PENALTY
Red card:
Witton’s Matty Devine on 86 minutes.
GOAL
Latest Score from Lookers Vauxhall Stadium:
Chester FC 1 Witton Albion 1.
James Alabi equalises for Chester from the spot on 86 minutes.
Chance for Chester on 90 minutes - hits the crossbar.
4 minutes of added time.
GOAL
Latest Score from Lookers Vauxhall Stadium:
Chester FC 2 Witton Albion 1.
Chester take the lead on 90+1 minutes - through Substitute Elliott Durrell.
Yellow card:
Witton’s Michael Wilson on 90+6 minutes.
Full Time Score from Lookers Vauxhall Stadium:
Chester FC 2 Witton Albion 1.
Well, the trophy run is over for another year but these lads are a credit to our club. Now we can concentrate on the league. So proud to be a Wittoner.
Cheers for the updates tonight (as ever)…shame…but yes concentrate on the league…
Sounded like a good workout for the Carlton game on saturday. Will we have any players left for then, or the following games? Rob off injured, two sent off to add to players already out. Well done to the fans that made the short trip, hard luck to our great set of players and management. Just cancelled my booking at Premier Inn Wembley.
Forgot to add, congratulations to Chester and good luck for the rest of the season.
We could and maybe should have won on Saturday and to go out like this is a real shame!
Would love to know why the ref disallowed our 2nd goal late on. Game over if that’s allowed, and I couldn’t see any reason for it to be disallowed. Sums up the ref’s performance. He was terrible throughout.
Apparently Carl was upset according to Simmo and I don’t blame him but I hope when he and the team reflect they are proud of themselves, because they should be. Absolutely dominated Chester on Saturday, and did enough with ten, and then 9 men tonight to win. Couldn’t be prouder of the lads and the management team tonight.
Instead of moaning about the ref etc let us remember the great cup tie we all were privileged to watch. Our team did us proud again but now it is time to forget the past and roll up our sleeves for the future.
WHS.
With the best will in the world, this game will live long in the memory for the on-field injustice. Witton should never have lost this match. Not sour grapes but fact. Officials weren’t biased I’m sure - just incompetent. Well done to all the players and fans. Keep your heads up. I’m sure Chester will be feeling pretty embarrassed. Good luck in the next round. You’ll need it again!
It’s ok to say stop moaning about the ref but he, all ng with the linesman, spoilt a good game and that frustrates the hell out of me.
Tol let himself and the team down by getting a needless red card.
No idea why our 2nd goal was disallowed, and equally puzzled as to why Matty was sent off and a penalty was awarded to them
New t surprised Carl was upset
Brilliant cup run but it’s probably been to the detriment of the league focus as we’re so far behind with key players out and with some tough games ahead
I think everyone from both Chester and Witton would agree the ref had an absolute stinker and would agree that he completely FCUK’ed up this game with a number of huge decisions he got absolutely wrong.
The pen in the first few seconds was a pen - but he didn’t send off the defender. Later in the game Devine made a tackle for their equalising pen but was sent off leaving us with 9 men.
He sent off Tol first for a booking for diving when he was fouled and for a second offence when he pushed the defender who was backing in to him and stamped on him. He didn’t see the stamp, but he did see the push!
He disallowed a second goal for the albs that the defender sliced into his own net with no-one near him. He somehow thought that a tangle between players elsewhere in the goalmouth (that no one else saw) was material.
The ref was a complete nightmare have no doubt. He ruined this tie for both teams and should be kicked down to Sunday league at best. He is not fit to wear the badge.
So overall what’s the point. Everyone in the ground thought the referee was a waste of space . As a team we were magnificent ! playing a team 3 leagues higher you couldn’t see the difference. Even though we lost Rob Hopley through injury about 20 mins in, we were resolute, determined, well organised, played great football, and having lost both our forwards came within minutes of winning this tie, which over both games we absolutely deserved. I am so proud of our team, every single man jack of them. They gave everything. I am not gutted we lost, just the way we lost. We didn’t deserve that plonker in the middle to ruin this night (for both clubs).
Over these 2 games our team has earned a huge amount of respect from Chester City players, managers and staff. And that pillock of a ref could easily have destroyed the relationship between our clubs. Hopefully he failed on that particular score.
No hard feelings and good luck to Chester from here on in and hope to see you next year in a pre-season friendly !
from Chester FC… no mention of the disallowed “goal” or the stamp from joyce…
PUBLISHED
21:48 13th December 2016
Last minute drama saw Chester beat Witton Albion to make it through to the next round of the FA Trophy – with Alabi and Durrell the scorers for the Blues.
Blaine Hudson bestowed the travelling side with the opportunity to take the lead – after his foul on Tolani Omotola within five seconds conceded a penalty kick.
Witton Albion’s winger Bradley Bauress stepped up to take the spot kick – which was saved by Lynch, but the 20-year old bundled home the rebound from close range.
Chester continued to push for an equaliser – and went close with an effort from Will Marsh, who started his first game for the Blues. A curling cross from Evan Horwood met the head of Marsh, who guided his header onto the crossbar.
Moments before the break and the visitors saw themselves reduced to ten men. Otomola pushed Blues midfielder Wade Joyce, and after previously picking up a yellow card for simulation, the Albion striker was shown his marching orders.
With twenty minutes left to play and it was 10 versus 10 as Blaine Hudson was sent down the tunnel. Referee Johnson seemed very happy to brandish cards throughout the encounter – and handed Hudson his second yellow for a foul.
Chester finally had their equaliser after Devine was sent off for Witton – and Johnson awarded a penalty to the home side. Alabi stepped up for the Blues and smashed the ball into the top corner – striking the crossbar as it went in.
Two minutes into added time for the Blues – and Chester found their winner. A looping ball over the top towards Elliott Durrell was tucked away by the substitute – who skipped past Witton keeper Roberts to slot home.
Chester: Lynch, Hughes, Hudson, Astles, Horwood, Joyce, George (Lloyd 60), Waters (Shaw 60), Marsh (Durrell 46), Chapell, Alabi.
Subs not used: Roberts, Hunt.
Bookings: Hudson, Marsh, George, Durrell, Lloyd
Red card: Hudson
Witton Albion: Roberts, Gardner, Devine, Wilson, Brown, Haywood, Noon, Owens, Hopley (Hickman 6), Otomola, Bauress.
Bookings: Noon, Otomola, Roberts, Wilson
Red cards: Otomola, Devine.
Subs not used: Lycett, Eves, Garner
Read more at http://www.chesterfc.com/news/article/2016-17/chester-2-1-witton-albion-3467215.aspx#2G2MPhCmX9dSg7Ft.99
The most incompetent officials I’ve ever seen in 35 years of watching football. In my opinion they should not be allowed anywhere near a football pitch again, under 11’s standard is way beyond them. Every single Chester fan I spoke to afterwards agreed. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask.
But hey ho that’s life. This team is way to good not to get over daylight robbery and we will win this league or be thereabouts.Proud of every one of the team and the club. UTA
KNUTSFORDIAN you have summed up this game absolutely spot on. Our secretary demanded to get a report from the referee, but had to wait well over an hour to get it as the the observer/assessor spent over an hour with him after the match. The observer spent so long with him, Glynis and I didn’t get home to the next day (00.30 hours). I knew the observer from my time as Asst Secretary 25 years ago to Dave Leather, and when I told him my thoughts after the game he did not verbally respond, but he gave me a look that said he fully agreed.
The players and management team were unconsolable after the game, made worse by the fact only home players were fed after the game.
I am so annoyed that we have been beaten by a poor referee, rather than a better team!
I apologize if I have over stepped my remarks, but I was so annoyed, and even more sorry for the players and management for so much injustice tonight,
Unbelievable that they didn’t even feed our lads. From charging £2 for a car park full of potholes, to forcing us to walk all the way around the ground to a gate with one turnstile and and queue of 30 plus Wittoners trying to get in, to shunting us in one corner where the tea hut operator was taking 3-4 minutes to serve each person despite all the food being ready cooked, and then keeping us in at half time, not a great experience as a fan. And that’s before the referee dicked us!
I’m sure there are good people at Chester but not really a place I’d like to go again any time soon, and would hate to be going to grounds like that every week. Give me a field surrounded by a fence with a bar in portacabin any day.
Refs happen but my abiding memory of the two games will be a phenomenal performance from our lads against a team three divisions higher, who must think themselves the luckiest bastards around today.
Chester standard…
You’ll struggle to find a more dramatic FA Trophy tie than this.
Chester are into round two after an action-packed night against Carl Macauley’s brave Witton Albion side, who finished this first round replay with nine men.
Witton had taken the lead in the second minute through Brad Bauress after a remarkable opening six seconds saw Blaine Hudson give away a penalty.
Chester knocked at the door but were set for an early exit from the Trophy, before Tom Shaw won an 86th minute penalty which James Alabi converted. It was then left to Elliott Durrell to net a dramatic injury time winner on an incredible night at Bumpers Lane.
Jon McCarthy rang the changes from Saturday’s draw, making five alterations from the side that were fortunate to stay in the competition at Wincham Park.
Luke George made his first start since serving a six-game suspension, replacing Shaw, while Wade Joyce, Matty Waters, Evan Horwood and Will Marsh all came in for Ryan Lloyd, Johnny Hunt, Durrell and Kane Richards, who served a one-match ban following his sending off at the weekend.
It didn’t take long for the game to spring into life, six seconds to be precise! From the kick-off, the usually dependable Hudson dwelt on the edge of his area, allowing Tolani Omotola to latch onto the loose ball.
Hudson dived in and brought Omotola down in the area and would have been sent off under the old laws, but survived with just a yellow card from referee Joseph Johnson.
Bauress stepped up but Lynch saved the penalty down to his right, yet parried the ball back into Bauress’ path and he slotted home.
Omotola sprang the offside trap on four minutes but found Lynch difficult to beat, smothering the shot before Horwood cleared.
It was Witton’s travelling contingent – roughly 120 making the short trip down the M56 – who were singing loudly as Chester looked to get a foothold in the game.
The Blues began to exert themselves on the visitors with Horwood looking the best attacking outlet down the left.
George’s cross-shot drifted wide of Danny Roberts’ post, before Horwood’s whipped delivery on 22 minutes was met by Marsh, but the youngsters header hit the crossbar and drifted out of play.
In the first meeting between the sides three days ago, Witton had been excellent and they picked up from where they left off here, with a tremendous first-half performance full of defensive discipline and pace going forward. As he had done at the weekend, Omotola continued to cause major problems for Hudson and Ryan Astles.
Joyce’s right wing cross was met by the head of Alabi on 33 minutes but his effort drifted across the face of goal and wide.
On 39 minutes Chapell found his way through on goal in the box but was denied by a superb last-ditch tackle by Michael Wilson.
On 41 minutes, Omotola turned Sam Hughes in the left-hand corner and looked to be advancing on goal but threw himself to the floor and was booked for diving by Johnson.
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And just four minutes later, Omotola’s eventful half was ended prematurely as he was given his marching orders for dissent having given away a free-kick on halfway. It was the stroke of luck Chester needed as the referee blew for half-time.
McCarthy sensed a change was required and sent Durrell on at half-time for Marsh, who was a tad unfortunate to be hauled off. There had been far worse first-half performances in a blue and white shirt.
Durrell made an immediate impact, whipping in an inswining cross from the right wing which drifted wide of Roberts’ goal.
Horwood came close to a leveller on 52 minutes, but his left-footed drive from 25 yards fizzed wide following good work from George.
The Blues skipper was then cautioned for a poor tackle on Tom Owens 30 yards from goal, the resulting free-kick cleared but Durrell was then cautioned for a body check on Wilson.
It wasn’t happening for the Blues, so McCarthy and assistant Chris Iwelumo decided to roll the dice and send on midfield duo Lloyd and Shaw to replace George and the ineffective Waters.
Lloyd dragged a left-footed effort wide on 64 minutes before Chapell’s low shot flew wide.
The Blues weren’t pressing the panic button just yet, but McCarthy’s desire to stay in the competition was highlighted by throwing Hughes upfront for the final half hour.
Those who played at Wincham Park on Saturday were now starting to look leggy, although Shaw, Lloyd and Durrell’s fresh legs gave the Blues hope of a leveller to remain in the competition.
On 69 minutes, Lloyd’s cross found Shaw at the backpost and he pulled the ball back across goal, where Hughes slid in but couldn’t get contact.
On 74 minutes, Chapell was brought down in the right-hand corner by Anthony Gardner, Durrell lofting the resulting free-kick to the far post where Hughes climbed highest but could only find the waiting gloves of Roberts.
A minute later and it was 10 against 10, as Hudson crunched into a tackle on Owens and was shown a second yellow card following his first minute caution.
Owens then thought he’d put the tie to bed on 77 minutes as he turned the ball home from six yards, but referee Johnson bizzarely disallowed it, presumably for a foul.
Tempers were now reaching boiling point and it all got too much for Witton coach Paul Moore who was sent to the stands for directing a torrent of abuse at the fourth official.
There was further drama to come. Alabi poked the ball through for Shaw, who latched onto it and looked to have been pulled back by Matthew Devine, the full-back sent off for the foul and the penalty given.
Alabi stepped up and rifled the penalty past Roberts via the post and crossbar.
Now up against nine men, Chester came on strongly and nicked it right at the death, as Durrell rounded Roberts and sent the Blues’ faithful into raptures. The Wembley dream lives on.