A bright start for the Holy Blues saw efforts from Declan Howe & Dayle Southwell blocked inside the opening ninety seconds. A bulldozing run into the box from the lively Javelle Clarke saw him pick out Howe, who had found space in the box. Only for his shot on target to be blocked enroute. As part of the same move, Southwell was then picked out, and after perhaps taking a touch too many, he too fired goalwards only to see the ball blocked on its way to goal..

Although Trinity had started brightly, on six minutes, Jameel Ible poked home from a trademark Guiseley set piece. Tom Denton nodding down for his skipper, to squeeze the ball over the line from close range. A poor goal to concede, yet that won't have been the first goal Guiseley have scored in that fashion this season, and it certainly won't be the last!

A crude challenge halted Gainsborough's progress, but did present Southwell with a shooting opportunity from 25 yards, his curling effort striking the top of the wall and spinning behind for a corner kick. Trinity weren't to profit from the set piece as Bobby Johnson, so deadly in midweek, was still feeling the after effects of the challenge. His flat corner was dealt with at the near post, as the referee spotted an infringement inside the eighteen yard box. Awarding the visitors a freekick and relieving the Trinity pressure.

Guiseley doubled their lead just shy of the twenty minute mark, when Kallan Murphy powered a close range header past the exposed Luke Jackson, after Gabrielle Johnson skipped away down the left.

Hamish Douglas had to be alert to stop Guiseley further extending their lead, in the right place to divert Murphy's cross from the right, over his own crossbar. At the other end, Clarke got at Josh Ashman down the right hand side, firing in a centre, that Battersby was equal to.

In truth, the game really struggled to find any real tempo, as the game wasn't allowed to flow and develop a rhythm, but as the half ticked towards a climax, Wilcox's charges showed that there was some fight, and a potential way or getting back into the tie. Howe had the chance to reduce the arrears, beating the offside trap but not Battersby who raced from his goal, and was stronger in the tackle. The Trinity forward reacting quicker to the loose ball though - turning the ball goalwards, only be denied by the visiting stopper, as he retreated.

Ashley Jackson's deep cross then found Dylan Cogill at the back post, but Trinity's skipper couldn't generate enough power to guide his header beyond Battersby.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 0 Guiseley AFC 2

Tom Denton extended the lead from the spot after Javelle Clarke was adjudged to have impeded Murphy, before Rotherham United youngster Joel Holvey was introduced to the fray and the substitute looked lively off the left hand side, looking to commit his full back, as to their credit, Russ Wilcox's men didn't down tools.

Good wide play from Holvey created the room to cross, and he did brilliantly to pick out Southwell. The ex Alfreton Town forward meeting the centre with a brave full length diving header!

First half sub Nat Wallace then looked to make things happen fir Trinity. Making half a yard of room, and off-loading for Clarke to shoot, the talented youngster seemed to be caught after the ball had gone.

A couple of long range sighters peppered Battersby’s goal, and Holvey looked to have the beating of his full back, but it wasn’t until deep into stoppage time that Southwell popped up with virtually the last kick of the game to smash past Battersby and give the Trinity faithful something to cheer. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to prolong the Holy Blues stay in the FA Trophy for another season, and attentions now turn to next Saturday, when Warrington Rylands visit the Kal Group Stadium in the Pitching In Northern Premier League.

On paper, it looks to be a fantastic opportunity to bounce back from this weekend’s disappointment, to continue climbing the table, and moving away from the relegation drop-zone. Onwards & forwards, with Russ & Stampy’s Gainsborough Army!

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity

Luke Jackson, George Hornshaw, Ashley Jackson, Bailey Conway, Hamish Douglas, Dylan Cogill, Jack Moore-Billam (Nathaniel Wallace 34) Bobby Johnson (Harry Lovick 71) Dayle Southwell, Declan Howe (Joel Holvey 61) Javelle Clarke

Subs not used: Tom Parkinson & Lewis Butroid

Gainsborough goal: Southwell 90+4

Guiseley AFC

Oliver Battersby, Josh Ashman, Reece Kendall, Leigh Whelan (Daniel Devine 70), Aidan Walker, Jameel Ible, Joe Stacey, Callum Chippendale, Tom Denton, Gabrielle Johnson, Kallen Murphy (Ollie Brown 76)

Subs not used: Courtney Meppen-Walters, Liam Tongue & Brad Wade

Guiseley goals: Ible 6, Murphy 19, Denton 59(p)

Officials: Karl Parker alongside Liam Vayro & Wayne Davenport

Attendance 342

Report & Photos: Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)