Lincoln City’s magical Emirates FA Cup run thrust them into the national limelight and despite Saturday’s sixth round exit, York City boss Gary Mills is not anticipating any hangover in the Buildbase FA Trophy.
While the Imps were under the spotlight at Arsenal’s 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium, Mills’ Minstermen warmed up for their FA Trophy semi-final showdown with a 2-2 draw at Sutton United.
York’s lowly position of 22nd in the National League table belies their form however, with the side battling relegation having lost just twice in their last 16 games in all competitions.
When York and Lincoln locked horns at the end of February they played out a 1-1 draw, with Alan Power cancelling out Jon Parkin’s early goal for York.
And Mills is adamant while Lincoln’s FA Cup fairytale is over, their bubble will not burst.
“I don’t expect that from them at all,” he said.
“Lincoln have proved all season whatever competition they are playing in they are up for the next game.
“We need to prepare ourselves well, and we fought back in the 95th minute on Saturday to draw, which will give us a boost again. We’re on a good run and picking up results, and we want to keep doing that.
“We’ve got a lot of different players in since Christmas, and the simple fact is you can’t win games if you don’t have the players to do it.
“We’ve now got a group of players that are experienced and can make life difficult for our opposition, so that’s been the main difference in putting this run together.”
Mills, 55, is in his second spell in charge at Bootham Crescent and guided the Minstermen to their only FA Trophy triumph to date back in 2012.
They beat Newport County in the Wembley showpiece final that day, and Mills admits the club is desperate to return to that stage again.
He added: “Without doubt, whatever competition it is, the chance to go to Wembley is a fantastic opportunity and now we are in the semi-final it’s not the time to bow out.
“It’s about getting over this final hurdle. We had Luton Town in the semi-final last time I was here and that was a tough draw for us, but we came through it.”
FA Trophy history
This has been an historic campaign for Lincoln, with their runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy being their best ever – this is the first time they have reached the semi-finals of the latter competition in seven attempts.
York, champions in the 2011-12 season, have been in this position three times before and made it to Wembley twice.
They lost out in the 2008-09 final to Stevenage before lifting the trophy three years later.
Did you know?
York are nicknamed ‘the Minstermen’ after York Minster – the cathedral in York which is the largest of its kind in Northern Europe.
One to watch
Veteran stiker Jon Parkin knows exactly what it takes to cut the mustard at the highest level, and the former Hull, Stoke, Preston and Cardiff man has made a big impact since his move from Newport County earlier this season.
The 35-year-old has struck three goals in his last league three matches as well as the winner in York’s FA Trophy quarter-final triumph over Brackley Town.
The prize
A cheque for £16,000 is on offer for the winners of the two-leg semi-final, as well as a place at Non-League Finals Day on Sunday 21 May 2017.
