It was an extraordinary start to an extraordinary cup tie – and we think Chester FC fans might have witnessed a piece of football history last night.
The Blues conceded a penalty just SIX SECONDS into their FA Trophy first round replay against Witton Albion, when Blaine Hudson upended Tolani Omotola in the area.
Bradley Bauress saw his spot-kick saved but stabbed home at the second attempt to hand the Evo-Stik First Division South side a shock lead at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium.
But did it break any records for a senior match and can referee Joseph Johnson lay claim to the fastest penalty award of all time?
Possibly.
In 2013, Macclesfield Town’s Connor Jennings was felled after 11 seconds in a National League clash against Wrexham at Moss Rose. The Silkmen tried to lay claim to the record then, but last night was a full five seconds quicker.
Earlier this month, in Romania, the Bucharest derby between Steaua and Dinamo saw a penalty awarded after just nine seconds after referee Ovidiu Hategan pointed to the spot when Dinamo keeper Jaime Penedo clattered into Brazilian midfielder William De Amorim moments after kick-off. Again, not as quick as last night.
In 2014, it took Ghana’s defender David Addy only 10 seconds to give away a penalty in an international friendly against Montenegro played in Portugal.
Last night’s game was filled with drama, with referee Johnson sending off Witton’s Omotola and Matthew Devine as well as Chester defender Hudson. He also gave Witton coach Paul Moore his marching orders from the dugout.
Chester eventually edged past their plucky visitors thanks to a James Alabi penalty and an Elliott Durrell strike in the final minutes of the contest, but it was the performance of the man in the middle that provided the main talking points.
It’s hard to imagine that there has been a quicker penalty in senior football. Did we witness a first in world football last night?
