A LAGER-DRENCHED Gary Mills admitted he cried after watching his York City team lift the FA Trophy at Wembley.

Substitute Aidan Connolly poached an 86th-minute winner off Jon Parkin to secure a 3-2 victory over Macclesfield after the latter and fellow striker Vadaine Oliver had twice given the Minstermen lead, only for the Cheshire outfit to level twice through Rhys Browne and Ollie Norburn during a thrilling first half.

But City, who have been a thorn in the Moss Rose club’s side during 2016/17 having also completed a league double over John Askey’s men, were left celebrating at the final whistle after the club’s fourth win at the world-famous national stadium.

Mills had been left hurting at the end of the National League campaign after a 2-2 final-day home draw against Forest Green, coupled with a stoppage-time equaliser for Guiseley, saw his team condemned to sixth-tier football despite displaying top-ten form since the turn of the year.

He was, therefore, left overwhelmed by his players’ response under the Wembley arch after insisting nobody should reflect on the disappointment of last month and, instead, look forward to a new era of success.

The City chief confessed: “I’ve shed a few tears and I don’t mind saying that, because it’s an emotional game and it’s been a tough season for me personally. I lost my job at another club (Wrexham) and I came here to save us and didn’t manage to do that, so this victory means a lot to me and (football consultant) Darren (Caskey), who has done a fantastic job.

“It’s been tough. We had ten days off after the Forest Green match and I then told everybody they would be fined if they mentioned the R-word when we came back for training, because last season finished three weeks ago. This game was the start of the next one.”

Summing up a contest that saw Macclesfield enjoy greater possession and create the better opportunities, Mills added: “It was a good game.

“Macclesfield played well, had a lot of the ball and had more chances than us, but to win, like we did, is what these players are all about. They don’t give in.

“Kyle (Letheren) had to make some good saves and Hamza cleared one off the line but, when you put your bodies on the line, that’s what wins you trophies and, when you pin yourself up against big Jon with his size, he can hurt you and I thought he did superbly well for the third goal.”

Former Dundee United winger Connolly applied the final touch from an inch out as a deflected Parkin effort was heading for the back of the net, with Mills joking: “Aidan got in there – probably for his goal bonus – and it takes a brave man to take a goal off Jon, but you never know and you’ve got to make sure it goes in the back of the net, so I’m pleased for him, because he’s not played much.”

Mills also had words of praise for Adriano Moke who was hailed off the bench at half-time after Yan Klukowski had struggled on his return from a calf problem that had kept him sidelined from mid-March.

The introduction of Moke as a second-half substitute helped sway both semi-final legs in City’s favour against eventual league champions Lincoln and, on his latest cameo, Mills enthused: “Yan had trained hard, but he probably wasn’t fit so we changed to 4-3-3 and I thought Mokes came on and changed the game for us again with his energy.

“He actually won a few tackles as well and he’s a great lad. Every player wants to play and get in that starting XI.

“We know he can run with the ball, but he broke things up as well and I’m really delighted with him.”

Mills agreed with Sean Newton, meanwhile, being named as the game’s official man of the match, declaring: “I don’t think anybody deserved it more on his first time at Wembley, because he put in a great cross for Vadaine’s goal.”