Russ Wilcox made two changes to his starting eleven, from New Year Day's victory over Cleethorpes Town, goal scorer Javelle Clarke was rewarded with a return to the starting eleven, and towering centre back Jack Leckie was paired alongside Jacob McLoughlin at the heart of the defence. Fellow new signing Ashton Offler started on the bench, as Frank Mulhern still wasn’t quite ready to be involved.

It was in truth, a disjointed first half. The Holy Blues perhaps a tad rusty, having had more than a fortnight’s break, due to the recent poor weather that has swept most of the country. The urgency and conviction just didn’t seem to be there, in the first half. Though things could have been different – if Jonny Margetts was able to hit the target on eight minutes, but his attempt lacked direction.

Moments later, Margetts was inches away, as Trinity won the ball back high. Fraser Preston then looked to drive the hosts forward, before looking for the square ball, but Margetts found Jeff Henderson, at the heart of the Highwaymen’s defence standing firm, first diverting behind for a corner, before heading away the set piece.

Just past the half hour mark, Morpeth won their first corner of the afternoon. Will Dowling’s delivery was met by a blue shirt, before David Robson came to relieve the pressure, claiming Dowling’s high ball into the box. A Lewis Butroid corner caused the visiting defence to panic, but the Blues couldn’t work the ‘Peth shot stopper, as Morpeth belatedly cleared the danger.

A first real shot in anger came four minutes from the break, Nic Bolardo firing over the top from range. An effort that didn’t have Robson overly worried.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 0 Morpeth Town 0

Gainsborough would go on to dominate the second half, creating the better of the chances, but it wouldn’t be until the final ten minutes when Russ Wilcox’s men would find the telling breakthrough. Dan Langley was by far the busier of the custodians. Making a number of good stops to keep the Highwaymen in the game. The first coming just a few minutes into the second half, when he parried away Lewis Butroid’s headed attempt from Preston’s dangerous ball in from the right hand side. George Hornshaw fired a yard wide from the edge of the box, as Trinity started knocking on the door.

Hornshaw then swung a cross over from the right, Sisa trying the acrobatics, before Williams saw his shot blocked by Louis Stephenson. Margetts was withdrawn, alongside Preston, with just over an hour to play. Moving Theo Williams & Tuntulwana further forward. Charlie Parks & Jordan Helliwell adding their presence to the Gainsborough cause.

Helliwell immediately began to have an impact. His vision to slide in Tuntulwana, saw Langley called into action, before Williams really, began to cause the visitors problems, as he played on the shoulder, but twice in a couple of minutes, when well placed, he dragged wide of Langley’s goal. Just after the second, he seemed to cramp up, and needed to be replaced by young Ethan Hodgett, for his Trinity bow, at the tender age of seventeen.

Jack Leckie, who had been imperious at the back, picked up a caution, as Morpeth looked to cause the Blues a problem or two going forward, but Robson commanded his area, when called upon. The on loan Alfreton man, not losing a header in his own half.

Ashton Offler became the third Trinity debutant of the afternoon, when he replaced Javelle Clarke with thirteen minutes to play. And he was thrown into the fray up top. Providing a focal point for Sisa to play off. He was only on the field for four minutes, when he caused problems at the heart of the Morpeth defence. Tuntulwana won the throw, and wound up, to take it himself. Long. Helped on by Offler. Leckie kept on moving in the box & as Butroid couldn’t find the finishing touch – Jack – was the lad – to fire Trinity in front!

Hodgett then did brilliantly down the right, getting to the by-line. His cut back finding Offler, but he was left to wonder, how he hadn’t added to the Trinity tally. Langley producing further heroics. And as it was, Leckie’s goal would be the only goal of the game. The crucial clean sheet, meaning the one goal enough to hand the Holy Blues – the three point haul, that takes Gainsborough up to sixth and to the cusp of the play-off places.

A seven day break awaits, before the trip to Whitby Town, next Saturday… and the start of a manic run of fixtures that will see seven games in 22 manic days for Wilcox’s warriors. Get behind the side. Like you have… home and away. And together. Why can’t we dream big?

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Sisa Tuntulwana, Ashley Jackson, Jacob McLoughlin, Jack Leckie, George Hornshaw, Lewis Butroid, Theo Williams (Ethan Hodgett 69) Jonny Margetts (Charlie Parks 59) Javelle Clarke (Ashton Offler 77) Fraser Preston (Jordan Helliwell 59)
Sub not used: Charlie Carter

Gainsborough goal: Jack Leckie 81'
Yellow cards: Jack Leckie & Charlie Parks

Morpeth Town Daniel Langley, Rhys Evans, Joshua Robson, William Dowling, Louis Stephenson, Jeff Henderson, Dominic Martins (Ryan Chater 46) James Huntley (Alfie Henderson 84) Joe Bryson (Aaron Chung 76) Nic Bolardo, Joel Holvey

Morpeth yellow cards: Joel Holvey, Josh Robson & Louis Stephenson

Attendance 538

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