Saturday 22nd August 2020
Pre-Season Friendly
at the Martin & Co Arena/Northolme
Gainsborough Trinity (1) 1
Luke Lofts 41
Workington AFC (0) 0
Point & hope photo gallery: Click HERE
My first all-ticket game of the 2020-21 season... but by no means my last I shouldn't wonder, given that clubs will be having to monitor the number of people that turn out to watch their games for the foreseeable future... coincided with the first time that spectators have been allowed back into the Martin & Co. Arena since March 3rd (AKA 172 days ago, but it sure as hell seems like a lot longer) when Radcliffe were the visitors for a Northern Premier League, Premier Division fixture, that Curtis Woodhouse's Holy Blues won comfortably by four goals to one.
Workington were on the cusp of promotion to the NPL Prem last term, with a fifteen-point lead at the top of the NPL Division One West table, until a combination of the COVID lock-down and an inconsistent mash-up of decision making by various football governing bodies as regards promotion and relegation issues, thwarted their ambitions.
Lets make no bones about it... Danny Grainger's side got stiffed, as the fates conspired against them. And giving credit where it is due, this afternoon's performance by Workington was a was a 'look what you could've had' statement by the visitors demonstrated what a great addition they would've been to the next level up, with a display of easy on the eye, pass and move football.
Both teams recorded 6-0 results earlier in the week, as the Reds saw off Whitehaven on Tuesday, while Championship side Rotherham United took the honours at the Northolme on the same night.
But hey! Though it's always nice to win any game, pre-season is all about fitness, getting game time in, working on team shape and familiarising incoming players with their new teammates and surroundings. Both sides are looking good to go on today's showing, which, for the most part, was high tempo stuff. And it must be said that an excellent Workington team were a great choice of opposition for Trinity to test themselves against this afternoon (and vice-versa).
One thing that hasn't gone unnoticed around the Northolme, is that aside from assembling a decent side on the pitch, Curtis Woodhouse has been team-building off of it too. Whereby a steady influx of personnel who were stand out characters and reliable 'go to' men at other clubs around the local(ish) circuit have been carefully selected and hand-picked to operate under the same umbrella whence they can offer invaluable input as and when it might be required.
It is oft said that the calibre of people that a manger surrounds himself with is the marked difference between a good one and a great one... and though I don't want to be accused of blowing smoke up anyone's posterior to that end, it would appear that the Trinity chairman, the likeable Richard Kane has recruited well.
And not only inasmuch as bringing in the right man to fill the managers job and allowing him to bring in staff and players as he sees fit. The behind the scenes staff at the club also exude professionalism and an eager thoroughness and desire to present the club in a good light too.
People are taking note of the positive steps, tweaks and finishing details that these people are applying... and though they're happy to remain in the background as unsung heroes, from what I'm hearing their efforts are massively appreciated by all of those with the best interests of Gainsborough Trinity FC at heart.
The Northolme faithful appear to be openly embracing a relatively newfound optimism and you can detect an over-riding impression among the rank and file that they genuinely believe that good times are waiting for them just over yonder horizon... and that vibe can be fully attributable to a wave of inertia and momentum that is pushing this club in the right direction and building towards a crescendo... it wasn't always thus.
It is always easy to get carried away at the outset of each and every new season, but though the supporters have understandably got their feet firmly on the ground, because that is the kind of stoicism and realism that events that have happened in the not so distant past at the club breeds, the Northolme is a happy place right now, full of contented and happy faces... not because the overwhelming majority of fans are anticipating, demanding or even expecting the club to win promotion and plunder all of the available silverware, but because they can see that a whole lot of sustainable progress is being made and on all levels too, because the club has got the right calibre of people covering all of the bases.
None of the above is meant as a slight on anything or anybody who has gone before, but the pieces (and people) really do appear to be falling into place... and not merely through chance either.
Healthy competition for starting places throughout the Trinity ranks, probably means that the age-old problem of keeping all of the players happy, especially if they aren't appearing in the starting eleven as often as they would like, will always be a concern. But that will surely be offset by the whole squad knowing that there are perfectly capable replacements waiting in the wings if they should let their level of performance drop even a fraction... and that in itself breeds the focus and determination that is needed for the entire squad to main a high level of disciplined intensity; which in turn creates the kind consistency that is required to sustain a successful campaign.
As regards the players who will be chomping at the bit to get a chance to establish themselves... surely everybody wants to be a part of a winning team and that alone, to my way of thinking, is enough of an incentive for anyone to stick around. Football has always been a team sport but moreover in this day and age it's increasingly become a squad game.
Besides, regardless of anything else, in non-league football, the vast majority of those involved have work commitments elsewhere too... and above all they're human beings, not Duracell bunnies and as such they'll need to recharge whenever the need arises.
All players get knocks and/or need to rest from time to time, or aren't always available 100% of the time as fixtures rack up thick and fast (that applies to coaching staff and club volunteers too) and the aforementioned 'burn-out' is a very real thing that needs to be managed by boxing cleverly (pun intended of course).
Keeping an arsenal of different types of players provides any team with variety of options, for when any given opposition present their own unique brand of problems that need to be dealt with.
There was an element of borderline 'fair but firmness' about a few of the challenges on show once or twice, but not to the detriment of the game... and I'm damn sure that playing in a game with a competitive edge is far more beneficial to the preparations of all concerned in readiness for when the real thing all starts again in four weeks time.
Although Gregg Smith had a couple of good opportunities to score early on, it was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock, when Jackson did well to tip a stinging effort from Dave Symington over his bar at full-stretch, before Trinity struggled to deal with a free-kick into their area which allowed Scott Allison a yard of space to shoot against the left hand upright from close range... but with half time fast approaching Luke Lofts latched onto an attempted clearance just outside the Workington area and hooked home an unstoppable shot to net what proved to be the only goal of the game.
After half-time play continued to ebb and flow from one end to the other and it was refreshing to see two sides giving it a real go in a friendly, instead of resorting to some of the tippy-tappy going through the motions stuff you'll find quite easily find being served up elsewhere in the run in to the new season.
All told, Workington possibly shaded the possession stats, but they don't win games. However, the way that the home side kept their shape when they didn't have the ball ultimately played a massive part in their victory.
Smith went close to doubling Trinity's lead when he scooped the ball over the bar from the edge of the six yard box and Workington went very close to grabbing an equaliser when 'number sixteen' (apologies I only have a list of the names of the starting eleven) motored forward and let fly with a shot that Jackson did well to turn around his post at the expense of a corner.
FT: Gainsborough Trinity 1 v Workington 0
I'm looking forward to catching up with both of these sides again during the course of the season to check out their progress... good luck and bestest wishes to all involved.
