Scott Fenwick’s extra-time penalty ensured that York City edged out National League leaders Lincoln City with a 1-1 second-leg draw to book a Buildbase FA Trophy final date with Macclesfield at Wembley.
Sean Raggett – who scored the winner in Lincoln’s stunning Emirates FA Cup victory over Burnley had pulled the Imps level on aggregate with a 65th-minute goal following Josh Ginnelly’s corner.
The Imps knew they would have to come from behind after surrendering a 1-0 lead in the first-leg at Bootham Crescent, eventually going down 2-1 to York – who are 22nd in the National League.
Vadaine Oliver and Aidan Connolly provided the goals for the Minstermen that day, but after Raggett had put the National League leaders ahead on the day – and with no away goals rule in the FA Trophy – York had to wait until the 105th minute before Fenwick could send them to Wembley with a 3-2 aggregate win.
Paul Farman guessed correctly as Fenwick lined up the penalty, but the York City forward placed the ball expertly into the bottom corner to leave him with no chance.
Macclesfield ensured their spot in the Wembley showpiece with a 1-0 win, 2-1 on aggregate, over Tranmere Rovers thanks to Oliver Norburn’s second-half strike at Prenton Park.
Tranmere had held Macclesfield to a 1-1 draw at Moss Rose thanks to a Jeff Hughes penalty and some bright play from Adam Mekki and James Norwood forced a good same from Scott Flinders in the first period, but the two sides were still scoreless at the break.
It was the visitors though who struck first in the second period, Norburn driving home into the top corner in the 68th-minute to put Macclesfield in the box seat for a trip to Wembley.
Mekki pulled a chance across the face of goal in the 77th minute while George Pilkington hit the woodwork for Macclesfield, but it was the Silkmen who ultimately triumphed at Prenton Park.
