WITTON Albion left it late, very late, before savouring another moment of FA Trophy glory.

They will care not about the means – Craig Owen put through his own goal from sub Peter Heler’s cross in the closing stages of extra time – either.

It was the first time in the two ties that Albion had been ahead.

Their timing was perfect.

Few could predict what was to follow when Lee Neville was sent off a quarter hour from the whistle in normal time after being booked twice.

At that point the score was locked at 2-2.

Sutton had hit the front on 14 minutes, Craig Marshall scoring from the penalty spot after Paul Booth was harshly judged to have handled.

But Gary Finley’s men were level soon afterwards when Mike Moseley pounced on a loose ball before unleashing a perfect curving shot beyond the reach of keeper Tony Breedon.

The hosts restored their lead before the half hour, Witton custodian Joe Clegg could only palm the ball into the path of Owen and he headed home.

Witton reached the break with parity restored when Jamie Tandy beat his marker before picking out Brad Maylett and he fired through Breedon after making an angle for a shot.

Top scorer Steve Foster, so reliable from the penalty spot in Saturday’s first encounter to earn Witton a replay, then fluffed a free hit after Neil Barnfield had been punished for handball.

Neville’s early exit followed, leaving Tandy to fill in at full back, while Heler came on for Foster to shore up Witton’s midfield.

Maylett should have sent Albion through six minutes from full time but his lob was too high after Paul Henry had sent him clear.

The two reversed roles in the dying seconds, but the result was the same.

Moseley’s shot was smothered in extra time after Henry and Heler had swapped passes, then he forced Breedon to save smartly after Maylett’s assist.

Owen’s agony was the catalyst for Albion joy, heightened by Marshall’s dismissal – again for two cautions – as Sutton finally surrendered to the inevitable.

Next up is a home date with UniBond League Division One South rivals Brigg Town on Saturday week.

Witton Clegg (GK), Booth, Ruffer, Rudd, Neville, Maylett, Brodie (Adams 109), Henry, Tandy, Foster (Heler 82), Moseley
Sub not used Pritchard
Attendance 103