Gainsborough Trinity continue incredible FA Cup exploits under Russ Wilcox

By Matt Badcock

Gainsborough Trinity are up to their old FA Cup tricks again – and boss Russ Wilcox hailed his side’s spirit as they dumped out Hartlepool United.

The Holy Blues suffered late heartbreak last Saturday when National League Pools grabbed a late leveller to take the fourth round qualifying tie to a replay.

But NPL Premier Trinity made sure of their first round proper place with a fantastic 3-1 victory at Pools’ Victoria Park.

Defender Sisa Tuntulwana – playing as a makeshift No. 9 with Jonny Margetts out injured – opened the scoring and Fraser Preston hit a double either side of half-time before Hartlepool, who had sacked Simon Grayson over the weekend, grabbed a late consolation.

No fear

It had all the hallmarks of last season’s upset of National League Boston United in a replay at the same qualifying stage.

It also takes their recent record to one defeat in their last 12 FA Cup games – and that was in round two last season to Harrogate Town.

This year they will host Accrington Stanley in the first round and Wilcox couldn’t be prouder of his team.

“Boston scored with five seconds to go last year to equalise, and you do feel like you’ve lost that opportunity – this was a bit similar because we were the better team on Saturday,” Wilcox told The NLP.

“But we said to the lads, ‘No fear. We were the better team Saturday, why can’t we be the better team on Tuesday?’

“Hartlepool had obviously changed the manager and they came out of the traps.

“The first ten minutes, we had to weather the storm, but we defended really well and grew into the game.

UP AND AT ‘EM!: Sisa Tuntulwana jumps for joy after scoring Gainsborough Trinity’s first goal against Hartlepool United
PICTURE: Gainsborough Trinity/Tommy Cox

Topsy-turvy

“Sisa set us on our way. We went in without Jonny Margetts and Aaron Simpson, so we were two bodies down. We spoke as a staff about Sisa in pre-season, that he’s got all the tools to play up there if needed – he did a great job.

“With the way they (Hartlepool) are at the moment, changing manager, the unrest, we knew if we got that first goal the atmosphere would change. And it did. We played on that.

“Fraser Preston scored an unbelievable goal before the break but then you’ve got to be careful with your half-time team-talk.

“I said to the lads, ‘I am going to say all the right things, but that has to be followed by actions’.

“They went out and scored the third after two minutes – it was the perfect tonic. You still worry at 3-0 but we managed that period really well and deserved the win.”

Last season’s FA Cup run took Gainsborough to Hednesford Town in the first round where they shared a topsy-turvy 4-4 draw before Wilcox’s side prevailed 5-4 in an epic penalty shoot-out.

Harrogate in round two was also away, and that’s why the former Scunthorpe United boss is pleased to be on home soil when they take on Accrington.

Gainsborough boss Russ Wilcox celebrates his sides’ progression

Confident

“It’s brilliant,” Wilcox said. “The supporters at Hartlepool were brilliant. They got right behind us.

“Getting a home tie is great for the community and hopefully we can get a few thousand. It will be great for everyone associated with the club.

“The fans, players, the board, my staff – who have been tremendous – all our hard work is getting rewarded.”

And it will be the same no fear message when the League Two side come to town.

“We’re a good old side,” Wilcox said. “We’re confident with our ability. I think results have shown that.

“We’ve got 19 points in ten league games, our cup form is as good as it’s ever been. So we’ve got absolutely nothing to lose. We can play with freedom.”

We said to the lads, ‘No fear. We were the better team on Saturday, why can’t we be the better team on Tuesday?’