Wilcox again kept faith with the side he has for a large chunk of the unbeaten run. His one squad change saw the fit again Aaron Simpson replacing young goalkeeper Ollie Sykes on the bench.

Minutes before kick off, the heavens opened. And torrential rain & swirling winds threatened to consume Bracken Moor Stadium - and the conditions were set to persist for the duration of the first half. Settling quicker, Stocksbridge’s James Morris missed his kick when well placed on nine minutes. A flowing move from the hosts saw the Steels in down their right, but the unpredictable surface left Morris red-faced and the green-shirted Holy Blues with a let off.

And it would be a let-off that Jonny Margetts would capitalise upon. Not once, but twice. Netting a sixty-second double, that took the game away from the home side in a flash. Trinity's first real bit of football saw Margetts involved in the build up. Working the ball out to the right, Jonny continued his run & as Fraser Preston checked back inside and got his head up, he picked out the Gainsborough goal machine, who had peeled off onto the full back. Margetts' next move was to ghost inside, beating Thomas Charlesworth to the ball & guiding his header back across goal, from where the ball had come.

As the Trinity faithful were still celebrating, Margetts was busy adding his and Gainsborough’s second. Charlesworth left his centre back with a short pass. And Javelle Clarke was on hand to quickly pounce. Guiding the ball into the unmarked Margetts, who opened up his body & tucked his finish inside the far corner, out of reach of Park Steels' 'keeper Ben Townsend.

Half Time: Stocksbridge Park Steels 0 Gainsborough Trinity 2

The rain subsided for the second half. Though the damage had already been done to a sodden Bracken Moor playing surface. As large chunks of the second period passed without note, Preston went closest to scoring for the Holy Blues in the second half. Working room for a shooting opportunity, he looked to bend the ball into the top left hand corner, but agonisingly it clipped the top of the crossbar.

Sandwiched between that and Sisa fizzing a dangerous ball low across the face of goal - that was just out of reach of Margetts, looking for his hat-trick - Stocksbridge struck the frame of Robson's goal courtesy of a sliding intervention from Will Lancaster, getting across well at his near post to defend: the ball grazing the outside of the upright.

Putting bodies on the line, the Trinity defensive unit wouldn't allow Stocksbridge through, with Hornshaw completing the defensive duties, clearing away the danger. In the final half hour, both teams made their full compliment of changes. And it was perhaps Steels' substitute, Jack Watson who looked the most lively. Five minutes from time, Watson cut in off the left hand side and sent a curling effort towards the top right hand corner. Robbo, springing into action, flinging himself to his left and helping the ball up and over the bar, preserving his - and Gainsborough's clean sheet.

Watson had another similiar effort a couple of minutes later, but that was more routine for Robson. Fielding that effort low down.

Bobby Johnson then went through on goal, after he created his own good fortune, winning the ball back in the centre of the park. With the Steels committing men forward, gaps were starting to open up, but Bobby & Gainsborough couldn't find a third on the night - but did stand firm to secure a fifth consecutive clean sheet in the league and a sixth of the campaign, so far. All clean sheets coming in the league. An impressive feat indeed for the Holy Blues, carrying out the boss, Russ Wilcox's clear message - to be strong in both boxes. His side have certainly been doing that of late - and long may it continue.

Taking the confidence that comes from piecing a run such as the one we find ourselves on, we head into the weekend in high spirits. We welcome Rushall Olympic to the Kal Group Stadium, for the second knockout game between the sides, in two seasons. This time, it is Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round action. The Holy Blues having made it through, thanks to Jonny Margetts' stoppage time header, away at Corby. Rushall progressing after beating Atherstone 5-1 at Dales Lane, in their First Round game. It has certainly got all the makings of another cracking cup tie - so let's see you down on the Northolme, cheering on the boys, in your numbers!

The Teams

Stocksbridge Park Steels: Ben Townsend, Thomas Charlesworth, Jack Tinker (Sam Kay 61) Kurtis Turner, Elliot Owen, Jaz Goundry, Daniel Deakin (Alex O'Connor 72) Connor Smythe (Jack Crook 80) James Morris, Oliwer Grzelak (Tomas Poole 61) Thomas Marshall (Jack Watson 61)

Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Sisa Tuntulwana, Adam Crookes, George Hornshaw (Jacob McLoughlin 72) Will Lancaster, Harrison Beeden, Javelle Clarke (Ashley Jackson 80) Jordan Helliwell, Jonny Margetts (Daniel Vanderpuye 80) Frank Mulhern (Bobby Johnson 59) Fraser Preston (Aaron Simpson 65)

Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Sean Cook (@FoxbyMedia)