I’M not sure a word has been invented yet to sum up last night’s game.

The final half an hour was as baffling as it was brilliant, although that won’t make the pain Witton’s players feel any less acute.

They ended the game with nine men, and with coach Paul Moore dismissed from the dugout.

Once their frustration eventually subsides, pride should replace it.

Although it’s probably best Joseph Johnson isn’t appointed to referee one of their games for a long, long time.

To debate his decisions in isolation – and there is a long list to go through – is perhaps to miss the point.

The Liverpool-based official lost control of the contest all on his own, without a catalyst.

There was no single incident, or moment, that prompted the chaos.

Yet 14 cards, 11 yellow and three red, were shown.

How many were merited though? A much lower figure.

Two penalties were awarded, and a goal ruled out for the visitors while they led 1-0.

It seems faintly ridiculous to write it now, but this first-round replay was a slow-burner until after the interval.

A spot-kick given inside six seconds – has that ever happened previously? – would not have featured in even the most ardent Albion supporter’s dreams before kick off.

Even more surprising is how comfortable their favourites were defending it.

Chester boss Jon McCarthy made five changes to a side that started Saturday’s first meeting, deciding to take a look at players who had featured less often this season.

Few, if any, took their chance.

Laboured in possession and narrow in width unless Evan Horwood supported an attack from left-back, they did not force Witton to defend with anything close to desperation.

And that despite Albion’s energy, so prominent at the weekend, being less in evidence.

The visitors ceded the initiative after scoring early, more so when Ryan Hickman replaced Rob Hopley after 15 minutes.

But for the most part, it’s a plan that worked.

If Ellliott Durrell gave Chester a much-needed alternative out right following his half-time introduction, then the arrival of Ryan Lloyd and Tom Shaw on the hour added quality in the middle.

It pepped Blues initially, until Blaine Hudson’s dismissal left them with 10 men.

They’d had a man extra for almost 30 minutes, since Tolani Omotola’s petulance earned him a red card in the moments before half-time, without making it count.

Witton’s supporters rightly, and loudly, lauded their players’ inspired efforts after the final whistle.

But they will talk for a long time about a disallowed goal, after Sam Hughes sliced Brad Bauress’ free kick into his own net, they feel cost them a return to the FA Trophy’s last 32 for the first time in a decade.

Johnson said the Chester man was sent sprawling by Albion’s Michael Wilson, hence his inability to control his attempted clearance.

A double-whammy of goals for James Alabi, from the penalty spot, and then Durrell served to heighten the visitors’ ire.

This has been Witton's best run in the FA Trophy for since 2006, with success against higher-ranked Kettering and Boston among their four wins.

But they need something else to distract them from disappointment.

A visit from Carlton, third-bottom in the Northern Premier League’s Division One South, may not have felt daunting when the fixtures were published in July.

However the Millers defeated Carl Macauley’s men in September, and head to Northwich on Saturday unbeaten in five matches.

Hopley will almost certainly be missing, joining Paul Williams and Steven Tames on a list of injured players.

All eyes will be on how their teammates react to a setback.

“We have to consign this game to the bin quickly,” reflected Witton’s boss in the dark after the lights had been switched off at Chester’s Lookers Vauxhall Stadium.

There is a word to describe the next match: crucial.