Gainsborough Trinity 1 v Brackley Town 2 - National League North

Tuesday 13th March 2018
Nationwide League North
at the Northolme
Gainsborough Trinity (1) 1
Nicky Walker 9
Brackley Town (2) 2
Aaron Williams 30
Shepherd Murombedzi 45
Admission £12. Programme £2.50. Attendance 375

Nicky Walker, Trinity's recent capture from Shaw Lane, nettwed the only goal of the game on Saturday, in the 94th minute, against Kidderminster Harriers at the Northolme.
That vital win, left the 'Holy Blues' three points adrift of the two teams immediately above the National League North relegation places (bottom three), namely: Curzon Ashton and FC United of Manchester, and four behind Alfreton, Leamington and Tamwoth. AFC Telford United are one place above Gainsborough on goal difference, while North Ferriby United have taken root at the very bottom of the table, some twenty one points behind tonight's hosts.

Brackley consolidated their third place slot with tonight's win, where they sit two points behind the leaders Harrogate Town and Salford City, but a massive eleven points over fourth placed York City, with two games in hand over the Minstermen.
Trinity played well at times tonight, very well in fact, and will no doubt feel that they deserved at least a draw for this performance. But in the final analysis: the Saints aren't flying high in the table for nothing and they had just that bit more extra class about them to hold out for a narrow win, but that said, they also had their goalkeeper Danny Lewis to thank for pulling off a remarkable save during the second half from Nathan Jarman, that even Stretch Armstrong himself would've struggled to make.

Trinity opened the scoring in the ninth minute and the goal came as a result of a slick build up.
Craig King, who was the engine room for much of what was good about the home teams performance tonight, held the ball up just inside Brackley's half and stroked it out wide, into the path of his right back Jack Vann, who'd made an overlapping run before skipping past a challenge and crossing the ball to meet the run of Liam King as he sprinted through the right channel, took three strides forward and whipped a low cross/shot across the visitors goal from an angle. Maybe the ball was destined to sneak in, just inside the far upright anyway, but Walker was on hand to make sure from close range.
Moments later Jordan Richards almost doubled his sides advantage, when he let fly with a dipping effort from twenty yards, after a good lay off from the 'Holy Blues' captain Sean Clarke.

"Bloody hell! We're actually playing some decent football tonight" said an old soak of my acquaintance.
However, the visitors looked very strong in the tackle and a cut above too as they probed forward hunting for an equaliser, which arrived on the half hour mark from a left wing corner routine. Shane Byrne played the flag kick short to Jimmy Armson, then ran towards Henrich Ravas goal to pick up the return ball, before chipping a looping ball towards Aaron Williams by the back stick, who headed the ball down and over the line.
The game ebbed and flowed one way then the other, but in first half stoppage time, Armson unlocked the Trinity defence again with a sideways delivery to Shep Murombedzi, who planted the ball past Ravas, to give the Saints a half time advantage.
HT: Holy Blues 1 v Saints 2

Since my last visit to the Northolme, Gainsborough have had a change in their team management structure, with Lee Sinnott and John Reed replacing Dave Frecklington and Terry Fleming.
None of which is any of my damn business of course, but having steered Trinity away from danger last season, I thought that the coaching staff who were already in situ, were well versed in what it would take to repeat the achievement this term too... and I was saddened to hear that they had been removed from their duties.

However, there is no disputing the calibre of their replacements and one to respect the choice of the Trinity chairman Richard Kane to make changes. He'sgot far more things right than he has wrong during his trnure at the Northolme.
Alas, football is a massive personnel turnover industry and you can't allow sentiment to interfere with purely business decisions.
So good luck for the future, wherever it leads you Dave and Terry... and best wishes in your new roles to Lee and John.

There were no further goals in the second half, though Glenn Walker almost added a third for the Saints as Ravas made hard work of keeping the ball out of his net.
Trinity launched a number of dangerous balls towards their visitors area, but on tonight's evidence, Brackley have built their successful season on the foundation of a solid defence.
With the clock ticking down, the home sides second half substitute Jarman, picked up the ball on the edge of the visitors area and played it wide to (C) King, who steadied himself and crossed into a pack Saints goalmouth, where Jarman executed a perfect mid air scissors kick with his back to goal, that was destined for the top corner, until Lewis somehow reached the ball and kept it out.

The resulting corner came to nothing and in spite of the referee Mr Simon Mather adding on seven minutes of stoppage time, Brackley held onto their slender lead, while Trinity cursed the agility of the visitors keeper.

A decent game all told.

FT: Gainsborough Trinity 1 v Brackley Town 2

Mid table Stockport County visit the Northolme on Saturday, while Brackley are in action in the first leg of the FA Trophy semi final at home against Wealdstone... watch out for the Raider!

Well done to fifteen year old Liam Smith who is currently and enthusiastically doing a cracking job with the PA announcements at the Northolme... a star in the making methinks.