City’s twelve game unbeaten run came to an end as Hucknall progressed to the last eight of the FA Trophy courtesy of a solitary strike from substitute Nathan Winder early in the second half.

With Glen Fuff’s comeback from injury lasting only 20 minutes on Tuesday evening and Brady Stone cup-tied, Gary Roberts moved Lee Chaffey inside to partner Matt Langston at the centre of defence with Lee Summerscales slotting in at left back in an otherwise unchanged starting line-up.

Last season’s Unibond League champions Hucknall are currently well placed to challenge for a play-off place in Conference North with games in hand on their promotion rivals. Like City they boast an impressive away record and have not lost on their travels since the first week of December. Player-manager, and former Cambridge United player Dean Barrick had the luxury of naming an unchanged side from their most recent league outing which saw them come from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Moor Green courtesy of a David Foy own goal.

After a closely contested opening period the game sprung to life on eight minutes when City spurned a good chance to gain an early advantage. Richard Scott picked up possession for the home side and his astute through ball found Matt Robinson who peeled off the shoulder of the last defender and sped clear through the inside right channel but his shot across Greg Smith lacked the power and accuracy to beat the ‘keeper who was down smartly to his right. As the Lilywhites maintained the pressure Josh Simpson played in Scott but his shot from distance was wide of the target.

The visitors hit back in the shape of Andy Todd whose strong run down the left took him past Craig Pope before centring low for Danny Bacon but the former Mansfield striker skied horribly when well placed to work Duncan Roberts.

Richard Scott then won a challenge in centre field and released Josh Simpson who laid the ball wide to Robinson who cut into the area from the right but with Dave Sadler free on the edge of the six yard box the former Ipswich youngster chose to shoot, disappointingly as it turned out, straight at Smith.

More good use of the wide areas, this time the right flank saw the visitors carve out another good opportunity on the half hour mark, Mark Smith’s rounded off a penetrating run with an accurate ball into the feet of Todd, but like Bacon before him, the former Nottingham Forest midfielder was unable to make a clean connection.

Todd then orchestrated another attack down the visitors’ left which saw the ball played inside to Bacon on the edge of the area but a strong Craig Pope challenge forced the striker to fire wide.

Again turning in a sound display at right back, Pope then combined with Carl Williams to create room for Robinson on the right of the area but on afternoon when the fans’ favourite was unable to apply the finish to match his effort and hard work he flashed a cross-cum-shot across the face of goal.

As play switched from end to end Mark Smith profited from tricky playing surface as his mazy run took him half the length of the pitch and as he turned inside on the edge of the box both Lee Chaffey and Matt Langston were wrong-footed and unable to turn, but fortunately for the hosts Duncan Roberts was alert to the situation and raced from his line to smother.

Prompted by the measured passing of Richard Scott City finished the half strongly but were unable to put Greg Smith’s goal under significant pressure.

Dean Barrick made a change at the interval, midfielder Steve Palmer was withdrawn, Roy Hunter pushed forward and Nathan Winder introduced into the centre of defence.

It turned out to be an inspired move as within five minutes of his arrival the Loughborough University student had netted the decisive goal. Roy Hunter’s left wing corner was cleared out to the Hucknall right, but with the central defenders still forward Alistair Asher launched the ball back into the box, centre forward Gary Ricketts brought the ball down superbly for Winder who turned and flashed an unstoppable close range drive wide of Duncan Roberts outstretched right hand.

Surging forward in search of an immediate leveller City forced a corner which Richard Scott swung in from the left, the ball sat up perfectly for Josh Simpson who sent a dipping drive inches over the bar. Smith then scuffed the resultant goal kick straight back to Robinson whose initial burst was held up by Chris Timons which allowed Smith to drop gratefully on the resultant centre with Dave Sadler closing in.

Robinson was at the heart of the City fight back and showing good close control he weaved his way down the left before finding Dale Binns who rolled the ball invitingly into the path of Scott who blazed disappointingly wide.

Gary Roberts then made his first change, a straight swap, Sammy Cooper for Dale Binns and the former Chelmsford wide man was soon making his mark, curling a decent effort wide from the left of the box after Lee Summerscales and Dave Sadler had combined to set up Robinson only for his shot to be blocked.

Robinson was withdrawn from the action almost immediately and replaced by Jon Stevenson, making his first appearance since a recurring hamstring injury had forced his early exit from the replay victory at Crawley in the last round. Soon to be followed by the tiring Richard Scott who was replaced by midweek ‘flu victim Rob Miller.

With fifteen minutes remaining the visitors came close to putting the game beyond doubt. Hunter’s corner was met by the athletic leap of Gary Ricketts whose powerful header was destined for the bottom corner of the net before Roberts got across his goal well to palm clear.

Carl Williams then fed Stevenson from the right, good close control from the former Leicester striker created space for Josh Simpson to shoot from the edge of the box, but although the teenage midfielder got plenty of power into his effort it was straight into the midriff of Smith.

The conditions came into play again as this time Duncan Roberts skewed a goal kick straight to Todd who evaded Craig Pope’s recovery tackle before the firing across the giant custodian who atoned for his earlier error with a fine finger-tipped save.

Hucknall consolidated by introducing Michael Plummer for Mark Smith and succeeded in limiting City to only one more meaningful effort on goal. Craig Pope delivered a measured cross to the far post, Dave Sadler rose highest and cushioned a header into the path of Josh Simpson who would have taken the tie back to Watnall Road on Tuesday night but for Asher’s brave block from point blank range.

The visitors managed to see out the remaining minutes without further alarm and it is they who will progress to the quarter finals. For City this finally proved to be a game too far, running on empty for the past couple of weeks the strength and power of Hucknall proved too much for the hosts in the closely contested midfield battle.

There’s no let up for Gary Roberts hard pressed squad however as the quest for silverware continues on Tuesday with a visit to Soham in the semi-final of the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup.