FC Halifax Town 3-1 Chester FC - FA Cup Mess Up

Chester tumbled out of the FA Cup last night despite a spirited performance away at FC Halifax Town.

Michael Powell, having been returned to the side, lasted just half an hour before being dismissed, leaving Chester the rest of the game to fight with just ten men.

"The FA Cup is all about traditional, and what's more traditional than me getting myself in trouble with the ref over a silly off the ball incident?", commented the quiffer-biffer centre mid.

Chester were already one down at this point, with Jon Worthington having given the home side the lead, slotting in past John Danby.  A Nathan Jarman equaliser was ruled out for offside, with luck apparently deserting the Seals.

"I must have used up all our good fortune earlier in the day when I put 60p in a vender for a Wispa, and two fell out," mused manager Neil Young.  "Had the second one on the bus on the way home - just took the edge off the defeat a little."

The defeat may not have been, had Chester's best efforts produced a goal, but instead, Halifax doubled the lead through Lee Gregory.

"Never trust a man with two first names, that's what I keep telling the lads," grumbled a noticably agitated Young.

Marc Williams brought Chester back into the game, and highlighted a staggering statistic when he fired in his first goal of the season as the travelling support murmured amongst themselves, certain that the forward must have scored at least one other goal this term.

It was left to Chris Worsley to complete the scoring and conclude Chester's participation in the FA Cup for this season, though Chester's woes increased as George Horan departed through injury before the final whistle.

"We've petitioned the league to see if they'll allow us to play a back four all on crutches," confirmed manager Young.  "If not, there's a couple of options for Bishop's Stortford on Saturday - including not playing a defence at all and hoping that their strikers are rendered ineffective by their sheer curiosity."

The Blues gaffer also branded the officials as the worst he had seen in a long time, but no-one was sure whether he meant it or if he was just trotting out his ever-popular catchphrase.