Russ Wilcox was deprived of the services of top scorer Jonny Margetts, and forced to name three right backs in the starting eleven as George Hornshaw joined Aaron Simpson & Sisa Tuntulwana in the side. Lewis Butroid & Adam Crookes also missing out, to make it a trio of Trinity players' missing for the game. New signing Jakub Kruszynski started on the bench, alongside 'keeper Ollie Sykes, Work Experience youngster Dan Vanderpuye & Jacob McLoughlin.

Trinity were undone early. Ahkeem Rose powering home a free header from Chris Hussey's first corner of the afternoon for the hosts. Trinity looked to respond, and went close when Tony Breeden was forced into a smart save low down to his right. Gainsborough's corner, delivered by Fraser Preston was inventive, but found Bobby Johnson leaning back, and he failed to work the home custodian.

Rose doubled Hednesford's advantage on 18 minutes. Volleying home as the ball fell kindly for the striker. Despite going two down early - the belief in the Trinity camp remained & Wilcox's men began to grow into the game. Dominic McHale, wearing the captain's armband for the hosts, looked to lob David Robson with an audacious lofted attempt, but Robson was able to watch that sail over his crossbar.

Momentum began to swing Gainsborough's way. Ashley Jackson driving run forward saw him let fly from 25 yards out. His low effort not far wide of Breeden's left hand upright. Shortly after, Johnson raked a ball from right to left, picking out the run of Aaron Simpson. He got the better of Jamie Morgan. Crossing for Javelle Clarke, who was working tirelessly for the visitors, he got the first touch - but as he looked to spin and get a shot away - he lost his footing on the greasy surface.

The Blues looked to mount some pressure, with Sisa Tuntulwana looking to make things happen. A tug back by Simeon Maye didn't slow Tuntulwana, who was then clipped by the same man. After a prolonged talking to, Preston was able to deliver deep towards the back post. Flicked away from initial danger, Trinity won a corner as the half ticked into stoppage time. And Johnson saw his downward header from Preston's corner, cleared off the line, Trinity finishing the half trailing - but beginning to get the upper hand in the game.

Half Time: Hednesford Town 2 Gainsborough Trinity 0

At the break, Wilcox changed things up, releasing Tuntulwana further forward. And it wasn't long before he had more of an impact in the more advanced position. Sisa tried his luck with a curling effort before Clarke got a touch to Hornshaw's centre. Diverting the ball onto the post, Breeden falling onto the ball, on his line, as the ball was played back to him by a white-shirted defender. Time almost standing still, as no one in blue could react quickly enough.

Fraser Preston's set pieces were finding blue-shirted team mates, and they were causing the hosts all sorts of problems, but the Blues were missing Margetts' strikers' instinct. Both Johnson & Tuntulwana going close from set pieces, while the Pitmen stood firm - just.

Preston's clever reverse ball into Aaron Simpson, saw the makeshift left-sided midfielder tee up Tuntulwana, but as he lined up his shot, Jamie Morgan recovered well. Blocking the shot, and sending the ball spinning behind for a corner kick.

The hosts made a number of substitutions, as Trinity continued to chase the game. Strengthening their back line as they took off forward Dan Turner and replaced him with central defender Elliot Johnson. Even with the extra defender, it was the Blues that continued to press, looking for a way back into the game. Rose, McHale & Edwards were all replaced with twenty to play - the Pitmen having struggled to get out of their own half - with any real fluency in the second period.

And they were indebted to their 'keeper Breeden, when he pulled off an acrobatic, full length save, to deny Tuntulwana. Helping his effort over the bar. From the corner, Breeden reacted well-again, as Harrison Beeden dived full length, but still couldn't find a way past the inspired, home goalkeeper.

McLoughlin and Kruszynski were added to the action, with the new man looking lively down the left hand side.. As Vanderpuye replaced Tuntulwana, the Holy Blues continued to search out a goal. And Johnson went inches away from pulling one back, five minutes from time. He caught his strike cleanly. All across the ground, his strike cracked against Breeden's right hand upright. Rebounding back into play. Vanderpuye caught flat-footed & the flag went up, as he couldn't react.

Deep into stoppage time, the hosts finally managed to get hold of the ball. And see out the final throes of the game. But they knew that they had been in for a tough, tough game. Just Trinity had given themselves too much to do, with the two early goals conceded. Russ Wilcox's men had thrown the proverbial kitchen sink at Hednesford. For long periods of time, the hosts were on the back foot

With a quarter of the season now complete. And Trinity averaging 1.9 points per game and in the Third Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup, it's fair to say - the Trinity faithful will be pleased with the opening to the campaign, as we head into a cup double header, away at Grimsby Borough in the Lincolnshire County Cup, on Wednesday, before next weekend's FA Cup clash, away to Dunston UTS, up in the North East. We dust ourselves down. And prepare ourselves to go again.

The Teams

Hednesford Town: Tony Breeden, Jamie Morgan, Simeone Maye, Chris Hussey, Ollie Harrison, Ryan Wynter, Ahkeem Rose (Kieron Freeman 72) Joe Charles-Doyle, Jonny Edwards (Jake Jervis 71) Dom McHale (Dan Trickett-Smith 71) Dan Turner (Elliot Johnson 65)
Sub not used: Ryan Brown

Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Sisa Tuntulwana (Dan Vanderpuye 81) Ashley Jackson, Bobby Johnson, Will Lancaster, Harrison Beeden, Aaron Simpson (Jakub Kruszynski 70) Jordan Helliwell, George Hornshaw (Jacob McLoughlin 70) Javelle Clarke, Fraser Preston
Sub not used: Ollie Sykes

Attendance:1,392 (71 Holy Blues)

Match Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Tommy Cox