Cardiff boss Dave Jones paid tribute to non-league Chasetown after Cardiff's hard-fought FA Cup third-round win on Saturday.The British Gas Business Division One Midlands side made history by becoming the lowest ranked side to ever play in the third round.

And the occasion threatened to become even more memorable when Kevin McNaughton bundled into his own net to put the minnows ahead after 17 minutes.

With six divisions separating the sides, City's class eventually began to tell and Peter Whittingham levelled in first-half injury-time before second-half strikes from Aaron Ramsey and Paul Parry spared City's blushes.

But the occasion was not lost on Jones, who paid tribute to the opposition.

"Everyone was here for the fairytale," he said. "We just happened to be the party poopers. My wife says I'm normally that when I don't dance!

"I am very honoured to be part of their history because it's been a big day for them. That's what all the headlines should be.

"Once we got control in the game, it was always going to be how many but their players were magnificent."

Chasetown manager Charlie Blakemore declared himself "the proudest man in the whole of the world" despite his side's FA Cup dream being ruined.

No giantkilling act, but Blakemore insisted nothing could spoil his day.

He said: "It's just been an absolute dream. I was really in dreamland when we scored and it's just a shame when we couldn't have perhaps held the lead until half-time.

"They scored at a critical moment, it lifted Cardiff, you could see that. They stepped the game up in the second half on the back of that.

"I can be really proud of what we've achieved, even today we were still in it. Second half, they were passing it for fun but our lads just kept running and working.

"I'm the proudest man in the whole of the world today of my lads because they have been just awesome.

"To achieve what they have achieved throughout the cup run, not just today, has been out of this world.

"Credit to Cardiff, they're a good side, but I don't think we've disgraced ourselves."

With temporary seating erected behind both goals, a bumper crowd bedecked in blue and white of 2,420 squeezed into the Scholars Ground - even director Frank Carson put in a guest appearance - and Blakemore's players were cheered like heroes at the full-time whistle as they savoured the occasion with a lap of honour.

"People say the magic of football has gone. It hasn't, no way. Grass roots, this is what it's all about," added Blakemore, who admitted there were mixed emotions afterwards in the dressing room.

"A few of them are disappointed because we've lost and I am, I hate losing.

"But, by the same token, you just have to reflect on their achievement - creating history in the best club cup competition in the world. I'll have the memories for the rest of my life.

"The lads will have a few beers tonight and I'll join them.

"Win, lose or draw I said we're going out on the lash and having a few beers and enjoying it because they're back at work and I'm back at work on Monday.

"Some of the lads played on there today for £30. They've not asked for any bonus. All they wanted was the memory, and they've got it."

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