SAFETY first saw Martin Gould extend his stay at York into the last 16 for the first time.

The Pinner potter starred in a very high scoring match with Mark Allen - producing five breaks over 50 as he knocked out the 2011 UK Championship finalist 6-4.

But despite his scoring feats, which saw him card efforts of 57, 77, 66, 59 and 98, Gould said it was his safety play which was the key to helping him win and he revealed afterwards he had never previously won more than two successive games at the Barbican.

"It was a very good game, very attacking but I did throw in the odd few safety shots - just to confuse everybody because I am not known for that," he said. "I played good match snooker, scored well, created some opportunities and took advantage of them.

"I definitely thought that some of his safety shots were not up to his usual best. I made sure that when I had to play a good safety shot I pinned him in trouble.

"It is the first time I think I have ever won more than two matches at this venue. Normally I win a match and then I get sent home but, who knows, it could be one of those years.

"I am always confident anyway. No matter how many bad beats you get along the way, you have just got to learn from them and then come back stronger."

The pair went into the mid-session interval locked together at 2-2.

But Gould forged 4-2 ahead and, even though his opponent tried to hit back with 102 and 67 - in addition to an earlier 107 - he could not get close enough.

Allen agreed that his safety play had not been up to scratch and said: "I think it was a pretty good game and there are not a lot of complaints. Martin's safety won him the match. We both looked like we were going to score every time we got in and he was just creating more chances than I was.

"His safety was much better and that's definitely one area I can improve upon. It's up to me to compete and I didn't feel I competed at all in the safety department and still could have got a decider out of it.

"I know that I am a better player than Martin when I play at my best but I wasn't at my best. Players like Martin, and those of a similar standard, are more than capable of beating me on any given day if I am not at my best.

"I know what I need to work on. I don't feel like I am far away and I definitely didn't play badly. Martin was just a better player on the day."

Gould now meets the resurgent Joe Swail in the last 16 and he said of his Northern Irish opponent: "It should be a good game. Joe played very well against Michael Holt and when you are in the last 16 you know you are not going to get an easy match.

"I shall prepare correctly and looking forward to it."