FITZ GETS THE FED OFF THE MARK...
ABRACE from striker Mark Fitzpatrick helped Northern league underdogs Dunston UTS beat ten-man Chester to reach the fourth qualifying round for only the second time in their history.
Liam Brooks put the hosts ahead but Deane Smalley equalised for Chester just after the half-hour mark.
Dan Mooney gave the visitors the lead in first-half stoppage time but Fitzpatrick levelled as an absorbing tie ebbed and flowed.
Experienced defender Danny Livesey was sent off seven minutes into the second period, which turned the tie in favour of Dunston.
The impressive Andrew Grant-Soulsby put the home side in front for a second time shortly afterwards and though ten-man Chester were back in it when Mooney equalised on the hour, Fitzpatrick added his second and Dunston’s fourth with 15 minutes left to seal a Cup thriller.
Dunston manager Chris Swailes, a three-time FA Vase winner, said: “For long periods Chester played very well.
“At half-time we found ourselves 2-1 down and it’s two goals we could have prevented but I’ll take that on behalf of how good the opposition are.
“We were saying we’re still in it and within five or ten minutes the game turned on its head.
“We know we can score goals and we’ve proved that. I’m happy with a brilliant win.”
Chester got off to the worst possible start as Jack Elliott played in Brooks on the edge of the box and the forward fired a low effort into the bottom corner on 93 seconds.
That ignited the majority of the crowd but Chester
were level when Craig Mahon’s cross found Smalley to head in and Mooney’s unstoppable effort into the top left corner in first-half stoppage time put Chester up.
Dunston were awarded a penalty just after the break as Elliott was fouled by Scott Burton and Fitzpatrick stepped up to beat Grant Shenton in the Chester goal.
Moments later, Livesey was sent off for a foul on Fitzpatrick and Dunston took advantage with Grant-Soulsby heading in a Liam Marrs corner from close range.
Mooney equalised from a tight angle but it was Fitzpatrick who had the final say racing on to a loose ball and firing past Shenton.
Chester joint-boss Anthony Johnson said: “I’m disappointed. I’m not going to take any of the credit away from Dunston but we should have forced a replay.” STAR MAN: Andrew Grant-Soulsby (UTS) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★