JON Parkin’s first-half header saw York City through to the semi-finals of the FA Trophy.

The Minstermen edged past National League North visitors Brackley 1-0 with Parkin scoring the only goal of the game on 29 minutes, having earlier had a penalty saved.

But the hosts were unconvincing after the break as Brackley rattled the frame of the goal three times and Danny Holmes was also sent off on 86 minutes for two bookable offences.

City laid siege to the visitors’ goal early on with Sean Newton sidefooting wide from the edge of the box after just 46 seconds.

On eight minutes, Alex Gudger was then penalised for a shirt tug on Parkin from debutant Asa Hall’s left-wing corner but the veteran striker’s spot kick was saved well down to his right by Laurie Walker.

A minute later, Walker was at full stretch again with an even more impressive dive to his left to keep out Hamza Bencherif’s close-range header from another Hall flag kick, delivered from the same flank.

Amari Morgan-Smith went on to almost uproot the corner flag with a wayward eight-yard volley, while Dan Parlow could not convert Newton’s inswinging free kick to the far post.

Brackley managed their first goal attempt on 19 minutes and Glenn Walker’s free kick, conceded by Newton, flashed narrowly wide.

But, at the other end, Alex Whittle blasted over from 20 yards and Simon Heslop’s ambitious long-range attempt bounced wide before the deadlock was broken.

From eight yards out, Parkin expertly steered a header past Walker following Newton’s excellent left-wing cross.

The hosts continued to press and Morgan-Smith lifted a shot over from 15 yards after Oliver’s initial attempt was blocked, with Parkin also heading off target at the far post from Hall’s corner.

Heslop then blasted wide from the edge of the box after Morgan-Smith’s lay-off.

After the break, however, Brackley made all the running with Matt Lowe firing over from 25 yards and Gudger’s header calling Letheren into a full-stretch save down to his left following Adam Walker’s left-wing delivery.

With the Northamptonshire part-times dictating, City boss Gary Mills introduced Holmes for Oliver and switched to 3-5-2 but Lowe again went close from outside the box.

Gudger also saw another header flash across the face of goal from a right-wing Glenn Walker cross.

On 74 minutes, Letheren was then beaten by a dipping 30-yard half-volley by James Armson but the 20-goal midfielder’s spectacular strike bounced back off the bar.

The same part of the goal was again tested by Glenn Walker’s curling corner before Armson shot wide from the edge of the box, as City clung on.

Holmes went on to see red after two fouls on Armson in quick succession just outside the penalty box and the visitors kept on turning the screw.

From the free kick following Holmes’ dismissal, Letheren did well to push Glenn Walker’s shot around his right-hand post.

Adam Walker also drove over from 20 yards before Gudger headed against the bar from Glenn Walker’s right-wing cross.