Conference club Woking had none of the luck at Meadow Lane.
They were furious with the 35th minute sending off of central defender Jon Boardman for hauling down Glynn Hurst and it certainly seemed a harsh decision.
Woking protested furiously to referee Fred Graham but French defender Julien Baudet put nerves to one side as he slotted home the penalty inside goalkeeper Shwan Jalal's right-hand post.
If County thought the double blow of a sending off and a penalty would subdue their visitors they were given a shock as Woking assumed command.
The second half belonged almost entirely to the visitors as County were unable to break out of their own half except in isolated breakaways.
Proof of Woking's pressure was shown by their winning of 12 second-half corners which put the home side under terrific pressure.
Fortunately their three-man defence of Kelvin Wilson, Baudet and Mike Whitlow held firm under the onslaught - though not without some nervy moments.
County midfielder Stephen Oaks did his best to create a chance or two with some precision passing, notably to bring flying winger Chris Palmer into the game.
But the youngster - noted for his fierce finishing - saw three good efforts blocked.
Then, in another County breakway, Jalal produced the save of the match to keep out a Hurst header.
It was not until stoppage time that County secured a second goal to seal their passage and break Woking hearts.
David Pipe had gone off with a hamstring injury and substitute Tony Scully got away down the right flank, pinpointed his centre and Gavin Gordon headed in to lift the tension over Meadow Lane.
It was a second successive home win under caretaker player-manager Ian Richardson who, because of injury, had to watch - no doubt often in frustration - from the touchline.