CALUM MCINTYRE was left angry as Chester departed their second knockout competition in the space of just four days.

Following on from a 2-1 loss in their FA Cup replay at York City, the Blues were knocked out of the FA Trophy on penalties at Nantwich Town.

The tie, a repeat of a previous FA Cup meeting between the sides this season, finished up goalless and the Dabbers prevailed 4-2 in the shootout.

While unhappy with his much-changed side’s display, McIntyre is also displeased with fixture scheduling for his team.

He told Chester FC TV: “We didn’t work their goalkeeper. We haven’t had spells, we haven’t had pressure.

“We didn’t contribute anything to the game.

“I always take responsibility for that, but I’m livid about the whole accumulation of the week, the fixture schedule that we have to go into.

“The fact that our season will be defined by a six-week period between now and Christmas, where we have to play Saturday-Tuesday because there’s other clubs that can pick and choose their games.

“So, angry. Can deal with going out of a cup competition. That’s part and parcel of it.

“I think once we’d done what we’d done in the FA Cup, which we’ve done more in the FA Cup than we seem to have been given credit for in my opinion.

“For us to have performed - or not performed - like that is not acceptable and not the standards that I’m determined to set for this football club.”

McIntyre made seven changes from the FA Cup defeat at National League York City in midweek, which included a first appearance for the Blues for new signing Christian Norton.

Chester had to play the final 15 minutes of the tie with just 10 men due to an injury to Adam Thomas.

Elliott Whitehouse and Reece Daly converted their spot kicks for the Blues, but Declan Weeks and Charlie Caton had their penalty attempts saved.

It was left to Ahmed Ali to fire in the winning penalty to send Nantwich through to the next round.

Nantwich boss Paul Carden felt his side deserved to go through.

Carden, the former Chester City skipper, told the club’s X site: “I felt we deserved to go through.

“I thought we had some really good chances that we didn’t take in the 90 and sometimes, you’re thinking, have we ran out of, I wouldn’t say luck, but have we ran out of the way of getting through?

“But the lads have stepped up again and took some unbelievable penalties.”

Other selected results: Alfreton 2 Macclesfield 4; Banbury 2 Nuneaton 4; Billericay 3 Tamworth 1; Bishop’s Stortford 3 St Albans 1; Chorley 1 Scarborough 0; Coalville 1 Boston 1 (Coalville won 7-6 on pens); Curzon Ashton 2 Matlock 0; Farsley 2 Radcliffe 4; Gloucester 3 Braintree 0; Hereford 4 Redbridge 1; Redditch 2 Rushall 1; Scunthorpe 2 Darlington 0; Southport 4 South Shields 0; Spennymoor 1 Mickleover 3; Stafford 0 Brackley 0 (Brackley won 4-2 on pens); Stourbridge 2 King’s Lynn 1; Warrington 1 Blyth 3.

National League leaders Chesterfield lost 2-1 at Southend while second-placed Barnet were beaten 2-0 at home by Gateshead.

Other results: Bromley 1 AFC Fylde 0; Dorking 2 Boreham Wood 1; Eastleigh 2 Altrincham 1; Ebbsfleet 0 Oxford City 4; FC Halifax 1 Wealdstone 0; Kidderminster 0 Dagenham 1; Rochdale 2 Aldershot 1; Solihull 1 Maidenhead 2; Woking 0 Oldham 1; York 1 Hartlepool 3.