BRACKLEY Town might be nicknamed the Saints, but it was York City’s supporters who had their patience tested during an anxious FA Trophy quarter-final.

Home supporters grew increasingly restless during a sterile second-half display from Gary Mills’ team that saw the Northamptonshire part-timers go from creating one chance in the opening 45 minutes to hitting the crossbar on three occasions and fully extending Kyle Letheren twice by the final whistle.

While City failed to muster a single opportunity after the interval, the visitors managed 13 goal attempts and, as Mills acknowledged, could count themselves unlucky not to force at least a replay.

Blustery conditions played their part in producing two contrasting halves of football and, earlier, City should have stormed into a commanding lead during the opening exchanges, which has been a common theme – wind-assisted or not - during recent games.

Before scoring the only goal of the game just before the half-hour mark, Jon Parkin had already seen his ninth-minute penalty saved after Sean Newton had sidefooted wastefully wide from the edge of the box with 46 seconds on the clock.

Parkin was awarded the spot kick when he had his shirt pulled by Alex Gudger, following debutant Asa Hall’s corner from the left.

But Brackley keeper Laurie Walker, whose abysmal kicking had already prompted howls of derision from the David Longhurst Stand behind him, displayed fine shot-stopping skills to dive low to his right and push away the 35-year-old veteran’s effort.

Walker went on to produce an even finer save when he threw himself in the opposite direction to keep out Hamza Bencherif’s powerful, close-range header following another flag-kick delivery by Hall moments later.

Defender Dan Parslow then couldn’t apply the finishing touch to a dangerous, inswinging free kick by Newton before Glenn Walker curled narrowly wide from a set-piece chance for the visitors during their only forward foray of the half.

Back at the other end, Alex Whittle blasted over from 20 yards and, from further out, skipper Simon Heslop directed an ambitious attempt wide before the hosts forged in front.

Newton was the architect with a superbly-delivered cross from the left and Parkin expertly planted a firm eight-yard header past Walker.

Further openings before the interval saw Amari Morgan-Smith clear the crossbar from 15 yards, Parkin also aim too high with a far-post header and Heslop miss the target from the edge of the box – a 40th-minute effort that was to prove the Minstermen’s last of the afternoon.

After the restart, midfielder Matt Lowe went close twice from outside the box and Gudger was denied by Letheren, who got down sharply to his left to parry the Saints defender’s header.

Mills responded to the shift in dominance by sacrificing a striker in Oliver and introducing Danny Holmes as a third midfielder, but it didn’t prove a galvanising change.

On 74 minutes, the visitors’ 20-goal midfielder James Armson beat Letheren with a spectacular, dipping, 30-yard volley that crashed back into play off the crossbar, Shortly afterwards, Glenn Walker curled in a corner from the right that also hit the frame of the goal with Armson subsequently shooting wide from just outside the penalty area.

Gareth Dean also headed over from a free kick by Armson, who drew fouls from Holmes either side of that chance that saw the City sub sent off after receiving two cautions in quick succession.

Clinging on in unconvincing fashion, City were then rescued again by Letheren, who pushed Glenn Walker’s free kick around his right-hand post.

Adam Walker, meanwhile, volleyed over from 20 yards but the frame of City’s charmed goal would be tested one final time on 89 minutes when Gudger rose high to meet Glenn Walker’s right-wing cross.

But it was the Minstermen who moved into the semi-finals of the competition for the fourth time in their last six participating seasons.

The last two of those occasions have led to final appearances – the most recent of which saw Mills’ class of 2012 lift the trophy.

City: Kyle Letheren; Hamza Bencherif, Yan Klukowski (Lanre Oyenabnjo, 16), Dan Parslow; Simon Heslop, Asa Hall, Sean Newton, Alex Whittle; Vadaine Oliver (Danny Holmes, 56), Jon Parkin, Amari Morgan-Smith.

Subs not used: Aidan Connolly, Scott Fenwick, Adriano Moke.

Brackley: Laurie Walker, Gareth Dean, Luke Graham (Jack Bowen, 87), Alex Gudger, Ellis Myles, Matt Lowe, Adam Walker, James Armson, Glenn Walker, Lee Ndlovu, Steve Diggin (David Moyo, 82). Subs not used: Lee Cox, David Pitt, Mark Noon.

Brackley star man: Glenn Walker – posed problems with his left foot

Referee: Martin Coy rating: 6/10 - a little harsh dishing out two yellow cards for Holmes

Booked: Holmes 83.

Sent off: Holmes 86.

Attendance: 1,994 (104 from Brackley)

Shots on target: City 3, Brackley 5

Shots off target: City 8, Brackley 9

Corners: City 6, Brackley 7

Fouls conceded: City 10, Brackley 6

Offside: City 2, Brackley 1