RELIEVED Witton Albion went through to the Cheshire Senior Cup semi-finals after narrowly beating Congleton Town on Tuesday night.

Albion started the brighter and went ahead on 27 minutes when Town defender Wayne Brotherton brought down Lee Thompson in the penalty area.

Mark Drew stepped up to hit home the spot kick for a lead the Albion deserved.

Witton then doubled their advantage when Mark Smyth hit a fierce cross into the six-yard box only for Andy John to put through his own net under pressure.

The hosts should have killed the game off when Smyth had the chance to get his second goal in two games but the recent signing put the ball wide from two yards.

After the break, Witton were forced onto the back foot and were soon looking over their shoulder after the referee awarded the Vodkat Premier side a penalty of their own.

Matt Woolley sent keeper Greg Smith the wrong way after Stuart Tulloch was adjudged to have been brought down.

For the rest of the half, visiting Congleton made Albion sweat and it was only for a fine one-handed save from Smith in the final minutes of the game that the UniBond Premier strugglers have a place in the last four.

Attendance: 125.