Trinity were without the suspended duo of skipper, Dylan Cogill and midfielder Bailey Conway. Both serving bans, as a result of the controversial defeat at the hands of Prescot Cables, seven days prior. In came Aaron Simpson at full back, and experienced central midfielder Bobby Johnson. Charlie Hickingbottom partnered captain, Will Lancaster at the heart of the Blues’ defence.

Fraser Preston got the game under way, in uncharacteristically bright, sunny weather in Manchester. And the Holy Blues mirrored the weather. Starting brightly. Preston’s weighted ball over the top on six minutes, was controlled by Declan Howe. Trinity’s talisman racing in on goal, but his effort cleared the frame of Jordan Eastham’s goal.

The promotion chasing hosts won a couple of corners. But the visitors set their stall out early, that they were not in the mood for conceding. And it was the Blues that looked to have more cutting edge. On nineteen minutes, some neat approach play saw Lewis Butroid slide the ball into Howe. Inside the D Dec opened up his body and looked to bend one into the bottom right hand corner, Eastham initially fumbling, before recovering to hold at the second attempt. That was a second warning, that the Robins were sent.

And three minutes later, Ashton were finally made to pay, when Bobby Johnson and Javelle Clarke combined to press the hosts. Johnson splitting the Ashton defence, and Howe nipping in, lifting the ball, calmly, over the advancing keeper, to give Trinity the lead their early play had warranted. The hosts immediately chased an equaliser. Though David Robson remained relatively untroubled. A scramble just past the half hour mark, was eventually smuggled away by Aaron Simpson, but the Blues really remained in relative control. Seeing the game through to the break. Calmly and confidently. Able to go in at the break, with a lead to defend.

Half Time: Ashton United 0 Gainsborough Trinity 1

Unhappy with his sides’ first half showing, Ashton boss, Steve Cunningham made a double change. Callum Rowe and James Hardy being thrown into the action, replacing Mitch Rose and Remi Efunnuga, but the substitutes did little to alter the course of the game. Six minutes into the second half, Josh Doherty went into the Referee’s notebook. The visitors dealt with a Louis White corner well. And as Trinity worked the ball up to Howe, the forward spinning his man – found himself dragged to the ground. And the quick counter abruptly halted. Doherty carded for his troubles.

Pressing high. Russ Wilcox’s men, encouraged from the sideline by Kevin Pressman, Jordan Helliwell won the ball back high, finding Howe inside the box. And Howe turned provider. Teeing up Lewis Butroid on the edge of the box. Taking a touch before stroking home his eleventh of the season. A crisp strike into Eastham’s bottom left hand corner. And a cushion for the Blues.

The central pairing of Will Lancaster and Charlie Hickingbottom continued to repel the threat of the hosts. Seeing off Carver, Osei and White. And coping with the different threats as they were thrown on, with Ashton chasing a way back into the game. The Blues even getting to grips with the awkward Tom Denton, the nippy Donald Chimalilo and prolific Jason Gilchrist.

On the hour, Alex Byrne went close from a freekick. Hickingbottom seemingly impeded, was adjudged to have been the instigator. And just to the left of centre, 25 yards out, Byrne stepped up, looking to haunt his former employees. His freekick, up and over the wall, but half a yard wide of Robson’s right hand up right. Relief for the Blues, disappointment for Byrne.

When the defence was breached, on one occasion, Byrne’s cross was headed down by Marcus Carver to Darius Osei. His acrobatic effort landing on the roof of David Robson’s goal. Though the flag went up for offside. The effort wouldn’t have counted in any case.

Carvers’ frustration finally boiled over, when both he, and Will Lancaster saw yellow from the man in the middle, Mr Morris-Sanders. With Trinity awarded a free-kick, the two players took a dislike to each other, with Carver substituted shortly afterwards.

Trinity sent on Sisa Tuntulwana with six minutes of normal time to play. Conscious of the threat posed by big Dents at set pieces. Most of his involvement was in taking the ball into the corner, as the Holy Blues looked to run down the clock. Johnson and Jordan Helliwell continued to put in sterling shifts, in the midfield engine room. Winning the ball back and shielding the back line. Like coiled springs they were ready to put Trinity on the front foot, but equally willing to also put the foot in, when required.

Even when the board for seven minutes went up, Gainsborough were calm and assured. Soaking up the home pressure. And playing some neat football through the thirds. The Holy Blues enter the final three games of the season, and approach the busy Easter fixture period in high spirits, welcoming Hebburn Town to the Kal Group on Saturday, before travelling to another of the promotion hopefuls, Guiseley on Easter Monday, before the season comes to a close a fortnight on Saturday, when Leek Town come to Gainsborough.

Boss, Russ Wilcox will be urging his troops to finish the season on a real high, and who’s to back against them achieving just that? Nine points remain up for grabs… and Trinity are only a point and a place off equalling last season’s final position. Three wins from three, would see the points total beaten too. Reason indeed, to keep on pushing until the very end! Keep believing. See you all on Saturday, as our final push continues...

The Teams

Ashton United: Jordan Eastham, Mitch Rose (James Hardy 46), Josh Doherty, Sean Newton, Luke Burke, Sam Baird, Alex Byrne, Louis White (Tom Denton 80), Marcus Carver (Jason Gilchrist 87), Darius Osei (Donald Chimalilo 83), Remi Efunnuga (Callum Rowe 46).

Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Aaron Simpson, Ashley Jackson, Bobby Johnson, Will Lancaster, Charlie Hickingbottom, Lewis Butroid, Jordan Helliwell, Javelle Clarke (Sisa Tuntulwana) Declan Howe, Fraser Preston. Subs not used: Jordan Hallam, Curtis Durose, George Hornshaw, Dylan Wharton (G/K).

Goals: Declan Howe (22) and Lewis Butroid (76)
Bookings: Doherty and Carver (Ashton), Lancaster and Johnson
Attendance: 309

Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Photos by Tommy Cox