Preview: Harrogate Town vs. Gainsborough Trinity – prediction, team news, lineups

Harrogate Town and Gainsborough Trinity square off on Friday evening looking to earn a place in the FA Cup third round.

Both teams attracted headlines in the previous stage, Harrogate upsetting Wrexham a day after seventh-tier Gainsborough were involved in the tie of the round against Hednesford Town.

Match preview

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All eyes will be on Gainsborough Trinity on Friday evening as the Northern Premier League side attempt to end a 137-year wait to reach the third round.

They deserve their time in the mainstream media after they pulled off one of the competition’s great comebacks in the early rounds, defying a 3-0 deficit after 49 minutes against Hednesford to eventually prevail 5-4 in a penalty shootout after trailing 3-1 from 12 yards.

That 4-4 draw after extra time at Keys Park is the only time that Trinity have failed to win over normal time in six matches, a 1-0 triumph over National League North side Chester FC in the FA Trophy on November 16 another standout result.

You have to go back to the 2-0 defeat to league leaders Macclesfield Town on September 24 for the last time that Russ Wilcox‘s side lost in any competition.

Although Gainsborough only sit outside of the Northern Premier League relegation zone on goal difference, they have at least five games in hand on the majority of the teams above them.

As for Harrogate, they have found some form of their own aided by their shock success at home to League One giants Wrexham in the previous round.

The Yorkshire outfit defied a three-game winless streak to topple the Hollywood-backed Welsh side by a 1-0 scoreline to move one game away from a potential date with a Premier League side.

Simon Weaver‘s side find themselves down in 17th position in the League Two table, yet they have recorded successive wins over Chesterfield and Gillingham respectively.

None of Harrogate’s last eight league matches have featured more than three goals, whereas the only time that Gainsborough have failed to score at least two goals in their most recent nine fixtures was the aforementioned triumph over Chester.

Harrogate Town FA Cup form:

Harrogate Town form (all competitions):

Gainsborough Trinity FA Cup form:

Team News

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Barring any fresh injury issues, Weaver may find no reason to tinker with his Harrogate XI.

No substitutions were made until the 85th-minute mark at the Priestfield Stadium, suggesting that familiarity could be preferred here as the club attempt to secure a big payday in the next round.

Ellis Taylor, George Thomson, Liam Gibson and Matty Daly are all expected to remain on the sidelines.

Having not played since November 16 due to two postponements, Gainsborough could line up with the same side from the win over Chester.

Sisa Tuntulwana is likely to keep his place at right-back having replaced former Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Aaron Simpson for that fixture.

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Sims, O’Connor, Moon, Asare; Duke-McKenna, Cornelius, Dooley, Daly; Muldoon, March

Gainsborough Trinity possible starting lineup:
Wharton; Tuntulwana, Jackson, Johnson, Cogill, Lancaster, Stacey, Helliwell, Clarke, Howe, Preston

We say: Harrogate Town 2-1 Gainsborough Trinity

With both teams currently on a high, we anticipate a competitive encounter. Gainsborough will back themselves to continue their heroics in this competition, yet the extra quality and resoluteness in the Harrogate ranks may prove pivotal.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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