CALUM MCINTYRE said a 94th minute strike to seal a place in the next round was the best possible way for Chester to win a thrilling FA Cup tie.

A replay looked to be odds-on favourite when visitors Nantwich Town made it 1-1 late on at the Deva Stadium, however substitute Charlie Caton, an injury doubt heading into the big third qualifying round encounter, settled the tie deep in stoppage time.

Blues' boss McIntyre told Chester FC TV: "I think that was the best way for us to win the tie.

"I think as much as it's dramatic and you're frustrated to concede a late goal... I thought that was the best possible way we could have won the FA Cup tie.

"Because that's what I associate with our players, with our club, with our mentality is we fight to the end."

Following a scoreless first half, the opener eventually arrived with a quarter-of-an-hour left to play.

Declan Weeks sent over a corner that was powerfully headed in by Harrison Burke.

Nantwich, managed by ex-Chester City skipper Paul Carden, were right back in the tie six minutes Connor Heath on target.

However, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Caton fired home the decisive goal.

"You just keep plugging away and I thought you saw the body language of our players after the equaliser," added McIntyre.

"How many times have we done that over the past 12 months? And that was important, because I saw the opposite against Hereford.

"We drew a blank against Chorley here. Home form's been okay, steady enough, but to get it that way, yeah, that for me is the best possible way to have won the tie."

Macclesfield, where Wrexham-born Robbie Savage is director of football, also reached the fourth qualifying round thanks to a 2-1 win over Warrington Rylands.

Merthyr Town's FA Cup interest ended, though, with their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Sheppy United.

Other selected results: Leek 2 South Shields 0; Darlington 1 Scarborough 2; Alfreton 1 Emley 0; Blyth 1 Worksop 1; Braintree 3 Brackley 2; Coalville 0 Tamworth 2; Curzon Ashton 2 Chorley 1; Hereford 3 Cambridge City 0; Hitchin 0 Kettering 1; Peterborough Sports 0 Needham Market 0; Rushall Olympic 0 Boston 1.