at Wincham Park.

Macauley added: “It was a great strike from their lad, and if we’d have been knocked out because of it then I’d still have been proud of how we dug in after going behind.

“We were perhaps lucky to reach the break at 0-0.

“It was hard for us with two of our three forwards all missing. We had to juggle things around, and tactically it didn’t work in the first half – we weren’t set up right.

“We changed formation after that, and stopped them playing out from the back.

“It made a difference.

“I hope our fans again saw what character this group has; they’ll always keep plugging away.”