Jon McCarthy struggled to explain what he had just seen after his Chester FC side won a 'chaotic' FA Trophy first-round replay 2-1 at home to Witton Albion.
And the Blues boss refused to criticise referee Joseph Johnson for the role he played in a crazy contest no-one in the 921-strong crowd will forget in a hurry.
Supporters, however, were not so kind to the official, who awarded Witton a penalty after just SIX seconds before handing out 12 bookings, three of which led to a trio of sending offs, and a further spot-kick, from which James Alabi equalised for Chester with four minutes of normal time remaining.
The Blues then set-up a second-round showdown at home to Vanarama National League rivals Forest Green Rovers on January 14 when Elliott Durrell slotted in the 93rd-minute winner.
But after the game most of the talk among Chester supporters centred on Johnson, who also sent a Witton coach to the stands.
What fans said on our Chester FC Facebook page
Rachel Cfc Wright said: "Dire game and no idea how we won? Ref was pure comedy in the end."
Michael Davison PT said: "Don't know how we pulled that off!! Buzzing that we did! But if we play like that against quality opposition......we don't stand a chance."
Mark Ephgrave said: "Don't think I have ever laughed so much at a game where we have been losing for the majority of it and performed poorly. The ref was from another planet, every foul equalled a yellow card. Great to get through and the lads keep on going, very reliant on our first 11-13 lads though x."
Rob Holmes said: "Bizarre is the only word to describe this match, as Rachel Cfc Wright said, "no idea how we won" is very true, but happy that we did. £5000 much needed in the bank & another home tie in Jan 2017."
Ian Tyrrell said: "Glad to be in the next round, and as for the ref he was embarrassing pulling yellow cards out for both sides, for nothing more than a simple foul that you get in any game, think he only booked their keeper cos he was the only one left who had not got a card."
Tyler Bond said: "Disappointing game but we are through which is what matters. JON MCCARTHY'S BLUE AND WHITE ARMY."
Liam Kenny said: "Glad to be through to the next round and let's concentrate on the next game John McCarthy's blue and white army."
What Jon McCarthy said
"The madness that can happen in cup games, happened. We had every single aspect.
"We've had the referee before, he's all right, but it was like the game was out of control. Both sets of players and managers need to take responsibility for that, as well as the referee, and it created for a chaotic night. There were just lots of mistakes everywhere, which I guess created for an exciting cup tie.
"I'm really finding it hard to explain it. I'll be glad to get back to the calm of a league game on Saturday. But we're in the next round of the Trophy and that's very important to this football club.
"Was it like it like the football equivalent of Fawlty Towers? It was all 12 in one! I might have been Basil and Manuel rolled into one, too.
"It's been a really frustrating night. My players have got me out of a difficult situation again - and that's why I went in there and thanked them for that. I can be a little bit more lighthearted about it now.
"We're doing okay, and it's another step in the right direction. We took a strange route to get there, but we got there."
