up Third Qualifying Round tie at Marske United thanks to a James Hardy goal five minutes from time. The Blues also had goalkeeper Louis Gray to thank for a series of saves, many from long-range to deny darlington throughout the 90 minutes.

The Blues were forced into three changes from the side that drew the original tie on Saturday, with Darren Stephenson, Kevin Roberts and Paddy Lacey all missed out through injury, with George Glendon, Jamie Morgan and Luke Clark taking their places in the starting X1.

There was a stroke of good fortune with the goal as Hardy took advantage of a miss-hit shot on goal from George Waring that fell to the midfielder six yards out, he controlled the ball on his chest before forcing the shot past Tommy Taylor in the Darlo goal.

Chester are back in home league action on Saturday when Blyth Spartans visit Deva Stadium, kick-off 15.00hrs.

Should Chester overcome Darlington in Tuesday night’s FA Cup replay, they will face another trip to the north east in the Third Qualifying Round with a visit to Marske United who play in the Northern Premier League East Division. Marske reached this stage following a 3-0 home win over South Shields on Saturday, their sixth successive victory.

First of all the Blues must overcome Darlington at Deva Stadium tomorrow night (kick-off 19.45hrs) after the two sides fought out a goalless draw on Saturday. Will Hatfield had the ball in the net early on for the hosts only for the effort to be ruled offside. Chester welcomed back Paddy Lacey to a side that saw five changes from the one that lost at Chorley seven days earlier.

The winners of tomorrow night’s tie will receive £3,375 in prize money with the losers getting £1,125. You can pre-buy your replay match tickets here.

Defender Danny Livesey was able to play having had his red card last week against Alfreton Town overturned.

Dan Cowan’s headed goal in an the second minute of added a time sealed a dramatic 3-2 win over Alfreton Town. The Blues had Danny Livesey sent-off, as well as joint manager Anthony Johnson, in a dramatic second half at Deva stadium.

James Hardy had given the Blues a half time lead but the home side were reduced to ten men following Livesey’s red card for a late tackle of Bailey Hobson. Ten minutes from time the visitors drew level through Matt Rhead, however Declan Weeks restored Chester’s lead from long range just sixty seconds later. With two minutes remaining Rhead was on target again to head home Alfreton’s second equaliser as the match looked to be heading for a draw.

However two minutes into stoppage time Cowan rose to meet a Weeks corner and head City’s winner and was promptly mobbed by his ecstatic team mates.

Chester are next in action on Saturday when they visit Chorley, kick-off 15.00hrs. Their opponents made the headlines on Saturday with a thumping 9-0 victory over Gloucester City.

“That’s not just an arbitrary figure. We weren’t able to train, then in the last four weeks we have trained four times. Then when you are playing at the level we are, you have to consider the two teams we have just played, Kidderminster and Gateshead, train more than that in one week.”