There were fireworks in the sky, but Gainsborough Trinity couldn’t quite turn them into ones of celebration as they were eliminated from the FA Cup by League Two side Accrington Stanley.
The Holy Blues fell behind 25 minutes in as Paddy Madden turned the ball home despite question marks around whether he was onside.
However, Sisa Tuntulwana made an almost sold-out KAL Group stadium erupt to send the game to extra time, where the visitors eventually claimed the victory.
Gainsborough Trinity were looking to build on last week’s progression in the FA Trophy as Russ Wilcox named an unchanged side from the one that found victory over Redditch United.
Trinity contain the visitors well
The first clear-cut chance fell the way of Lewis Butroid after the visitors failed to clear away an Ash Jackson long throw, but the winger’s shot was well blocked out for a corner.
That was the only chance of an opening 25 minutes where Trinity contained the Football League side well however the solid defence was eventually breached as Accrington top goal scorer Paddy Madden broke the deadlock.
The ball was crossed in from the right where Madden was waiting to turn the ball the home from inside the six-yard box.
The visitors came close to doubling their lead just over ten minutes later as wing-back Isaac Heath looked to turn inside the penalty area but could only drag his shot wide of the post.
That was the last chance of a half that lacked excitement in which Trinity more then competed with the side three divisions higher than them.
Better side after the break
Russ Wilcox looked to address a lack of physicality in the Trinity frontline at half time as Frank Mulhern replaced Fraser Preston in the number ten position.
It was almost an instant impact as Trinity changed to a front two when Mulhern looked to flick the ball home at the near post following a free kick by the left corner flag.
It was a more eventful start after the break as goalscorer Madden, drove into the penalty area and cut back on his right foot but David Robson gathered comfortably.
A more direct Trinity side threatened again two minutes later as Mulhern had his second attempt of the game, having a header well blocked when Butroid crossed from the left.
Mulhern then came close once again from the resulting corner as the ball fell to him on the edge of the penalty area, but his half volley fell wide of the left post.
The visitors then struck the post on 56 minutes as Shaun Walley cut inside from the left and delicately bent his shot towards the base of the far post.
However, he could only find the woodwork before the ball narrowly bounced the wrong side of and out for a goal kick.
Trinity continued to battle in the next 15 minutes but failed to create any clear-cut chances before substitute Sisa Tuntulwana headed home the equaliser with 15 minutes to go.
Lewis Butroid crossed a free kick in from the left and the Trinity versatility man got there ahead of Stanley goalkeeper Oliver Wright to head the ball into the empty net from the penalty spot.
Stanley looked to bounce back quickly through Shaun Whalley who had a powerful free-kick well saved by Robson low to his right.
The travelling side slowly came back into the game going into the five minutes of injury time but failed to threaten from a succession of five corners as the two sides couldn’t be split after 90 minutes.
Heartbreak for Trinity
Five minutes after the restart the visitors retook the lead as Charlie Caton turned home a low Paddy Madden cross into the far bottom left corner.
Stanley then came close twice in the final stages of the first half of extra time as Robson was forced to come out quickly twice when Trinity became increasingly exposed.
The visitors then came forward again just three minutes into the second half as a deflected Heath shot fell into the path of Madden inside the six yard box but he skied his effort.
Trinity then had their best chance to equalise as Will Lancaster did well down the right to get into the penalty before he found substitute Jacob McLoughlin but he could only fire over.
Two minutes later, Tuntulwana almost capitalised on a defensive mishap as Benn Ward failed to head a looping ball clear and Wright failed to collect. However, the Trinity goal scorer couldn’t quite get to the ball first to turn it into the empty net.
Trinity narrowly crashed out of the FA Cup in the first round despite almost taking a side 56 places higher in the football pyramid all the way to penalties.
The Holy Blues now turn their focus back to the league as they welcome Rushall Olympic next Saturday, November 8.