MITCH HANCOX scored a second brace in two games as York City came back from two goals down to beat Morpeth Town 3-2 in the FA Trophy fifth round.

It was an incredible comeback from City, who looked so flat in the first half and deservedly trailed to a Jack Foalle goal.

Things looked even bleaker 20 minutes after the restart when Ryan Donaldson doubled Morpeth's lead despite York having started the second period with much more heart.

But Kurt Willoughby's introduction put fire in the York bellies and he was immediately involved as Hancox tapped in his first five minutes after Donaldson's goal.

Akil Wright teed up Hancox for his second, before goalscorer turned provider to loop in a cross for Matty Brown to power in a header from and send City into the Trophy quarter-finals.

City boss John Askey made three changes to the side that started Wednesday’s win at Bradford Park Avenue. Clayton Donaldson came back in for Kurt Willoughby, who returned to the bench, while Jack McKay missed out entirely.

In the winger’s place came York-born Will Jarvis, who was making his first start for City while on loan from Championship outfit Hull City.

The third was a late change, with Doncaster loanee AJ Greaves coming in for Maxim Kouogun. Akil Wright plugged the hole in the back line and Greaves joined the midfield three.

On the bench, Askey was able to name midfielder Michael Woods, who had returned to training this week after aggravating an Achilles injury which has kept him out for much of the season.

Morpeth started former York striker Liam Henderson in front of experienced Football League midfielder Liam Noble and reliable goalscorer Andrew Johnson.

Ryan Donaldson, who got the hosts’ consolation in City’s 3-1 FA Cup replay win at Morpeth in October, also enjoyed a starting spot. Former South Shields stalwart Carl Finnigan started the day on the bench.

It was a physical start to proceedings, with the opening minutes flying by in a whirl of hefty challenges and misplaced touches. Both Henderson and Donaldson made their presence known to Jameson and Greaves, respectively, with off-the-ball shunts.

Paddy McLaughlin showed some early drive, digging out a long-range left-footed effort which went wide of keeper Daniel Lowson’s left-hand post before driving forward in the 10th minute and seeing a low effort well saved at Lowson’s bottom-left corner.

York started to look better as players got into the game and got on the ball but there was no fluency to the game, which was regularly punctuated by the referee’s whistle.

Olly Dyson should have opened the scoring in the 20th minute. McLaughlin received a threaded return ball from Jarvis and played into the area for Dyson, who watched a defender slide in front of him and clear a path to goal, but he could only hit it straight at the keeper.

Morpeth enjoyed a bit of a purple patch thereafter, forcing Wright to head away for a corner after a throw had somehow made its way across the area.

And in the 26th minute, they were in front. Johnson received a lofted ball out wide and cut in too easily from the left, curling into the far bottom corner from inside the area.

Unfortunately for Jarvis, Morpeth captain and centre-back Jeff Henderson had him in his pocket, though to single out one disappointing performance would be unfair. Miscommunication and poor passes remained hallmarks of York’s first half.

A narky fixture almost boiled over towards the end of the first half. Henderson seemed to wind up Brown and earn the City captain a talking-to from the referee before right-winger Jack Foalle picked up the game’s first yellow for a wild-looking professional foul on the breaking Dyson.

Jarvis soon followed him into the book, a late, scything challenge on the shins of Morpeth’s Donaldson, deservedly getting him yellow-carded.

City started with a few exciting entries into the box. Scott Barrow set Jarvis free down the left and the winger slid to get a ball across, but a defender arrived ahead of Clayton Donaldson.

Then keeper Lowson misjudged a catch and McLaughlin’s header towards goal was deflected out for a corner, from which Dyson cut in and curled goalwards only for Henderson to head away.

Brown came the closest of the lot, flicking a header to the back post and seeing it headed off the line.

Up to the hour, it had been a more inspiring City performance but Morpeth proved difficult to break down.

And again, they punished York. Foalle whipped in a cross from the right and Pete Jameson seemed to slip as he back-pedalled, giving Donaldson the time and space he needed to nod in at the far post.

York were back in it five minutes later following what looked like an inspired substitution. Willoughby, on for a matter of seconds, hit the far post with a cross-cum-shot, wrong-footing Lowson and allowing Mitch Hancox to tap into an empty net.

A second Hancox tap-in followed and the roof came off the Community Stadium. Willoughby drove an effort towards goal, deflected into McLaughlin’s path by Donaldson, and the midfielder’s follow-up was redirected to Wright, who delivered a wicked low ball across the goal-line and Hancox tapped in.

Longdon followed this up by cracking the crossbar with a long-range effort.

The turnaround was completed with a minute of normal time to play. Hancox looped in a cross from the right and Brown rose highest in the area to power in the header.

York: Jameson 6, Duckworth 6, Wright 7, Brown 6, Barrow 7, Dyson 6, Greaves 6 (Longdon 7, 69), McLaughlin 7, Jarvis 5 (Willoughby 7, 69), Donaldson 6, Hancox 7. Subs not used: Campbell, Haase, Woods.

Star man: Kurt Willoughby. Perhaps the contrarian’s take given Hancox’s two goals and assist, but from the moment he came on, striker Willoughby was an incredible driving force and pushed City towards the finish line.

Goals: Hancox (70, 78), Brown (89)

Yellow cards: Jarvis

Morpeth: Lowson, Forster, Phillips, Oliver (Finnigan 90+2), Henderson, Turner, Foalle (Walton 71), Noble, Henderson, Donaldson, Johnson (Ramsay 83). Subs not used: Taylor, Anderson.

Goals: Johnson (26), Donaldson (65)

Yellow cards: Foalle, Turner

Referee: Thomas Parsons

Attendance: 2,725

Match stats for York | Morpeth

Shots (on target): 16 (7) | 5 (2); Corners: 6 | 2; Offsides: 1 | 0; Fouls: 10 | 15; Yellow cards: 1 | 1