Courageous Captain Clarke then got in a couple of challenges that inspired the side. The second on twenty minutes would be his last contribution to the game but it had turned the tide. Trinity then began to play the better football with Middleton showing he can be more than a defensive midfielder. A glorious crossfield ball from Gordon released Byrne who twisted and turned but his cross was cleared by Doughty. A great exchange between Russell and Gordon found Byrne who dragged wide.

Midway through the first half, the move of the match saw five Trinity players combine with a lightning one touch counter that broke down. Dudley played to Waddecar who beat Russell but his cross was poor. On 36 mins with the Bamber Bridge defence struggling to contain us at corners and throws, a short one is haphazardly cleared leading to a corner on the other side. From Byrne's delivery Stainfield rose highest and Worsfold gets the final touch to claim his 20th of the season.

Another fine move, with King urging a final five minutes of caution, saw Middleton feed Wilson who laid off to Worsfold. The born anew number nine's low cross was taken off Middleton's laces at the far post for a corner. Cometh the second half whistle Warhorse Wilson cherishes the cameo chance. Just 50 seconds in Longbottom fed inside and the mighty Ant crashed a curling twenty yarder against the crossbar. Alas shades of Ferriby was not to be. Middleton and Russell, aided and abetted by Longbottom, Byrne and flying full-backs Gordon and Evans, were drawing more pretty triangles than a GCSE Trigonomitry class. The Carlisle Street choir purred.

It would be forgiven and eclipsed on 68 minutes when Longbottom played inside to Russell on the left. Simon simply took a touch and advanced a couple of strides before curling home a twenty-yard peach into the top right-hand corner to leave the keeper clasping. Praise be, we'll be frying all week in Trinity Street. On 72 minutes an overhead kick from substitute Forbes was well saved by Stewart at the expense of a potential stretch injury. Six minutes later Hornshaw replaced Stewart as Stainfield dutifully went between the sticks.

Five minutes from time Hannah made his long-awaited return to give hard-working Wilson a well earned rest. As the referee checked time with the other officials number 9 Dominic McGivern unloaded an unstoppable 25-yard drive, taking a nick to catch stand in Stainfield, to astound and draw applause from every soul in the ground.

Teams & Schemes

Gainsborough Trinity: (4-4-2) Stewart, Evans, Gordon, Russell (Goal 68), Maguire, Stainfield, Byrne, Clarke, Longbottom, Worsfold (Goal 36), Wilson
Bamber Bridge: (4-4-2) Saunders, Spooner, Thomas, Lawlor, Doughty, McKnightly, Waddecar, Dudley, McGiveron, Harries, Marlow

Attendance 527

Report written by Neil Gentleman-Hobbs