Lewis Butroid was restored to the starting line up, as he stepped up his return from injury. He replaced Sisa Tuntulwana in the one personnel change for Russ Wilcox’s Holy Blues. Josh Ayres was named amongst the substitutes, as he waited for his opportunity from the bench. Young Mansfield Town loanee Jakub Kruszynski was also amongst the options for Trinity.

The Holy Blues started on the front foot and were gifted an early opportunity to take the lead from the spot inside three minutes after Jonny Margetts was felled by Andy Wycherley.The Blues seeming reluctant to shoot, as the ball was passed across the face of goal, before it eventually found it's way to Margetts. As Jonny took a touch, he drew the contact from Wycherley, who was committed. Taking out the Gainsborough number nine. And presenting him with a great opportunity to set the hosts on their way. However, the Shifnal stopper made amends, diving low to his right to deny Margetts' penalty and keep the scores level.

Undeterred, Trinity continued to pile on the pressure. Margetts was again presented with an excellent opportunity to open the scoring on seven minutes. A beautifully weighted ball from Fraser Preston found Margetts & with Wycherley in two minds - Jonny's lofted finish ended half a yard too high. Preston was looking to pull the strings - as he again freed Margetts. This time Wycherley was quick off his line, but his clearance cannoned off Margetts. applying the pressure. The ball spinning kindly for the visitors.

Lewis Butroid then escaped down the left, but as he tried to pick out a blue shirt in the centre, the ball was well cut out at the near post. The combination of Preston and Margetts again worked effectively to free Aaron Simpson away down the right, but the full back couldn't deliver on the run, before Ashley Jackson took his turn to get forward on the opposite flank. The visitors' goalkeeper, who had been the far busier of the two men between the sticks, reading the ball well to smother the danger.

Bobby Johnson the burst forward to good effect. But opted to pass, when a chance to pull the trigger was seemingly on. The greasy surface from the rain that had arrived over the Northolme ten minutes before kick off, a potential friend of the swashbuckling Blues as they poured forward at every opportunity. All this before the quarter hour, when Jackson came in off the left, switching on to his weaker foot - and firing an effort goal-bound. Only to see his attempt crash off team mate Butroid,

A woeful backpass, with the visiting defence at sixes and sevens, saw Josh Green present Margetts with a glorious chance. The striker couldn't believe his luck, as with just the 'keeper to beat - his effort - almost in slow-motion struck the inside of the post and stayed out. Bouncing back into the hands of the grateful goalkeeper, to the relief of Green.

Finally, on twenty minutes, the Holy Blues had the breakthrough. And it came through Lewis Butroid. Jordan Helliwell getting forward down the right hand side, was able to sweep a pass into the feet of the Gainsborough bred number seven - and he made no mistake as his low effort was neatly tucked inside the far post. The ball kissing the upright, on it's way to nestling in the back of the net. The goal was coming - the chances had certainly been racking up. But the Holy Blues finally had the goal their play had deserved.

Preston then flashed an effort wide of the post, after Will Lancaster had stepped out from the back. Slipping a pass out to Fraser, Lancaster continued his run into the box - but Preston fizzed his effort wide of the far post. Russ Wilcox's men were continuing to set the tempo. Johnson, with surgeon like precision, sliced open the Shifnal defence. Finding Javelle Clarke on the right. As he entered the right-hand apex of the box, the exciting Gainsborough forward unselfishly squared for Margetts. Perhaps not expecting the pass, perhaps taken by surprise, the usually clinical Margetts could only find the frame of Wycherley - again in his way - denying him a goal.

A quick Jordan Helliwell throw in, lead to Trinity's second. Margetts making no mistake this time, as he expertly slotted home underneath Wycherley to give the Holy Blues a two goal cushion. Preston and Jackson again involved before the telling assist from Helliwell unlocked the visiting defence.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 2 Shifnal Town 0

The second half saw a rejuvenated Shifnal come out swinging. Strong words from the visiting management at half time, and a degree of re-organisation, saw Shifnal more 'at it'. And less than five minutes into the second period, Josh Green had Town's first meaningful attempt on David Robson's goal.

A rasping ball from right to left, from skipper Bobby Johnson released Ashley Jackson, down the Carlilse Street Stand side. Collecting the ball on the run, Jacko shot early, but his ambitious outside of the left foot attempt whistled just over Wycherley's crossbar!

Just before the hour mark, Clarke showed his excellent close control on the edge of the box. Riding the challenge, he did well to shift the ball out of his feet and to his right and the supporting Margetts - but his hurried finish ended the wrong side of the post. Preston again fed a beautifully weighted ball forwards. This time, collected by Helliwell, the former Barnsley man didn't have to check his stride - but a well-timed recovery challenge meant the best the Blues could hope for - was a corner kick.

Though Trinity weren't adding to the scoresheet, some of the football the Holy Blues were producing was a joy to behold. Just past the hour mark, Preston & Margetts combined. And Clarke looked to guide a smart, side-foot finish low towards the bottom right hand corner, but Wycherley got down well, to turn Javelle's effort behind for another corner.

Jack Loughean dragged the visitors back into the contest on 66 minutes. Out of nothing, he gave Robson no chance, curling home from a good 25 yards out. The Blues responded to their two-goal lead being reduced, when Butroid looked to deliver from the Gainsborough left. When his cross was blocked, it fell kindly for Jackson, but his daisy-cutter was straight at Wycherley.

On 71, just five minutes after getting themselves back into the game, Loughean had his and Shifnal's second of the game. Afforded too much time and space around the edge of the Trinity box, the Shrewsbury loanee made no mistake - dragging the Shropshire-based side back on terms. The visitors should have been dead and buried, but the side, only recently promoted to Step 4. found themselves back on an even keel.

The two-goal five-minute salvo sparked a double change by the boss. Margetts and Preston being replaced by Jacob McLoughlin and Josh Ayres (the later coming on for his home debut). But, it was the other substitute Sisa Tuntulwana, who was soon involved on the front foot. He teased a tantalising ball across the face of Shifnal's goal. But Jordan Helliwell was inches away from adding to his two assists, with a goal.

Just when it looked like the tie might swing away from Trinity, substitute Jakub Kruszynski replaced Butroid. On the other flank, Tuntulwana picked out Ayres, who had made his run across the near post. His bullet header crashing the wrong side of the upright.

As both sides looked for a winner. Kruszynski did brilliantly out on the left, spinning away from Green’s challenge. And showing a devastating turn of pace, before releasing Ayres. The big, on loan Rotherham United centre forward forcing the block from Wycherley, and the ball falling kindly for Jakub – who had continued his run – to force the ball over the line. Restoring the Gainsborough advantage. And swerving the need for a nerve jangling penalty shootout.

The final moments were frantic. Shifnal forced a series of corners deep into added time, but the Trinity backline – with Hornshaw and Clarke defending resolutely – stood firm. And a potential last-gasp chance, for the visitors, was thwarted when the Referee spotted a push at the near post, awarding Trinity a free-kick, as they looked to defend a late long throw.

In the end, Wilcox’s men did just about enough to book their place in the hat. It was a game that should have been much more comfortable than it was in the end… but the Holy Blues had played some exciting football. Had created some great opportunities – and put the ball in the back of the net three times. Once more than their opponents, so ultimately. It’s job done. The name, Gainsborough Trinity, will be in the hat for Monday’s draw – and that’s the main thing, when playing in the cup, or trophy!

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Aaron Simpson (Sisa Tuntulwana 65) Ashley Jackson, Bobby Johnson, Will Lancaster, Harrison Beeden, Lewis Butroid (Jakub Kruszynski 78) Jordan Helliwell (George Hornshaw 87) Jonny Margetts (Josh Ayres 72) Javelle Clarke, Fraser Preston (Jacob McLoughlin 73)
Gainsborough goals: Lewis Butroid 20’, Jonny Margetts 35’ Jakub Kruszynski 85’

Attendance:417

Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images & Album by Sean Cook (@FoxbyMedia)