Micky Mellon: Patience paid off for Town
Manager Micky Mellon admitted patience paid off in their FA Cup second round after coming through a potentially tricky tie at Gainsborough Trinity.
James Collins's 70th minute left-foot drive was the only goal of the game and gave Town some welcome respite, after seven defeats in their previous 10 games.
Marc Newsham headed against the post for Trinity just before half-time, after Nathan Jarman fired over.
But Town controlled most of the game and Junior Brown and Jordan Clark wasted chances.
Collins was denied a penalty when he appeared to be pushed over by veteran keeper Jan Budz, all in the first period.
After the break, Collins drilled just wide but the tie was heading for a replay before the 24-year-old struck decisively with 20 minutes left.
Mellon said: "We're happy to be in the hat for the next round, because it's never easy to play in these conditions. It was a good move for the goal
"We were shouting on at them to be patient because Gainsborough were getting an awful lot of men behind the ball and they were very well organised, so credit to their manager.
"We didn't want to get frustrated and lose our composure, so to see quite a long move with a good finish like that was quite pleasing."
Mellon admitted his side should have defended better for the chance when Newsham hit the post.
The Town boss added: "When they hit the post we had a couple of bodies around about the lad who crossed it in and we had to do better there to stop the cross.
"These are things that we're saying now to the players that we can't accept. We need to get out to the ball quickly but even before that, anticipate it going out there and get there to stop the cross.
"Fortunately for us, we didn't get punished just before half-time. There were 70 places and three leagues between the teams and Mellon relished the occasion.
"I think you've got to give an awful lot of credit to Gainsborough and the people who put on the game.
"I thought it was a well-organised spectacle for the fans and it was a typical FA Cup first round day.
"I wanted to make sure we respected everything about the tie and enjoyed it, I really do enjoy the challenge of going to places like that.
"I want my team to be adaptable and operate in these conditions because it's good to try to move the team forward and good for me as a manager.
"We did everything possible to make sure we were in the draw for the second round. t's important for the club and the fans to have that excitement."