Gainsborough Trinity ended their FA Trophy campaign, losing to National League side Woking at the round of 16 stage.
The Holy Blues went into their fifth FA Trophy tie having won just one of their last six games in all competitions, the single win coming in a 3-2 away league game against Stockton Town.
The home side had failed to keep a clean sheet in any of these previous six games.
Their opponents, Woking, went into the games unbeaten in their last eight games, winning four and drawing four. They occupy 17th position in the National League and beat Radcliffe 4-0 in the fourth round of the FA Trophy to reach this stage of the competition.
Four changes were made by Russ Wilcox as Bobby Johnson, Will Lancaster, Lewis Butroid and Fraser Preston all came into the team from the side that lost 2-0 to Preston Cables.
First time in 12 years for Gainsborough Trinity:
It was a slow opening ten minutes, with both teams having their fair share of possession but failed to generate any real goalscoring opportunity.
The only real chance came on the ten minute mark when Woking’s Matt Ward was played in one on one, however Dylan Wharton was quick off his line and successful in his efforts to swoop up the ball.
The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute by Aiden O’Brien for Woking as the number nine slipped in behind the defenders and delicately slotted it under Wharton.
It was nearly two for the visitors just minutes after the first, clever play in the build up presented a golden opportunity for Lewis Walker. He attempted to bend it into the far corner, but was denied excellently by Wharton.
Woking began taking full control of the game after the goal, Tariq Hinds with some great work down the right hand side as he delivered a great cross into the danger area.
Butroid put his body on the line to deny the first effort and the next from Jamie Andrews flew far over.
Woking show their quality:
It was Woking who came out the second half strongest, Ward dribbled forward with pace and entered the home side’s box, his shot was blocked. It fell kindly to Hinds on the right-hand side whose powerful low strike was again blocked by Lancaster.
The Holy Blues had a chance of their own shortly after, captain Dylan Cogill tried his luck from distance, but his effort was directed straight at the keeper and comfortably caught.
Harry Beautyman doubled Wokings advantage just short of the hour mark after a great move from the visitors. O’Brein, scorer of the first goal, played a great through ball into the winger who calmly shot between the legs of Wharton and into the net for 2-0. It was a deserved goal as Woking had been superior for the whole of the second half.
Gainsborough almost found a route back into the game as a long ball went over the head of Timi Odusina who was the last defender back for Woking,
Declan Howe looked to take full advantage as he chased the loose ball and if had he got on the end of it, he likely would have scored. Fortunately for the away side, Will Jaaskelainen was quick off his line and smashed the ball clear.
The game was put out of the home side’s reach on the 70th minute after a great lofted ball met O’Brien at the far post. He struck it on the volley and the ball travelled right across goal, Walker got a fortunate touch and it trickled in off the post for three.
Dennon Lewis almost made it four with just over five minutes to go, he made a great run in behind and met the lofted ball directed towards him. With one touch he passed the ‘keeper, flicking it over Whartons head but ultimately the ball had too much in it as it ran out of play.
It was a disappointing end to an otherwise impressive cup run for Gainsborough, but all focus will now go towards the league as they next face Hyde United on February, 8.