FA Vase glory still beckons for Tadcaster Albion who won a five-goal battle of the roses thriller.
The Northern Counties East League premier division outfit travelled west and teased out hosts Formby 3-2 in the third round tie to keep alive their hopes and sustain the dream of manager Paul Marshall, whose stated aim this term was to revel in a lengthy run in the Vase.
Declared Marshall: “We did not play too well, but we just don’t lack in team spirit or commitment and that will always help your cause.
“We do want a good run in the Vase and now we are in the last 32 of the competition, which started with 539 teams in the whole country. That can’t be bad.”
It was a bad start for Albion when they yielded a penalty in the seventh minute, but soon after Steven Jeff advanced from left-back on a powerful run before lobbing the home goalkeeper from 30 yards.
Stuart Rice put the visitors ahead early in the second half finishing a Tom Wollard pass only for Formby to level through Victor Martindale in the 74th minute to suggest a replay was on the cards.
But with five minutes to go Matty Howgate’s cross was met by a diving header from leading marksman Graeme Whitehead to seal a fourth round slot.
But while there was knockout joy for Albion, it was exit time for Harrogate Town.
Like York City, Town were unable to make home advantage count in the FA Trophy as they crashed out 3-0 to fellow Blue Square North rivals AFC Telford.
The first round tie was almost entirely the preserve of Telford striker Adam Proudlock. The former Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday hit-man marked his signing of a new deal with the Bucks with a hat-trick.
There was some solace in Harrogate, where Railway got the better of EvoStik division one north visitors Trafford 3-2.
Former York City man Jon Maloney opened the scoring with his eighth strike of the season in the 13th minute.
Three minutes later Trafford levelled before Andrew Jackson restored the lead within another three minutes.
The goal spree evaporated away until a second Trafford leveller four minutes before half-time.
Within a minute of the re-start Railway regained the lead for a third time when Michael Duckworth struck and this time the hosts held out for three valuable points.
Pickering Town’s NCEL top-flight game at home to Long Eaton United was iced off as was Scarborough’s Vase tie against visitors Spennymoor Town.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here