UNLIKE last season, there won't be any trips to places like Ewood Park or thrilling clashes with the Plymouths or Oxfords of this world for Chester City, after they tamely bowed out of the FA Cup at Holker Street.

Admittedly the pitch was like a glue pot and some of referee Mr Castle's decisions left fans baffled to say the least

But despite the swamp-like conditions and the official's eccentricities, the harsh reality is that City allowed themselves to be out-fought by a physical Barrow side, which despite immense limitations in their playing ability showed more commitment and passion than the visitors.

The City performance brought back memories of the disappointing displays earlier this season flooding back as they committed basic errors and rarely produced any cohesive or penetrative football - particularly in the second half.

Chester's best chances came in the first speriod. Dean Spink, who had a disappointing match, missed a golden chance while Simon Bishop made excellent saves to deny Jimmy Haarhoff and Andy Porter. The only goal came after 58 minutes.

Maxfield swung over a corner from the right, allowing the unmarked Grant Holt a simple job to power home a close-range header.

The goal should have been the signal for a Chester fightback, but instead of powering forward in an effort to restore parity their heads began to drop allowing the UniBond League outfit to run out deserved winners. Referee Mr Castle put the top hat on his performance by showing City's Stephen Halford a red card, only to change it to a yellow when he was told that the central defender was one of the few players who had not been booked previously.

Chester manager Steve Mungall was naturally disappointed, saying: "We never got a grip of it in the second half. We accepted second best and that, to me, is unacceptable. Some of the players seemed to be affected by the occasion and others just didn't perform and that's disappointing."

CHESTER CITY: Brown, Ruscoe (Wright 82), M Rose, Porter, Halford, Lancaster, Ruffer, Blackburn, Haarhoff, Spink, Kerr (Beesley 60). Subs not used: Kilgannon, Woodyatt, Jago. Referee: Mr S Castle (Wolverhampton). Attendance: 2,893.

VICS LET OFF CUP RIVALS

Telford Utd ....1 Northwich Vic ....1

NORTHWICH should have won this FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie, but repeated missed chances mean they replay at the Drill Field tomorrow for the right to host Hull City in the first round on November 17.

Player-manager Jimmy Quinn selected himself in preference to out-of-form Adie Mike but saw three gilt-edged heading opportunites late in the first half go astray after clever crosses by Mark Barnard, Greg Blundell and Jamie Collins.

Quinn was later injured and replaced by Mike, who drew a fine save from Ryan Price in the 75th minute. Northwich's failings could have cost them dear in the last 10 minutes when Telford, who had been shocked in midweek to hear that they all been transfer-listed by chairman Andy Shaw, went close through Gareth Hamner and Peter Smith.

The two goals came within five minutes of one another, Telford taking the lead on the half-hour when goalkeeper Paul Gibson and centre-half Gary Burke blundered to let in Peter Smith, who slipped the ball in from an acute angle.

A corner on the left by Mark Devlin produced the equaliser when Gregg Blundell, who earlier had a good chance well saved by Price, got his head to the ball in a crowded goalmouth to score his seventh goal of the season.

Playing the ball around with freedom in midfield, Mark Devlin was the best player on view and he was closely followed by Vics' defenders Gary Burke and Denny Ingram. The former Scarborough player is proving to be manager Quinn's best signing.

NORTHWICH VICTORIA: Gibson; Sedgemore, Burke, Ingram, Barnard; Collins (Norris 89 mins.), Owen, Devlin, Garvey; Blundell, Quinn (Mike 69).

Referee: L. Mason. Attendance: 1,004.