PHIL Parkinson was beaming with pride after Altrincham turned on the style to win a pulsating FA Cup second qualifying round replay with Chester at a rain-soaked J.Davidson Stadium on Tuesday night.
The game had to pass a teatime inspection, after torrential rain throughout the afternoon, but Alty made light of the conditions to go ahead through James Jones in the second minute and bring the best out of Chester keeper Russ Griffiths in an action-packed tie.
"Some of our counter-attacking football was electric, and their keeper absolutely bailed them out," said Alty boss Parkinson, after a 1-0 win earned the Robins a third qualifying round tie at Halesowen.
"There were saves he had no right to make, and he was the reason we weren’t well out of sight long before the end.
"The save from Jordan Hulme late in the first half denied us a goal-of-the-season contender.
"It was a phenomenal move that covered the length of the pitch.
"That was us at our best, and it would be interesting to know how many passes were involved. The intricate play was outstanding.
"The will to keep them out and the flair we showed attacking-wise was second to none, and I am exceptionally proud of the lads.
"Over the two games, we were well worth our place in the next round.
"We were superior in every department.
‘I take this competition very seriously. I knew we would have to be at our strongest to go through.
"I told the lads they would have to turn up, because Chester would, and that’s exactly what they did, every one of them. They did the club proud.
"I had a little go at Andy White after the Kidderminster game, but I couldn’t have asked for a better response.
"That was him at his very best. When he plays like that, he should be in the Football League, not Conference North.’
Alty will be without on-loan winger Yusifu Ceesay until early November, due to his hamstring injury being worse than initially thought, but new signing Lewis Archer, from Alvechurch, is available for Saturday’s home match with Gateshead.
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