FEW in the ground had heard of Jamie Matthews before his entrance as a substitute.

The 22-year-old promptly introduced himself to Witton Albion’s supporters seconds later with a brilliantly-improvised overhead kick that condemned Farsley Celtic to an FA Cup exit.

They had hauled themselves level four minutes earlier, cancelling out Alex Titchiner’s opening goal, when Lewis Nightingale drilled in a deserved equaliser.

But they were caught by surprise, much like everybody else in Wincham Park, when Matthews tamed Danny Andrews’ corner with an initial touch before contorting his body to direct the second one out of goalkeeper Tom Taylor’s reach.

The front man, a regular scorer so far this season for Witton’s development team in the Lancashire League, only signed a registration form in midweek.

He was swift to pay back the faith in him shown by manager Scott Dundas, earning his club £3,000 as a reward for reaching the FA Cup’s second qualifying round.

Titchiner had given the home team the lead shortly before the break.

And, like when Matthews had his moment, it arrived during a spell when Farsley looked more likely to score.

It’s a nice knack to have, more so when not playing particularly well.

Albion lacked cohesion, but the enforced absences of Scott Lycett, Gary Roberts and Lee Cropper – followed by Anthony Gardner limping off after 12 minutes – are an explanation rather than an excuse.

Indeed Dundas spotted how disjointed his side was and responded, principally by pushing Chris Baker inside from a wide position.

His side settled quickly, with Andrews and Kyle Diskin both narrowly missing the target with attempts from outside of the penalty.

The former’s free kick on 17 minutes was directed better, but lacked the force to cause Taylor a problem.

Aiden Savory almost put the away team, conquerors of Albion in the FA Cup in 2006, in front with a cute chip that dipped just too late to embarrass custodian Danny Roberts.

Witton’s number one, not for the first time, made a decisive intervention on 36 minutes.

Faced with Farsley skipper Robbie O’Brien, picked out by Savory’s clipped pass, he produced a stunning reaction stop from the midfielder’s shot.

It meant Titchiner’s touch, instinctive after Gardner’s replacement Jon Dawson had scampered into space on the left, was one that established for Albion an interval advantage.

Nicky Guest ought to have ensure it did not last long, but skewed his rushed attempt over the crossbar after Savory and O’Brien combined early in the second period.

Nightingale was more accurate, spearing a low shot past Roberts after the hosts surrendered possession cheaply outside of their own penalty area.

Dundas responded by sending on Matthews for a tiring Ben Mills, with instant reward.

Farsley, flummoxed, struggled to gather momentum again.

They did threaten late on, first when Nightingale’s free kick flashed past an upright.

Then, after Neil Stevens nudged the ball his way, Savory scuffed wide with his weaker right foot.

Roberts, ever reliable, spread himself to stop the striker’s final attempt too.

Witton | 4-4-2 | Danny Roberts (GK), Gardner (Dawson 12), Smith (Bainbridge 63), Chadwick, Green, Andrews, Warburton, Diskin, Baker, Titchiner, Mills (Matthews 59) Subs not used Hull (GK), Marie, Brownhill, Lycett Goals Titchiner 41, Matthews 60 Booked Chadwick (ungentlemanly conduct)

Farsley | 4-4-2 | Taylor (GK), Hardy, Grant, O’Brien, Harrison, Wigley, Nightingale, Sugden (Daly 67), Guest (Robinson 58), Savory, Stevens Subs not used Lofthouse (GK), Trotter, Hancock, Riley Goal Nightingale 56 Booked Savory (ungentlemanly conduct), Hardy (dissent)

Referee Ian Gittins

Attendance 204