Trinity beat Wrexham but exit Trophy on aggregate

Gainsborough Trinity v Wrexham. FA Trophy semi-final 2nd leg. End of the game and Trinity are out of the competition G130223-2q

TRINITY may have missed out on a trip to Wembley but they can take solace from a hugely impressive win against the Blue Square Premier leaders Wrexham in the second leg of their FA Trophy semi-final.

Needing a two-goal swing, the Blues always knew it was going to be a hard task to reach the national stadium but a 2-1 win at the Northolme bodes well for the rest of the season

Steve Housham’s men now have real belief as they seek to join the top level of the non-league pyramid, as they ended Wrexham’s 13-game unbeaten run.

The visitors prevailed with an aggregate score of 4-3 and will now meet Grimsby Town in the final.

Gainsborough Trinity v Wrexham. FA Trophy semi-final 2nd leg. Fans celebrate afterTerry Hawkridge scores Trinity's first goal G130223-1p

Trinity pushed the Welsh side all the way but went a goal down early on after Danny Wright increased his tally for the season with a vicious left-foot shot which curled into the net of Jan Budtz.

At 4-1 down the signs were ominous for the Blues but they hit back shortly after.

Jamie Yates knocked down for Terry Hawkridge to thunder the ball home, with the aid of a post.

Gainsborough stepped up the pressure but couldn’t find an extra goal before the break.

Paul Connor, Bradley Barraclough and Darryn Stamp all went close to grabbing a second but all were denied by dogged defending and expert goalkeeping from Chris Maxwell in the Wrexham goal.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, skipper Michael Leary pulled another goal back for Housham’s men when his effort took a deflection to outsmart Maxwell.

The stage was now set for a grandstand finish but even with seven minutes of injury time, Trinity could not break through to force extra-time.

Trinity: Budtz; Roma, Waterfall (Young, 63), Hone, Wilde; Russell, Leary; Yates (Connor 71), Hawkridge, Nelthorpe (Barraclough 45); Stamp.

Subs not used: Clarke, Thompson.

Wrexham: Maxwell; S Wright, Westwood, Riley, Ashton; Keates (cpt), Harris, Clarke; D Wright, Morrell (Ormerod 76), Hunt (Cieslewicz 81).

Subs not used: Coughlin, Little, Walker.

Attendance: 2,037.

Ref: D. Bond (Lancs).

Bookings: Stamp (36), Leary (45), D. Wright (65), Morrell (68), Roma (90).