Chester FC exited the FA Trophy on penalties at the hands of AFC Telford United after a long and at times excruciating first round replay.
Chester bossed the first half and held a deserved lead at the break through Ben Heneghan's goal on 15 minutes with toothless Telford fortunate to go in one down.
As in the last meeting between the clubs, the Blues performance tailed off as the game went on and the Bucks came back into things and Sam Smith equalised on 76 minutes.
Both sides could have nicked a winner in normal time but extra time beckoned with the game deteriorating the longer it went on.
Telford had the better of the first period before the Blues came back in the second but there was little between the teams and penalties would be required.
Jamie Menagh, Sean McConville and John Rooney scored for the Blues but Jonathan Hedge made fine stops from Kingsley James and Tom Peers.
Sam Smith smashed over the bar for Telford but Ryan Higgins, Tony Gray and Andy Owens were successful, leaving Sean Cooke to rifle the decisive penalty into the top corner to win the match.
Chester had deserved better than a 3-0 defeat at Barnet on Saturday but that loss meant there had been no win in four.
There was a need to regather some momentum before the important festive fixtures, the results of which might dictate ambitions for the rest of the season.
Gareth Roberts began a three game suspension for his red card against Barnet and new signing Kane Richards was ineligible having been with Ilkeston when the original tie took place.
Steve Burr brought back Michael Kay and switched to three centre halves with Ibou Touray at left wing back and Ben Heneghan on the right.
Steve Kittrick was confirmed as Telford boss on the morning of the game but he watched on with caretakers Andy Todd and Andy Pryce in charge.
A hat-trick from Tony Gray could not prevent the Bucks from losing 4-3 at home to Eastleigh to make it seven games without a win.
Telford are well adrift at the bottom of the Conference Premier and have two crucial games with fellow relegation candidates Nuneaton Town coming up.
It was no great surprise to see Gray back on the bench along with Todd and Godfrey Poku. Neill Byrne, Sean Cooke and Sam Smith came into the side.
Chester created the first chance in the fifth minute when John Rooney curled wide after Heneghan's knock down and a couple of minutes later Kingsley James fired over from a similar area.
Heneghan was allowed a free header on 11 minutes but couldn't direct Craig Mahon's floated cross on target as the Blues made the more impressive start.
Telford could not get on the ball and fell behind in the 15th minute as Jonathan Hedge failed to take a deflected Rooney corner and Heneghan stole in at the far post to sidefoot home his fifth of the season.
Rooney had another decent attempt from outside the box but didn't quite get enough bend on his shot and the Bucks began to get into the game.
Andy Owens appealed for a penalty after going to ground attempting to get on the end of Cooke's free kick and Heneghan diverted a corner across the face of his own goal.
Chester remained the team in charge with Touray unable to reach an excellent McConville cross and Heneghan sticking the ball in the net after a fine Rooney pass, although an offside flag denied him a second goal.
Telford failed to register a shot on target in the first half with Adam Farrell, Charlie Barnett and Owens all well off target from distance before the break.
Chester came under a little bit of pressure in the first few minutes of the second period but the Bucks lacked the quality to prise open the defence.
James was flagged offside after breaking free from midfield as the Blues regained the initiative and Hobson fired in a low shot on that turn that Hedge saved.
Telford forced Jon Worsnop into action for the first time in the 67th minute but the the keeper grasped Mike Grogan's header from Higgins' cross without too much concern.
Hobson got in behind the back four on 73 minutes after Heneghan headed down Touray's raking cross and the forward beat Hedge to the ball but poked well wide under pressure.
Peter Winn came on for Touray and Gray replaced Farrell moving into the closing stages and the latter made an immediate impact.
His first touch was a shot from inside the area that Sam Smith flicked past Worsnop from close range to level the scores on 76 minutes.
There had been warning signs before the equaliser but the goal at least kicked Chester into life with Hobson inadvertently keeping a Heneghan header from hitting the target.
Kay then inadvertently blocked another attempt on goal and Winn beat Hedge with a whipped free kick but saw his effort land on the roof of the net.
Telford had chances too with Gray heading wide and Worsnop saving them Kyle Brownhill but the final chance fell to the Blues with Hedge pushing out another Winn free kick and Matty Brown heading the follow up wide to send the game into extra time.
A combination of tired legs and two teams low on ideas meant the first period of extra time was pretty dour with Cooke blazing the best chance wide for the visitors.
Chester brought on Jamie Menagh when the unfortunate Winn limped off and looked short on ideas with Telford having the better possession.
James flashed a shot across the face of goal in the second period of extra time, Gray electing to pass rather than shoot when well placed and Menagh sent over a cross that was begging to be finished off but in the end penalties were needed and Hedge's heroics sent the Bucks into the next round.
Chester FC: Worsnop, Kay, Brown, Charnock, Touray (Winn 73 (Menagh 98)), Heneghan, James, Rooney, Mahon, McConville, Hobson (Peers 86).
Subs: Harrison, Greenop.
Goal: Heneghan 15.
Booked: Rooney, McConville.
AFC Telford United: Hedge, Higgins, Byrne (Todd 85), Owens, Brownhill, Deacey, Grogan, Barnett, Cooke, Smith, Farrell (Gray 76).
Subs: Hall, Poku.
Goal: Smith 76.
Booked: Grogan.
Referee: Simon Bennett (Stoke-on-Trent)
Attendance: 898.
