Gainsborough Trinity manager Russ Wilcox has said that there are lessons that his side have learnt from both this year’s progress to the FA Cup first round and last year’s run to the second.
The Holy Blues were narrowly eliminated from the Emirates FA Cup in the first-round last night as they lost out 2-1 to SkyBet League Two side Accrington Stanley.
Paddy Madden put the visitors ahead 25 minutes in as he tapped home a cross from the right before Sisa Tuntalwana sent the game to extra time with his second half equaliser.
He headed home what Wilcox described as a “brilliant” cross from the left, however it wasn’t to be for the Holy Blues as Charlie Caton turned home the winner in Extra-Time.
Speaking on the game, Wilcox said: “The performance was really good, the fans were good, and it’s been another special night for us.
“This was our 13th FA Cup game in two years, and we’ve only lost two of them against two League Two teams, so it hasn’t been a bad run.
“I’m just really proud of the group, to play so many cup games without winning a trophy tells you everything about this group. We played 56 games last season and left everything out there like we did tonight.”
“Hopefully we can push on now and get that promotion”- Russ Wilcox, Gainsborough Trinity manager
Frank Mulhern came on at half time and got straight into the action with three quick fire chances, a decision that Wilcox himself described as brave.
He said: “I’m a better manager now than I’ve ever been because you become braver as you get older. We had to go two up top because you could see their centre halves stepping out.
“That’s what was causing us problems so unfortunately we had to sacrifice Fraser (Preston) and go 3-5-2 so we could be a bit more direct.”
That direct approach worked in the second half for the Holy Blues as they looked the better side and deservedly found that equaliser and Wilcox said: “There were chances.
“George Hornshaw had a chance at the end that has flashed past three or four of our players and it needed a little toe to send it to penalties; it just wasn’t to be.”
The game attracted a crowd of 2,612 fans to the KAL Group Stadium and the former Doncaster Rovers defender described the “great” moment that he walked out for the first time.
He said: “Hopefully we can bring some of them back for the league games and the Trophy game against Alfreton, we’re a hard-working group that’s got some quality as well.
“I don’t think you can ask for much more as a supporter. The lads gave everything; they were fully committed and hopefully now we can build on and off the pitch.”