LIAM Goulding knocked before peering around the door to Tony Sullivan’s office after nudging it open.

The Witton boss, relieved to see his side squeeze through to the final, asked the defender how it had felt to score a stoppage time winner in a derby.

“Don’t forget the finish for my first goal,” replied the 18-year-old with a grin.

It was his night.

Goulding, who had made only three appearances in Albion’s colours since a switch from Accrington Stanley last month, produced a moment of brilliance to seal a crucial late victory against 1874 Northwich.

It stunned spirited opponents, who had recovered from a disastrous opening – during which they conceded twice from set pieces – to draw level deservedly at 2-2.

There were seconds left of a thrilling cup tie when the ball ricocheted towards the teenager in the penalty area, but a swish of his right boot sent it arcing into the far corner.

1874 had no time to react.

Their pride at fighting back will be tempered by regret at not making the most of Zac Corbett’s dismissal, when Witton led 2-1, after an hour.

Ryan Mitchell steered in Ryan Stewart’s free kick seconds later, but the visitors’ momentum strangely stalled at the same moment.

They too were down to 10 men by the time Goulding grabbed the glory after Mike Brandon received a red card from referee Jon-Paul Kenny as punishment for two cautions.

1874 manager Ian Street spoke beforehand of having no regrets when the final whistle blew.

His side looked every bit an underdog in the first half an hour.

Sam Barnes was allowed to meet Danny Andrews’ corner unopposed in the six-yard box to put the hosts ahead.

Goalkeeper Neil McDermott, filling in for injured Matthew Conkie, reacted smartly to parry Jamie Rainford’s drive shortly afterwards but Alex Titchiner could not adjust his feet in time to convert the rebound, his shot deflecting wide off a defender.

From the resulting corner, partially cleared, Joe Shaw teed up Goulding to spear in a shot with his weaker foot while 1874 reacted slowly.

They showed courage not to buckle though.

Brandon jabbed an attempt against the crossbar, while Matthew Woolley drilled with power straight at Andy Robertson.

Albion were brighter at the start of the second period, Rainford firing wide before Titchiner forced McDermott to block with a boot following fine approach play by Joe Shaw.

1874 needed to score next, and did.

Matty Ward, their outstanding performer again, flashed an emphatic finish past Witton’s custodian on 52 minutes.

He was involved in the next talking point too, a tangle with Corbett prompting Kenny to send off the Albion man after he reacted with raised hands and a shove.

Ryan Stewart, fortunate to escape without any sanction for his part in the melee that followed, then floated a set piece onto Mitchell’s head from which he claimed an equaliser.

Robertson, in an error of judgement, had left his line too late to claim the cross.

Witton, a man down and teetering badly, were there for the taking.

Sullivan had asked for honesty from his players following miserable performances in successive away defeats, and they delivered.

Substitute Steve Foster made a mess of a free header from a corner, while Ward’s ingenuity deserved reward when he swivelled to fire speculatively from 35 yards with an attempt that worried Robertson.

But other than that 1874, roared on by a buoyant support, created little.

Brandon was sent off following an innocuous foul, prompting a by now-creaking pendulum to swing decisively Witton’s way a final time.

Witton (4-3-3) Robertson (GK), Gardner, Barnes, Goulding, Dawson, Clark, Corbett, Joe Shaw, Titchiner, Rainford, Andrews Subs not used Swift (GK), Weeder, Fofana, King, Morgan Goals Barnes 14, Goulding 19, 90 (+2) Booked Dawson (foul), Clark (time-wasting) Sent off Corbett (violent conduct)

1874 (3-4-3) McDermott (GK), Mitchell, Bayley (Duckworth 86), Thomas, Connor (Foster 78), Chappell, Woolley, Stewart, Wellstead, Brandon, Ward Subs not used Woods, Lunn, Short Goals Ward 52, Mitchell 62 Booked Brandon ,Connor (both fouls) Sent off Brandon (second caution)

Referee Jon Paul Kenny

Attendance 472