Despite appealing Sisa Tuntulwana’s red card, and seeing the decision overturned in midweek, the popular forward thinking full back was denied his chance to line up against Woking, due to injury. Bailey Conway was only fit enough to be named amongst the substitutes, while Wilcox had to do without the services of Curtis Durose and Sam Fishburn, both cup-tied having appeared for Matlock Town (against Stourbridge) and Scunthorpe United (against Warrington Rylands) respectively. George Hornshaw and Danny Devine dropped to the bench, as Bobby Johnson and Fraser Preston started. There was also a start for Will Lancaster, returning having served his one match ban away at Prescot Cables on Tuesday night. Also back in the side was Lewis Butroid, following the birth of his first child, during the week.
Gainsborough made a positive start to proceedings, with Ashley Jackson getting forward down the left hand side and looking to deliver some early balls into the box. Top scorer, Declan Howe was looking lively, and went to ground in the opening six minutes. A tangle of legs, saw the forward grounded. Play allowed to continue. On the other flank, Aaron Simpson got forward on the overlap and just managed to keep the ball in play at the by-line. His cross just unable to pick out a blue shirt. At the other end, Woking’s Lewis Walker responded with the Cardinals first shot at 
goal. His effort not troubling Dylan Wharton in the Gainsborough goal.
Wharton’s goal kick was well helped on by the returning Butroid, but Howe couldn’t open up the visiting defence, before Wharton had to be out smartly out at the feet of Lewis Walker. Howe then gave chase as Simpson played a raking ball over the top, but Will Jaaskelainen was quickly off his line to clear the danger. Butroid then escaped down the left, from another Wharton clearance, winning a corner for the Holy Blues. But it was on 24 minutes, when Woking sliced through the Gainsborough defence and despite the best efforts of Aaron Simpson, former League One forward Aiden O’Brien made the most of a moments hesitation, getting there ahead of both Simpson and Wharton, to open the scoring.
Dylan Wharton was soon in action again, making a fine save to deny Lewis Walker after the scorer O’Brien had shown great skill to bring the ball down, before threading the ball through for his team mate. Wharton making himself big and getting a strong right hand to deny the Woking man. On loan Ipswich central defender, Jacob Mazionis stepped forward for Woking. Striking a ferocious effort just over Wharton’s crossbar from fully thirty yards. Gainsborough were putting bodies on the line, with brave blocks as Woking dominated proceedings after the goal. Wharton again denying Woking a second. Saving from Matt Ward, who shot from the tight angle.
Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 0 Woking FC 1
Woking started the second half like they had finished the first. On top. Almost catching the Holy Blues cold at the start of the second period. Matt Ward causing problems down the Gainsborough left. Wharton had to be out quickly at the feet of Walker, as the former Sheffield United youngster raced decisively from his line.
Yet, just shy of the hour mark, the Cardinals doubled their advantage. A clever dinked ball inside from O’Brien found Harry Beautyman who controlled instantly and slotted between Wharton’s legs, before Walker was sent through on goal again, his shot wide as Wharton narrowed the angle. The visitors had their third, twenty minutes from time, when O’Brien again showed his quality, and with an element of fortune thrown in, found Walker, who turned the ball in, off the post.
Immediately, after conceding the third, Trinity won possession back in midfield, but Howe couldn’t take advantage, to set the Blues on what would have been a four on three counter attack. As substitutions littered the latter stages of proceedings, Declan Howe had his one real chance. Sent clear, Will Jaaskelainen made himself big. Saving with his feet, as Woking preserved their clean sheet, as George Hornshaw’s follow up was also blocked.
Gainsborough Trinity continued to chase, but couldn’t find a consolation. Javelle Clarke twisting and turning, with five minutes of normal time remaining. Sending a stinging effort goalwards from a tight angle out on the left, that saw Woking awarded the goal kick, when it looked like Jaaskelainen had got a telling fingertip touch.
Our thirteen game run in FA Cup and Trophy finally coming to an end in February. A monumental effort from Russ Wilcox’s men. "It’s all about the journey. Today was a disappointing day, against a really good team. They showed that with their quality and physicality. They caused us so many problems, with their movement and rotation, but the bigger picture is, you have to reflect on the run and the togetherness of the group, and how proud the club should be of the team we have put together. Woking were better than us today, but they’re two leagues higher, and credit must go to them."
Woking progress to the Quarter Finals, and we wish our victors well in the rest of the competition. Attention now turns to the league, a seven day break from action, and then the trip to Hyde United. Seventeen cup finals remain for Russ Wilcox’s men, and 51 points up for grabs. What happens next, nobody knows. But join us on the adventure, as part of the growing, Blue Army!
The Teams
Gainsborough Trinity: Dylan Wharton, Aaron Simpson, Ashley Jackson, Bobby Johnson (Danny Devine 72), Will Lancaster, Dylan Cogill, Lewis Butroid (Joe Stacey 78), Jordan Helliwell, Javelle Clarke, Declan Howe, Fraser Preston (George Hornshaw 76). Subs not used: Cody Collins and Bailey Conway
Woking: Jaaskelainen, Chicksen (Jones 81), Mazionis, Odusina, Hinds, Gorman, Ward (Vincent 65), Andrews (Anderson 72) Beautyman (Effiong 65) Walker, O’Brien (Lewis 73). Subs not used: Webber
Man of the Match: Aidan O’Brien (Woking)
Woking Goals: Aidan O'Brien (25), Harry Beautyman (58), Lewis Walker (69)
Attendance: 1,007
Referee: Aaron Bannister
Report by Rob Hughes (AATM_Media)
Images and album by Sean Cook (Foxby Media)