Blues’ boss, Russ Wilcox, was deprived of the services of Adam Crookes. The experienced defender ruled out with a niggly injury. Young centre back, Charlie Parks deputising at the heart of the defence alongside Harrison Beeden, the only change to the side that ran out convincing winners at Warrington Town, seven days prior.

It was in truth a drab first half, that failed to truly catch light. Frank Mulhern looked to continue his form, that had seen him net in each of the last three games. He looked to pounce on a loose ball 25 yards from goal. He didn’t catch his effort cleanly, and it deflected off Jonny Margetts to force Ben Townsend into the first action of the afternoon. Tuntulwana looked to release Lewis Butroid down the left hand side. As he looked to provide the ammunition, he needed two bites at the cherry. His second ball in, finding Margetts in space, just inside the box, Jonny creating room to get a shot away, but he couldn’t work Townsend.

Mulhern looked to release Tuntulwana, with a superb cross field switch, but Townsend was quickly off his line. Punching the ball behind for the first Trinity corner of the afternoon. Butroid’s corner, well defended at the near post, by the Park Steels defence.

Both sides were struggling to get the ball down on the deck and play, but when Trinity did – they looked dangerous. Butroid finding the feet of Margetts, Gainsborough’s number swept the ball out to Aaron Simpson coming forward from right back. With Margetts having dropped deep, Tuntulwana made the run furthest forward & Simpson found him with the pass inside. Forced a little wide, Sisa brought out the best in Townsend, who got across his goal well, to make the sprawling block.

Park Steels tried their luck a couple of times with long range efforts. The first, Connor Smythe’s freekick not troubling David Robson. His wall, doing it’s job. The second, from similar distance saw Danny Deakin try to loft the ball over Robson after the Trinity shot-stopper had come a long way to punch clear a long freekick into his box.

Tuntulwana and Jordan Helliwell, did well to win the ball back in midfield, for the Holy Blues. Countering quickly, down the Carlilse Street side, Helliwell slipping the ball out to the right, where Mulhern weighted a beautiful ball in behind for the Trinity midfielder to latch on to, he tried to slot the ball underneath the advancing Townsend, but the visiting ‘keeper got his moment of fortune.

It was fair to say, it wasn’t a forty-five minutes that would live long in the memory, of the Trinity faithful.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 0 Stocksbridge Park Steels 0

Stirred by boss, Wilcox, at the break - Trinity came out more determined in the second half. And started to fashion openings, but the attempts weren’t troubling the visiting defence. Mulhern’s effort lacked power, before shortly after, Tuntulwana tried his luck from range. It had the power, but was a yard or two over the top. It was better from the Blues, but not free-flowing.

Ashley Jackson was unable to steer a header from six yards on target, after Butroid had managed to work a quick one-two from a short corner. His floated ball in, dropping into the right area, but the Blues couldn’t capitalise. Butroid’s deep cross then found Mulhern, who expertly peeled off at the back post. Making himself room to stand up a deep cross. No one reacted, as the visitors were content to concede the corner. Sisa got up highest, to meet Bobby Johnson’s corner, but again, the effort didn’t trouble Townsend.

Trinity continued to probe. And Johnson was next to try his luck from the corner of the box. His effort moved all over, from the moment it left his boot. But Townsend was equal to it. Not taking any chances as he parried the ball away.

It looked like it would be one of those days for the home side, when Lewis Butroid was well placed, and saw Townsend equal to his effort. Not long after Theo Williams’ introduction, in place of Margetts, the young on loan forward looked to race in behind. Centre back Iggulden for the visitors made a great initial interception, to take the ball away from the substitute, but when Tuntulwana fell on the loose ball, and set for Butroid, the Gainsborough faithful waited for the net to bulge.

Tuntulwana did edge Trinity in front, nineteen minutes from time. The converted forward, diverting a close range effort beyond Townsend, after Frank Mulhern fired goalwards through a crowded box. Aaron Simpson involved in the build up after a couple of determined challenges saw Trinity advance down the right hand side.

Moments later, Simpson was again involved. His ball into the box causing panic. Butroid & Williams seemingly competing for the same ball, before the two worked an opening, Butty teeing up the forward, making his home debut, but as Williams pulled the trigger, Samuel Kay flung his body at the ball, making a brave block.

With only a goal in it, Jordan Lemon’s men continued to compete. Visiting skipper, Jack Tinker shot straight at David Robson & Alex O’Connor beat the wall, but not Robson from a freekick, before O’Connor’s long range hit, stunned Trinity, levelling things up for Stocksbridge. The three man Gainsborough midfield not reacting quickly enough to close down the Steels’ midfielder.

Shortly after Park Steels’ number nine Luke Rawson wasn’t far wide from the edge of the box, after another long ball forward from Townsend caused the Blues problems. Parks doing well to win the initial contact, but the visitors were quicker to the second ball, and so nearly snatched all three points at the death.

And despite five additional minutes of playing time, the Holy Blues couldn’t muster a dramatic late finale – and the sides had to settle for a point a piece, at the start of a busy run of home games – for Russ Wilcox’s Holy Blues.

We move on quickly to Leek Town on Tuesday night… looking to bounce back from a disappointing draw & the lads aspiring to hit the heights of Warrington Town away. Let’s go again boys!

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity David Robson, Aaron Simpson, Ashley Jackson, Bobby Johnson, Charlie Parks, Harrison Beeden, Lewis Butroid, Jordan Helliwell, Jonny Margetts (Theo Williams) Frank Mulhern, Sisa Tuntulwana (Jacob McLoughlin 81)
Subs not used: Fraser Preston, George Hornshaw & Javelle Clarke
Gainsborough goal: Sisa Tuntulwana 71’
Gainsborough booking: Jordan Helliwell (foul)

Stocksbridge Park Steels Ben Townsend, Thomas Charlesworth (Tommy Marshall) Jack Tinker, Samuel Kay (Kurtis Turner) Elliot Owen, Paul Iggulden, Danny Deakin (Alfie Bradshaw) Alexander O’Connor, Luke Rawson, James Morris (Alfie Wilkinson) Connor Smythe (Oliwier Grzelak 46)
Stocksbridge goal: Alex O’Connor 87
Stocksbridge booking: Thomas Charlesworth (foul)

Sponsors Man of the Match: Charlie Parks

Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Sean Cook (@FoxbyMedia) | Check out his album here.