Harrogate edge past Gainsborough to reach third round
Harrogate Town booked their place in the third round of the FA Cup as Dean Cornelius’ second-half header knocked out seventh-tier Gainsborough Trinity.
The Northern Premier League side, the lowest-ranked team in the second round, made a brave fist of trying to continue their cup run, which started in late August and had seen them win through five rounds.
But their dreams of a potential glamour tie against Premier League opposition foundered against the superior quality of the League Two side, with Cornelius' breakthrough on 58 minutes proving to be the difference.
Harrogate, who beat Wrexham in the first round, will now hope only the club's second appearance in round three will bring a money-spinning tie.
It was always going to be a sizeable task for Gainsborough against a side 73 league places above them, and they struggled to keep hold of the ball in a first half which Harrogate dominated.
Although the hosts enjoyed the majority of the chances, and in Stephen Duke-McKenna and Josh March had the game's liveliest pairing, a breakthrough proved elusive as Trinity put their bodies on the line.
Dylan Wharton did more than most to help Gainsborough reach the second round, saving three penalties in a shootout against Hednesford Town. And he produced an excellent save to keep the match level five minutes before half-time, pushing Duke-McKenna's curling effort around his post.
Five minutes after the break, tempers flared when Harrogate midfielder Stephen Dooley sustained a head injury while crashing into a touchline stretcher after a tussle for the ball with Gainsborough captain Dylan Cogill.
A near eight-minute delay ended with Dooley having to be helped from the pitch with a deep cut to his head.
But the pause allowed his team-mates to find their composure - and three minutes later they took the lead.
Gainsborough's players were applauded off after the game
Another sharp break from Duke-McKenna gave March the chance to test Wharton with a stinging shot from the right. With Wharton only parrying the ball, James Daly collected it on the left and crossed for Cornelius to head home from six yards.
Gainsborough threw caution to the wind - and felt aggrieved when they were denied a penalty late on after Sam Folarin brought down Fraser Preston as the pair challenged for the ball.
Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver speaking to BBC Two:
"When you don't get that second goal it is human nature to get a bit anxious when you know the prize at the end of the game is so big. We are overjoyed.
"Yes, we could have run over them in the first half, but it wasn't to be. Still proud of the lads.
"I think they are a good team and have surprised a lot of people in what has been a phenomenal FA Cup run and you could see they thought at 1-0: 'We are still in this.'
"There was no denying that we got a bit nervous in the last 15 minutes but we were pleased to hear the final whistle.
"Stephen Dooley, he is OK, has had a bang to the head and will need a few stitches, but it is not a concussion, which is great, and hopefully we will have him back with us soon."
Gainsborough Trinity boss Russ Wilcox speaking to BBC Two:
“Lots of emotion. I must say, firstly, our fans were absolutely magnificent tonight. Unbelievable. We need that support every week now - in the [FA] Trophy game and the league too.
“On the game, we struggled first half. They were very dominant. They're three leagues above, so they should be. We found it difficult. We looked at changing shape but couldn't really.
“There was always going to be an overload for them, so we were delighted to get in 0-0 at half-time.
“I thought second half we had a right go at it. We went to a front two later in the game and created half-chances. I think it's a penalty on Fraser [Preston] as well, but we didn't get that.
“But on the day, they're worthy winners to a degree. We have to hold our hands up to that. We fought to the end, right to the last minute.”
