IF it could go wrong for Witton Albion, it did.

A sixth successive defeat, this time against league rivals Radcliffe, brought to an end their involvement in the FA Trophy.

The hosts had strong appeals for two penalties thrown out by referee Matthew Donohue, who had no alternative but to dismiss captain Michael Powell after booking him twice in the second period.

In between, Mark Bainbridge skidded a header past his own goalkeeper Andy Firth – and in off an upright – to double Boro’s interval advantage.

When Carl Macauley’s men rallied during the closing stages, custodian Chris Cheetham made decisive saves to deny them a replay.

Afterwards the Albion boss was not sure how to feel.

He said: “We rolled up our sleeves and showed a lot of spirit after going down to 10 men.

“But by then we had too much to do after conceding two poor goals.

“There is a lot to sort out.”

If anything, that’s an understatement.

Witton were not inferior to their guests, and they have reason to feel frustrated by Donohue’s reluctance to award a spot kick.

Alex Titchiner was in shooting stride when he took a tumble in the penalty area inside five minutes.

Within seconds, Radcliffe had scored.

George Grayson ought to have snuffed out any danger, only to lose possession.

He then allowed Tom Hulme to escape his attention to serve Beven Burey, unmarked at the back post, with a cross he diverted out of Firth’s reach with a diving header.

A second goal might have followed shortly afterwards, only for Firth to parry Burey’s drive from distance.

The teenager was alert again when Matthew Landregan hooked on Chris Middleton’s clipped pass, diving low to his left to save with a palm.

But he was helpless to intervene when Middleton, again unopposed on the right, swerved in another cross that Bainbridge mistakenly redirected into his own goal.

Witton improved after the interval against opponents who conceded the initiative.

Jon Dawson fired into the side-netting from 10 yards after cutting inside a back-marker.

A fracas sparked by a spat between Powell and opposite number Richard Smith ended with five players – including those two – receiving a  yellow card for their part.

Powell, frustrated, then sought retribution with a cynical foul that earned him another.

Perversely, Albion’s best spell followed.

Substitute Alex Salmon cursed his ill fortune when the ball squirmed out of Cheetham’s grasp, but not over the line, after he slalomed into a shooting position.

Scott Lycett then drilled in his first goal for Witton when Boro failed to deal with Dawson’s cross.

Cheetham’s next contribution was exceptional, racing from his line to thwart Titchiner with the merest of touches after Danny Andrews’ pass had sent him clear.

Macauley, able only to name two outfield substitutes, vowed afterwards to spend the next seven days trying to recruit reinforcements.

A trip to Ossett Albion next weekend, a side Witton have beaten twice already this term, will feel an opportune place to start a recovery.

Witton (4-3-3) | Firth (GK), Gardner, Lycett, Bainbridge, Grayson, Roddan (Schofield 68), Powell, Dawson, Matthews (Salmon 61), Titchiner, Andrews Sub not used Garner (GK) Goal Lycett 77 Booked Gardner, Powell, Andrews Sent off Powell (second caution)

Radcliffe (4-5-1) | Cheetham (GK), Middleton, McGrath, Forbes, McKenzie, Hulme, Valentine, Smith, Davies, Burey, Landregan (Rokka 78) Subs not used Hindle, Ralph, Giannotta, Reid (GK) Goals Burey 7, Bainbridge 43 (own goal) Booked Smith, Valentine

Referee Matthew Donohue

Attendance 153