In the second half, Steve Whitehall struck twice for a memorable Chester win.Mark Janney of Dagenham & Redbridge scored in the 90th minute at Sincil Bank to knock out Third Division Lincoln City while Kingstonian, the third non-league side definitely through, turned Conference form on its head when they won 2-1 at third-placed Southport. Two-nil up through Mark Harris and Geoff Pitcher, the side managed by that perennial slayer of inflated reputations, Geoff Chapple, withstood Southport’s second-half pressure after Dino Maamria had given them hope with a goal late in the first half.Northwich, who needed a replay before disposing of Bury last time out, trailed Leyton Orient 2-0 at home, by Carl Griffiths scoring both. But Gary Fletcher scored twice to level and when the former Manchester City midfielder Adie Mike put them ahead with 20 minutes left an upset loomed. But with eight minutes left, Chris Tate struck to set up a replay in east London.Elsewhere, status held sway.

Gateshead of the Unibond Premier lost 5-0 at Swindon Town and Kettering, bottom of the Conference, lost 3-1 at Bristol City after threatening a shock when they led through Darren Collins.Elsewhere, Third Division Darlington held Second Division Luton Town to a 0-0 draw at Feethams and York, midway up, or down, the Third Division earned a replay against Reading, fifth in the Second Division when they recovered a two-goal deficit and survived the late sending off of Kevin Hulme.In the meetings between Second Division sides, Rotherham United, second in the table, beat Northampton 1-0.Three ties featured all-Third Division matches. Bottom of the table Carlisle surprisingly won 2-0 at Kidderminster while second-placed Brighton went down 2-1 at Scunthorpe United. Robert Earnshaw scored twice as Cardiff City beat Cheltenham Town 3-1.. It seems to be in the nature and spirit of Wimbledon that a resounding and gutsy away victory against one of the in-form teams in the First Division should be tainted by the conduct and dismissal of their mercurial leader on the pitch. It seems to be in the nature and spirit of Wimbledon that a resounding and gutsy away victory against one of the in-form teams in the First Division should be tainted by the conduct and dismissal of their mercurial leader on the pitch.
John Hartson put in his usual wholehearted performance full of strength and endeavour to help his side move into a commanding two-goal lead against a Birmingham side that were previously unbeaten in 14 home matches. But his day will be remembered for another early bath as two reckless tackles incurred the wrath of the home manager, Trevor Francis.Hartson was fortunate to remain on the pitch after a clear elbow that floored his marker, Darren Purse, after 32 minutes. Despite the anger of the home support, not used to witnessing their side get well and truly beaten by the better team, the referee Dermot Gallagher allowed the striker to continue terrorising Birmingham’s subdued back-line.Two minutes earlier, Hartson had been involved in the move which led to Damien Francis scoring the visitors’ opener with a fine left-shot shot from the edge of the box that evaded the despairing dive by Ian Bennett.Further slack defending three minutes before the break allowed Per Karlsson and Hartson to win easy headers in the area before the man of the match, Jason Euell, fired home a crisp left-foot volley.

Trevor Francis was not best pleased.But a late challenge by Hartson on the substitute David Burrows midway through the second half gave Birmingham respite from the striker’s considerable attacking prowess, but his dismissal did not cut much ice with Francis, who felt he should already have been off the field.”The rules state clearly that if an elbow is deliberate then the player must be dismissed,” Francis said. “I don’t understand why the referee gave him a yellow card for the foul on Purse or even why he was shown another for his tackle later on. In my mind, both were sending-off offences.”Although Birmingham rallied, the their manager’s namesake made the game safe for the improving south Londoners with his second goal 12 minutes from time. He tapped home from close range after a precise Karlsson cross to give Wimbledon their seventh win on their travels this season.