FA TROPHY hosts Harlow Town might have boasted the gloriously-named Charles Dickens on their playing roster, but it’s York City who have fallen upon hard times this season.

Celebrating the avoidance of relegation from the National League with a day out at Wembley would have come considerably short of the great expectations former boss Jackie McNamara had for this campaign when he targeted a top-five position over the summer.

But the two-pronged mission, being repeatedly espoused by his successor Gary Mills in much the same manner he pursued a promotion/Trophy double right the way to its thrilling fruition in 2012, would possibly be embraced with even greater vigour, given how this turbulent term has unravelled.

Despite the club remaining bottom of the National League, there is a growing hope that Mills can fend off the unthinkable threat of sixth-tier football, with the bonus of a successful defence of the tournament they won during their last participation in it.

Following on from the encouraging league draw at Dover, this 2-1 triumph was another step in the right direction against a Harlow team who, despite their Isthmian League premier division status, were no mugs, having dumped out Eastleigh in the last round on a 3G pitch where they had won eight and drawn one of their last nine matches.

Further cause for optimism was provided with the performances of two more astute additions in the returning Dan Parslow and Amari Morgan-Smith.

Parslow teed up his on-loan Cheltenham team-mate for the 76th-minute deadlock breaker, as Morgan-Smith matched the season goal tallies of his two striking partners on the day – Daniel Nti and Scott Fenwick – in one afternoon.

At the other end of the pitch, meanwhile, Parslow defended with a level of determination some might have taken for granted during nine years of consistent service in his previous spell at Bootham Crescent, Skipper Simon Heslop netted within three minutes of Morgan-Smith’s debut strike which, with the departure of Richard Brodie, makes him the highest scorer left on the club’s books on four goals.

But Harlow offered strong resistance and, either side of Alex Read’s 90th-minute consolation, runaway Press Player of the Year leader Kyle Letheren made two brilliant saves – even though the second would have been disallowed for offside had it beaten him.

Letheren also made the best stop of a first half, in which City create several openings without severely extending home net-minder David Hughes.

Former Premier League defender and Senegal international Ibrahima Sonko, meanwhile, came out on top in every tussle with the recalled Nti, who endured a frustrating 55 minutes before making way for Fenwick.

But Mills will be delighted that victory was secured without the need to risk unused sub Jon Parkin’s aging joints on the artificial turf.

The City chief was right, though, to suggest afterwards that the 35-year-old talisman is guaranteed a place in the starting XI for Saturday’s return to league action against Barrow at Bootham Crescent.

Earlier opportunities for City saw Alex Whittle roll an attempt with his weaker right foot well wide having cut in from the flank after Adriano Moke spread play, the latter test Hughes with a rising edge-of-the box effort following Yan Klukoswki’s purposeful burst out of defence and Morgan-Smith muster two weak on-target shots – one from 25 yards and one with his head after a Heslop cross to the near post.

Nti also drove high from distance, before the Hawks’ first attack saw Sean Newton bravely get his head in the way of Craig Pope’s firm, 15-yard, goal-bound, half-volley.

From the resulting corner, Read also blazed over from inside the six-yard box.

City’s best chance of the first period fell to Morgan-Smith on 40 minutes but, after being picked out all alone in the penalty box by Whittle, he headed wastefully wide.

Letheren then also ensured his team stayed on level terms going into the interval when he saved smartly with his legs after Pope’s cross from the right had travelled across the face of goal and was met by Jared Small six yards out.

A cagey opening to the second half saw Newton muster the first shot on the hour mark – curling a free kick at Hughes after Moke had his heels clipped.

But, as thoughts started to turn towards the prospect of a replay, Heslop swung in a cross from the right that was met by a towering Parslow at the far post and his header back into the six-yard box saw a predatory Morgan-Smith prod past Hughes.

From the next attack, the tie looked over as Harlow failed to deal with Whittle’s delivery from the left and Heslop pounced from seven yards to lift the ball into the roof of the net with the outside of his boot.

Shaun Rooney might have gone on to score for the second successive weekend, but cleared the crossbar with a free header and Letheren went on to display smart reflexes as he used his legs again to keep out a ricochet from the City wing-back following a scramble in the away box.

A long throw then saw transfer-seeking Read bundle the ball in from close range to claim his 150th goal in 199 appearances for the Essex part-timers.

In the third minute of added-on time, meanwhile, Letheren was at his sharpest once more to tip over a powerful header from Lawrence Yiga although, on this occasion, unbeknown to the former Blackpool keeper, the offside flag would have come to his side’s rescue as well.

With Dickens disappointingly left out of the home side’s squad, at least Letheren had treated both sets of supporters to a goalkeeping display worthy of matching his previous classics in a City shirt.

City

STAR MAN Kyle Letheren: 8 – rarely called upon but made three top-drawer saves even if one wasn’t ultimately required

Dan Parslow: 8 – whole-hearted, set up first goal and recovered from any misjudgements with determination

Yan Klukowski: 8 – swept up with composure and aplomb during another assured display

Sean Newton: 8 – won countless vital headers and natural choice for left-sided defensive role

Shaun Rooney: 7 – bit uncomfortable going forward on 3G surface, but generally solid

Simon Heslop: 8 – showed good anticipation for his goal and a fine cross for first

Simon Lappin: 7 – talked and fouled his way to a caution, but clever with rest of his game

Adriano Moke: 7 – worried Harlow when he carried ball forward, if indecisive sometimes in those situations

Alex Whittle: 8 – provided a steady supply of crosses and claimed assist for Heslop goal

Amari Morgan-Smith: 7 – pounced at a vital stage of the game to put City in ascendancy

Daniel Nti: 5 – touch and strength was lacking in central striking role

Substitutes: Scott Fenwick 6 – patchy (for Nti, 55), Luke Woodland (for Moke, 83).

Subs not used: Danny Holmes, Jon Parkin, Matty Fry.

Harlow

David Hughes, Craig Pope, Ibrahima Sonko, Billy Jones, Layne Eadie, Stan Muguo, Fabion Simms, Khale da Costa (Lawrence Yiga, 72), Mario Noto (Junior Dadson, 71), Jared Small (Leon Antoine, 83), Alex Read.

Subs not used: Syrus Gordon, Patrick Lee.

Harlow star man: Sonko – strong leader at the back

Referee: David Rock rating: 8/10 – gave little reason for complaint

Booked: Simms 3, Small 59, Lappin 62.

Attendance: 816

Shots on target: Harlow 2, City 8

Shots off target: Harlow 2, City 5

Corners: Harlow 3, City 3

Fouls conceded: Harlow 10, City 11

Offside: Harlow 5, City 3