THE Blues’ hopes of progressing in the Dootson Cup were extinguished in last night's third round tie.
A much-changed Chester line-up paid the price for missing a succession of gilt-edged goalscoring chances as they attempted to avenge the 1-0 league defeat at Hednesford earlier in the season.
Both sides were reduced to 10 men after just 14 minutes when Chester skipper George Horan and home striker Nick Wellecomme were both red carded for a scuffle on the edge of the area.
Robbie Booth provided hope for Chester when he levelled matters in the 41st minute with a header after Mark Danks had broken the deadlock in the 19th minute.
But Danks added Hednesford's second goal in the 46th minute despite Chester creating more than enough chances to clinch a victory.
And substitute Amani Allen produced Hednesford's third goal in the final minute of stoppage time.
Blues boss Neil Young made a total of seven changes to the side that secured a comfortable 4-0 league win at Whitby Town on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Adam Judge, defenders Wes Baynes, and Christian Smith, midfielders Joe Ormrod, Joe Holt, and Iain Howard, and striker James Ellison all started in place of John Danby, Liam Brownhill, Michael Taylor, Alex Brown, Chris Simm, Matty McNeil and Michael Powell.
Hednesford started brightly and created the first scoring chance after just 30 seconds when Danks volleyed wide of the mark from Wellecomme's cross.
Chester responded in the fifth minute when Booth drilled a low 25 yard goalbound, but home keeper Dan Crane gathered comfortably.
Booth was presented with another scoring chance in the 11th minute, but his angled header from Wes Baynes' cross on the right of the area.
Both sides were reduced to 10 men following straight red cards for a brawl off the ball between Blues skipper Horan and Wellecomme.
Both players were followed down the tunnel by linesman Lisa Rashid who had noticed both players continuing to square up to one another as they made their way to the dressing rooms.
Chester hit back in the 16th minute, but Booth's well struck 20 yard shot deflected inches wide of the left post, and Howard ensured the Blues continued to press with a powerful cross from the left wing which looped fractionally wide of the far post.
Ormrod came close to levelling matters in the 30th minute, but his 20 yard shot bounced just wide of the target, and Howard's deflected effort in the 35th minute flew a fraction wide of the mark.
Chester were beginning to look a big threat as the match wore on and engineered a series of promising manouevres.
Ellison’s 39th minute header from Luke Holden's right side corner was steered wide of the far post, and Ellison saw his close range effort off Howard's cross hit Crane before flying only inches wide of the post.
Chester were rewarded for their persistence in the 41st minute when Booth steered a header from Howard's cross into the net off the right post.
Hednesford caught Chester off their guard at the start of the second half when Kyle Haynes' low cross from the right edge of the box found Danks in acres of space whose six yard shot found the net beyond bemused Blues keeper Judge.
Holden responded for the Blues with a goalbound 25 yard shot that Crane easily claimed in the 54th minute.
Chester youth team striker Sean Miller was introduced as a 56th minute substitute in place of Holden as Chester continued their search for an equaliser.
Matty McGinn pushed forward on the left edge of the area and rifled a low strike just wide of the far post in the 64th minute.
But Hednesford responded in the 67th minute when Danks created space for himself before hitting a goalbound left-footed shot that Judge comfortably gathered.
Howard was presented with a superb opportunity to equalise from eight yards in the 74th minute, but he fired wide after fine build up play from Booth.
But the Blues ran out of time and paid the penalty for their countless missed chances when substitute Amani Allen netted Hednesford's third goal four minutes into stoppage time.
HEDNESFORD TOWN (4-4-2): Crane 7; Haynes 8, Shaw 8, Monteiro 8, Bailey 7; Grice 7 (Dunkley 61), Osborne 7, Jevons 8 (Denny 77), Wellecomme 7; Danks 9 (Allen 81), Durrell 8. Subs (not used): Campion, Forbes.
CHESTER (4-4-2): Judge 7; Baynes 7, Horan 7, Smith 7, McGinn 8; Booth 9, Ormrod 8, Holt 8 (Grace 76), Howard 8; Ellison 7, Holden 7 (Miller 56). Subs (not used): Brown, Brownhill.
REFEREE: S Barrow.
ATTENDANCE: 250.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Robbie Booth worked hard in his attacking central midfield role.
MAGIC MOMENT: Booth's headed equaliser from Howard's pinpoint cross.
MOAN OF THE MATCH: The ease at which Hednesford scored their second goal.