HISTORY repeated itself as Winsford dumped their neighbours out of the cup.

Previous encounters should have warned Albion fans that a cup clash with Blues was never going to be easy but apparently no-one passed this on to the players.

The hosts twice surrendered a two-goal lead.

Joe Gibiliru left ruing his side not adding to their five-goal haul.

But the game started badly for his in-form side when a rare error of judgement by goalkeeper Michael Langley left the goal unguarded as he chased a hopeless cause, leaving Rod Thornley the simple task of steering Tom Rutter's pass home.

Bad went to worse for the visitors' custodian seven minutes later.

He was harshly adjudged to have fouled Rutter and Kyle Wilson steered home the spot kick.

It could have been worse midway through the opening period when Witton newboy Neil Wood attempted to lob Langley, but his effort hit the post.

From then on it was all Winsford.

It came as no surprise when they pulled a goal back three minutes later.

Mischa Showers rose above everyone to meet Tony Sayer's cross, but Craig Ellison's block fell to Lee Madin who turned and volleyed the ball home.

Winsford continued to press and efforts by Chris Sheppard and Madin tested the hosts' keeper but the score remained the same up to the interval.

Four minutes into the second period Witton restored their two-goal lead when Wilson's shot was blocked by Dave Ridler but the ball fell kindly to the ex-Barrow man and he fired home.

The pace of the game was clearly affecting the hosts more than the visitors and it is hard to remember a further threat on Langley's goal.

Blues pulled another goal back on 57 minutes when Sayer's cross from the right found Madin at the far post and he squared the ball back for Darren Connell to score from close range.

The move of the match one minute later saw Winsford draw level.

Madin collected Michael Owens' through ball and he delivered a superb reverse pass to Connell, whose centre was bravely met by Showers and his outstretched foot guided the ball inside the left hand post.

From then on there was only going to be one winner.

So it proved on 67 minutes when Lee Duckworth's long ball into the box was set up by Madin for defender David Barnes to smash high into the roof of the net.

Duckworth was again provider on four minutes from time, finding Ross Kennedy completely unmarked on the left and his assist was cooly converted by fellow sub Dean Ennion.

It could have been better for Blues when Sheppard's shot hit the post.

WITTON: Ellison (GK), Kearney, Skelton (Brodie 39), Pritchard, Barras, Spearritt, Dillon, Wood, Rutter, Thornley, Wilson
Subs not used: Gill, Drohan

WINSFORD: Langley (GK), Sayer, Duckworth, Barnes, Ridler, Bluck (Calland 76), Owens, Showers, Connell (Ennion 72), Madin (Kennedy 83), Sheppard

Attendance: 182