A couple of new, yet familiar faces were named on the bench for the Holy Blues. Danny Devine back from his long term injury, sustained back in February, was amongst the substitutes, as was goalkeeper, Paul Cooper. Cooper signed on a dual registration ahead of the game, having previously played against Trinity for both Ashton United and Worksop Town last season. An early sighter for Josh March failed to trouble the Gainsborough goal. Ashley Jackson had to be switched on to the danger, a reverse ball inside the full back, well read by the Holy Blues' left back.
Stephen Duke-McKenna was a real handful, his neat give and go freeing himself down the Gainsborough left. Instigating a fine double save by Trinity's Dylan Wharton, coming into the game with clean sheets in each of his last three games. Duke-McKenna's driven ball in saved by Wharton's legs, before he spread himself well to block Dean Corneilus' attempt. Blue shirts throwing bodies in the way, before clearing the danger. On ten minutes, a long clearance from Wharton found Declan Howe. Cleverly, he fashion his own chance, but he dragged his shot from twenty yards, wide, with Joe Stacey well placed to his left.
Soon after, Stacey twisted and turned, delivering a cross from the left. Just too far in front of Howe and Jordan Helliwell, looking to join from deep. Sisa Tuntulwana, on a rare first half counter attack for the Holy Blues, guided the ball into the path of former Scotland Youth, Fraser Preston. The ball just not running kindly for the attacking midfielder 'and he was unable to get any real shot off. Wharton was called into action again, Duke-McKenna coming in off the right hand side. He looked to bend one, left-footed, into the bottom corner, but Wharton was down well to his right to save. Duke-McKenna was at the heart of lots of Harrogate's play, as he found pockets of space, creating the overload.
James Daly was sending in a steady stream of crosses from the Town left. Ashley Jackson partially clearing one such cross, but the hosts looked to turn the screw. And Toby Simms kept the ball alive in the final third, setting for Duke-McKenna to cross. Jack Muldoon's knockdown, fizzed a whisker wide of goal by Josh March from twenty yards. As Wharton held his breath.
March should have opened the scoring - when he met another Daly centre twelve yards out. But his effort thumped off low stand roof above the dressing room, Wharton's goal leading a charmed existence. None more so, than when Trinity struggled to clear their defensive lines. An attempted Cogill clearance spun off his boot, keeper Wharton sprawling to his right, just in case.
On the stroke of half time, Howe looked to make one of his trademark runs in behind. Chasing down a booming clearance, he got the wrong side of Anthony O'Connor, the centre half hauling Howe to the ground on halfway. Despite awarding the freekick, Referee Hallam opted not to punish the centre back further. And subsequently blew for half time rather than allowing Trinity the chance to load the box. The sides going in, all square at the break. Wilcox would have been pleased to see his team in at the break on level terms. It all to play for in the second period, with the Holy Blues to attack the end at which their phenomenal backing were housed.
Half Time: Harrogate Town 0 Gainsborough Trinity 0
Sisa Tuntulwana did brilliantly to win the ball back, with a brave block. Taking the ball in his stride and driving forward. Only to see his left-footed effort deflected behind for a corner, as he drove into shooting territory. The Blues had started the second half a little more on the front foot. Winning a corner, Bobby Johnson and Fraser Preston combined, the latter saw deep ball to the back post knocked down by Dylam Cogill, but it evaded the blue shirts of his Gainsborough teammates, and the ball was smuggled away. Cogill and Stephen Dooley came together as both players ran out of room. And tempers flared. Cogill and Simms both cautioned.
Just three minutes after play resumed, following treatment for Dooley (who suffered a nasty laceration to the head after a coming together with equipment left pitch side) Harrogate scored what would be the only goal of the game. It came as no surprise that Duke-McKenna was involved in it. He drove Town up the pitch and released March in the inside right position, his ferocious cross/shot was shovelled away by Wharton, but only as far as James Daly who recycled for Corneilus to guide his header home, and break the Gainsborough resolve. Daly doing well, taking a touch and picking out the run of the midfielder.
Without creating any real clear cut chances, Wilcox's men regrouped from going a goal behind. And rallied. They made life difficult for Simon Weaver's League 2 side, that had beaten Holywood Wrexham in the previous round, at The Exercise Stadium. Trinity worked hard, popping the ball around to create room, but decisions didn't seem to go the way of Russ Wilcox's men, Javelle Clarke and Fraser Preston both feeling aggrieved, before similar decisions went the way of our higher-ranked hosts.
After a harshly awarded free-kick against Tuntulwana was awarded by Referee Farai Hallam, Duke-McKenna tried to catch Wharton out, trying to bend the ball in at the near post. Sections of the ground, seeing the outside of the side netting rustle, thought it had found its way past Wharton, but the sides were still only settled by the one goal. And Tuntulwana then ghosted in from the right, but didn't know whether to commit with head or foot, in the end managing neither, as life was made difficult by the retreating Harrogate defender.
Jack Muldoon missed a gilt edged chance. Another superb James Daly centre, found the former Worksop Town forward, but he couldn't guide his header on target. His blushes saved by the flag held aloft on the nearside. Soon after, substitute Josh Falkingham struck fellow sub Sam Folarin with a twenty-five yarder Cornelius following up forced a routine diving save to his left for Wharton. Before Josh was yellow carded for the hosts. An ugly, chest high boot - taking the wind out of Sisa's sails.
A number of set piece opportunities came and went for the Blues, as the wet, slippery conditions made restarts difficult for Wilcox's men. Fraser Preston's free-kick was only partially cleared. Bobby Johnson sending the ball back into the dangerzone. It seemed as though there was just too much on the ball, but Trinity substitute Aaron Simpson, looked to wind up his right foot, he just couldn't keep his effort down. And he wouldn't see his name up in lights on this occasion. Gainsborough did see penalty appeals ignored late on, when Fraser Preston was clattered late after getting a shot away. His shot not troubling Belshaw, before an Ash Jackson long throw caused a moments panic in the League 2 side's penalty area.
Unfortunately it wasn't to be, and the Holy Blues bowed out of this season's Emirates FA Cup. Their heroic efforts making for a great occasion, with Russ Wilcox's side in the game, right through to the last minute. Gainsborough Trinity, to a man, woman or child, can be immensely proud of the club and the heart and desire this group have shown, to reach Round 2 and go toe to toe with a full time, professional outfit. Our town, our team, our Trinity. Proud, on a global stage.
The Teams
Harrogate Town: James Belshaw, Toby Sims, Anthony O'Connor, Jasper Moon, Zico Asare, Stephen Duke-Mcenna, Dean Cornelius, Stephen Dooley (Josh Falkingham 53), James Daly, Jack Muldoon (Warren Burrell 86), Josh March (Sam Folarin 75). Subs not used: Mark Thomas Oxley, Levi Sutton, Eno Nto, Marcus Etherington, Matty Foulds, Jack Bray, Jack McClarin.
Gainsborough Trinity: Dylan Wharton, Sisa Tuntulwana (Aaron Simpson 82), Ashley Jackson, Bobby Johnson, Will Lancaster, Dylan Cogill, Joe Stacey (Lewis Butroid 71), Jordan Helliwell, Javelle Clarke, Declan Howe, Fraser Preston. Subs not used: Kian Johnson, Paul Cooper, Bailey Conway, George Hornshaw, Danny Devine, Kyle Simpson, Jacob McLoughlin.
Gainsborough Bookings: Dylan Cogill, Will Lancaster
Harrogate Booking: Falkingham
Harrogate Goal: Dean Cornelius (58)
Referee: Farai Hallam
Attendance: 4010 (1050 travelling Blues)
Match report written by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Heather King (@heather_king_photography)