North Ferriby United 1-5 Chester

By Graham Riley

Chester sealed their place in the Second Round in emphatic fashion at the expense of North Ferriby in this all-Evo Stik Northern Premier League tie.

The table-topping visitors had the game's first real opportunity when Antoni Sarcevic curled a free kick just beyond the far post, while at the other end Alex Davidson ran onto Gary Bradshaw's through ball, and his effort deflected wickedly of Chester's Michael Taylor into the grateful arms of John Danby. Chester took the lead in controversial circumstances on 39 minutes when Michael Wilde appeared to kick the ball out of Ferriby keeper Steve Wilson's grasp, and doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time when Matty McNeil slide onto Wilde's cross.

The hosts were given a mountain to climb three minutes into the second half when Wilde doubled his tally with a low drive from a corner. Wilson kept Ferriby in the game by showing great reflexes to save McNeil's deflected header, then thwart Matty McNeil from the penalty spot after Sam Denton had brought down Sarcevic. Ferriby gained a foothold on the tie just seconds later with a penalty of their own; Alex Brown felling Davidson and Paul Harsley converting. However, Chester re-established their three goal cushion just two minutes later; Wilson got a hand to Sarcevic's effort but couldn't stop it rolling over the line. Howard completed a commanding second half display when McNeil back-heeled Wilde's low cross into his path. Ferriby return to league action when they welcome playoff chasers Bradford Park Avenue to the Rapid Solicitors Stadium on Tuesday night.

Man of the Match: Michael Wilde (Chester)

Attendance: 510

Ferriby: Steve Wilson, James Williams, Kevin Larvin, Paul Harsley (Danny Clarke, 74), Paul Foot (c) (Sam Belcher, 90), Sam Denton, Wayne Brooksby, Russell Fry, Chris Bolder, Gary Bradshaw, Alex Davidson Subs not used: James Bennett, Ben Morley, Rob Moy

Chester: John Danby, Liam Brownhill, Matthew McGinn, Christian Smith, Michael Taylor, Alex Brown, Antoni Sarcevic (Wes Baynes, 65), Michael Powell (c), Matty McNeil (James Ellison, 74), Michael Wilde (Chris Simm, 74), Iain Howard Subs not used: Robert Booth, Luke Holden