A bumper crowd at the Kal Group Stadium were treated to an entertaining game that was finely poised at the break. Chances coming at either end of the half for the lower ranked cup-kings. Ashley Jackson had his close range effort turned behind for a corner by Rory Watson, before minutes from the break. Jordan Helliwell got on the end of a ball from Sisa Tuntulwana after excellent play from the scorer Howe, just unable to find the telling finish.

Victorious Manager, Russ Wilcox insisted: "A great victory for everyone involved. The supporters and definitely the players. Absolutely delighted to go in at 0-0. You know then you are still in the game, and then we put our foot on the gas a bit in the second half. We created some really good chances, especially after Dec’s goal. And pressed them a little higher. And I felt we were good value for the win".

Trinity had at times rode their luck in the first half Tyrece Sinclair warming the palms of Dylan Wharton in the Gainsborough goal, and the former Sheffield United youngster having to make himself big to make some key blocks to keep the score goal-less. York City dominated the possession, though most of it was between their centre-backs and in their own half. Mo Fadera was making his first start for City, and should have marked it with the game’s opener. He could not get on the end of a teasing ball across the box, with an open goal gapping just a couple yards in front of him.

Fadera next curled an effort from outside the box just wide of Dylan Wharton’s far post, letting another chance go begging. Sinclair forced a fine save, before Antigua and Barbuda international Ashley Nathaniel George rolled one at the Trinity shot-stopper towards the end of the half.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 0 York City 0

A slower-paced start to the second half, roared into life when Gainsborough pounced on a mistake. Fraser Preston pressurised Rory Watson in the York goal, leading to him mislaying a pass out from the edge of his box. Declan Howe latched onto the loose ball, striding into the box and rifling an effort beyond the reaches of the York keeper.

Howe, whose brother Callum was left out of City’s travelling match-day squad, went close twice more. He forced a finger-tip save, and put one the wrong side of the woodwork in quick succession, as the hosts refused to sit back. Adam Hinshelwood made a raft of changes, but none of the substitutions reaped the rewards he was looking for, as the Minstermen were unable to find a way back into the game.

Trinity had their backs to the walls, but looked lively on the counter attack as high-flying York ran out of ideas. And, in seeing out the game, Russ Wilcox’s men reached the last sixteen of the premier non-league competition for the first time since a run to the semi-finals, back in 2013.

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity: Dylan Wharton, Sisa Tuntulwana, Ashley Jackson, Bailey Conway, Will Lancaster, Dylan Cogill, Lewis Butroid, Jordan Helliwell, Javelle Clarke (Joe Stacey 89), Declan Howe, Fraser Preston (Bobby Johnson 78). Subs not used: Kian Johnson, George Hornshaw, Jacob McLoughlin.

York City: Rory Watson, Jeff King, Cameron John (Darragh O'Connor 72) Ryan Fallowfield, Malachi Walcott, Dan Batty, Billy Chadwick (Ollie Pearce 64) Tyresse Sinclair, Ashley Nathaniel George (Joe Felix 64) Mo Fadera (Ricky Aguiar 64) David Ajiboye (Lennel John Lewis 64).

Goal: Declan Howe (61)
Subs not used: Harrison Male and Alex Hunt
Attendance: 1,726
Referee: Michael Barlow

Match Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Photos by Tom Poole (York City)