The midfield was entirely freshened up, Danny Devine coming back into the fold and making his first start for the Holy Blues since his nasty injury sustained away at Warrington Rylands last February. Alongside him was George Hornshaw, with Javelle Clarke just tucked in behind Howe. The options out wide were provided by Curtis Durose (another who has been forced to bide his time, prior to starting) and Joe Stacey. Loan striker, Sam Fishburn started on the bench for Trinity, alongside Club Captain Cogill, as did Jordan Helliwell, Bobby Johnson and Fraser Preston. Lewis Butroid unavailable, despite his fine recent form in front of goal.
Declan Howe started the game brightly, the furthest man forward for Trinity. And he did well to get to a loose ball ahead of Adam Nicholson, the experienced stopper picking up an early yellow card. From the resultant freekick Joe Stacey fired the ball into the dangerzone. The Anchors were unable to clear their defensive lines- and Clarke was able to bundle the ball past Nathan Harker. The early breakthrough a welcome change to recent early goals conceded, that have put Gainsborough on the back foot. Stockton responded well to going a goal behind though, providing the visitor's backline with a thorough examination.
Will Lancaster, captaining the side, marshalled the defensive unit. And although at times Trinity struggled to
clear, for much of the half, the pink shirts of Gainsborough provided a formidable wall in front of Dylan Wharton. On the quarter hour, A flowing move from right to left saw both Durose and Stacey involved, Howe helping Curtis' ball on to Stacey on the left. Joe's whipped in ball finding the head of Howe, but he could not generate sufficient power to beat Harker.
At the other end, Joshua Scott broke the Trinity offside trap on one occasion, but a combination of the spin of the ball, and the presence of Wharton and Lancaster stopped the imposing forward from levelling things up for Stockton. They did find themselves back on terms though, shortly after the half hour mark. Joshua Baggs managed to burrow his way into the box and lift the ball over Wharton from a tight angle.
Kevin Hayes looked to cause problems, cutting in off the right hand side, forcing a smart save from Wharton at his near post, beating the ball behind for a corner. But despite the home side's pressure. It would be the travelling Holy Blues who would go in the happier. Curtis Durose was sent scampering free down the right hand side. Powering into the box, he got his head up and picked out Howe, and Dec needed no second invitation as he netted his 50th goal in Gainsborough colours (officially -in competitive, counted games, after his brace at Marske last season were expunged from the record books).
Half Time: Stockton Town 1 Gainsborough Trinity 2
A slow-burner of a second half, saw Trinity soaking up the pressure from the hosts, with Danny Devine and George Hornshaw in the middle of the park looking like they had never been away. Neat and tidy in possession and biting in to challenges to break up the play. But also having an eye for a forward pass, looking to release Howe, whenever possible.
Just past the hour mark, Fraser Preston entered the game, almost immediately adding his name to the scoresheet. Howe timed his run down the right hand side and Trinity's leading marksman unselfishly squared for the former Sheffield Wednesday youngster. Taking a touch just inside the box, to settle himself, as Preston fired goalwards, Harker got the slightest of fingertip touches to divert the ball onto the upright. The ball rebounding gratefully into the arms of the goalkeeper.
Trinity were defending resolutely. And looking to spring a very high Stockton line. A number of close offsides going in favour of the hosts, before nine minutes from time, Clarke unlocked the defence with a waft of his magic wand. Sending Howe clear with the outside of his right foot, Trinity's number ten raced through, rounding Harker... and composing himself before lashing his finish beyond the two retreating defenders, to give the visitors a two goal cushion.
That two goal cushion looked like Wilcox’s men had done enough to return to Lincolnshire with all three points, but when Sisa Tuntulwana was shown a straight red card, for fouling Mikey Roberts, there appeared to be another twist in the tale. The resultant freekick played to the Anchors' centre back Tom Coulthard who fired home via a deflection that wrong-footed Wharton, to set up a nervy last four minutes, plus stoppage time.
Stockton went 3-4-3 and loaded the box in the final minutes, including over five minutes of additional playing time, but anything that was over the heads of the backline, Wharton was out to, commanding his area. And helping Trinity to a well earned three points. Three points that were richly celebrated by the fine travelling faithful.
A real squad performance, where boss Wilcox can be proud of the squad he has assembled. Numerous changes coming in, gelling well, and putting in a fully committed team performance, at a tough place to go. Stockton with one of the best home records in the division, put to the sword. And a bouncing team bus, heading back down the A1 to Lincolnshire. The Blue Army, undefeated in pink, in 2025!
The Teams
Stockton Town: Nathan Harker, Lewis King, Joshua Baggs, Cameron Painter, Adam Nicholson, Tom Coulthard, Kevin Hayes (Jack Spears 82), Glen Butterworth (Arjun Purewal 72), Joshua Scott (Daniel Dryden 79), Stephen Thompson (Lewis Leech 62), Owen Gallacher (Mitchell Roberts 62).
Gainsborough Trinity: Dylan Wharton, Aaron Simpson, Ashley Jackson, George Hornshaw, Will Lancaster, Sisa Tuntulwana, Joe Stacey (Fraser Preston 58) Danny Devine, Javelle Clarke (Dylan Cogill 83) Declan Howe, Curtis Durose (Jordan Helliwell 76). Sub not used: Sam Fishburn and Bobby Johnson.
Stockton Goals: Joshua Baggs (33) and Tom Coulthard (86)
Stockton Bookings: Painter, Nicholson, Coulthard, Hayes, Thompson and Leech
Gainsborough Goals: Javelle Clarke (6), Declan Howe (45 and 81)
Gainsborough Bookings: Wharton, Durose and Howe
Gainsborough Sending Off: Sisa Tuntulwana (83)
Referee: Alex Clark
Attendance: 654
Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Harry Cook, Official Stockton Town Photographer