Wilcox freshened things up, with three changes from Tuesday night’s impressive 3-0 win away at Ashton United. Charlie Parks, Henry Brown & Frank Mulhern all started. Ashley Jackson missed the game, serving his one game ban, for his dismissal, against Hednesford Town, seven days ago. Sisa Tuntulwana and Fraser Preston, starting the game on the bench

Lewis Butroid picked up a card early on, for a late challenge, as the ball sat up. Virtually the first foul of the game, seeing the skipper on an early tightrope. Trinity were looking to find the ball into the feet of Jonny Margetts, fresh from his midweek double, but the movement off him wasn’t quite there.

Mulhern looked to catch out Dino Visser, from midway inside the Leek half. Both sides saw half chances come and go. Initially the bounce favoured Mulhern as he got in behind, but as he pulled the trigger, it took a slight deflection off the retreating defender. The clever corner routine picked out George Hornshaw on the edge of the box, but his scuffed effort again didn’t trouble the Leek ‘keeper.

The hosts started to enjoy the better of things, moving the ball well. While Connor Heath and Oliver Shenton caused the Trinity backline one or two issues, bodies on the line including a goal line block by youngster Charlie Parks, kept the score level.

Half an hour in, Butroid showed great determination, making up the ground from wing back, to get the first touch on Parks’ cross. The Lincoln City youngster doing well to dig out a cross, following good play down the right involving Mulhern and Clarke. The challenge came, after Butroid had played the initial ball, wiping out the Gainsborough number seven. Despite the protests, the Referee waved away the Trinity penalty appeals.

Thomas Curl was allowed too much time to drive forward from midfield. Letting fly from 25 yards out, on a greasy surface, David Robson was equal to it. Getting everything behind the ball. He gathered, at the second attempt. But four minutes from the interval, Leek found themselves in front. A moment of misfortune for the young Grimsby Town loanee, Henry Brown. Seemingly injured, in a collision with Adam Porter, Porter immediately raised his concerns to the Referee, who waved on the Trinity physio. Brown was able to get back to his feet, but with the physio summoned, he was forced to leave the field. Leek taking full advantage – Porter himself firing home from Lucas Weir’s set piece.

The Trinity defence, and Robson, feeling particularly aggrieved, the ‘keeper feeling he was fouled by the scorer, with the ball in flight. Not to be for the Holy Blues. And the hosts had something to hold on to.

Half Time: Leek Town 1 Gainsborough Trinity 0

Three changes of personnel, and a change of shape for the Holy Blues, saw Wilcox shake things up. Looking for some spark. Harrison Beeden, complete with mask, returned to the pitch, for the first time since his injury away at Guiseley. Sisa Tuntulwana & Fraser Preston were also added to the fray. Coming off, were Frank Mulhern, Charlie Parks & Henry Brown.

Just past the hour, Trinity had a couple of half chances. A long clearance down the left, was brought out of the sky brilliantly by Clarke. With a clever shimmy, he shaped to shoot. Cutting onto his right foot – he just couldn’t generate the power to trouble Visser, in the Leek goal. A matter of seconds later, Tuntulwana twisted and turned, trying to poke the ball into a dangerous area – he didn’t find his intended target. The ball rebounding to him – he lashed an effort goalwards. But it was deflected behind for a corner.

Leek looked to apply some pressure of their own, and as the Holy Blues failed to clear their collective lines, goalscorer Adam Porter blazed over, after the ball had pinballed around the Gainsborough box.

Sisa was seeing more of the ball down the right, but with twenty minutes remaining, Margetts was replaced by Jacob McLoughlin & Tuntulwana was moved further forwards Hornshaw and Helliwell continued to work hard, in and out of possession, but things were just not clicking for Trinity on the transition. Clarke looked to wriggle his way through a trio of challenges. And Tuntulwana tried something unexpected, somehow seeming to keep the ball in play, on the by line, only to see the decision go against the Gainsborough substitute.

Leek remained compact and resolute – not giving the visitors any real sighters of goal. As the game ticked into stoppage time, Tuntulwana saw the headlines, but with Preston better placed – the ambitious effort didn’t have the desired effect. Visser continued to command his area, claiming a couple of high hanging crosses – and even a late, added time corner – and the presence of ‘keeper Robson making his way forward – failed to have the result Trinity were looking for.

In truth, it was a below par performance from Russ Wilcox’s men, who had been able to pick up three wins and a draw in 2026, ahead of the game. Hopefully it was only a blip – and the boys in blue – can get right back at it again, on Tuesday night, when away game three of three, sees Trinity take on in form Bamber Bridge at Iron Gate.

The Teams

Leek Town: Dino Visser, Liam Buckley, Tom Curl, Cullen Meadowcroft, Liam Edwards, Jack Stafford, Adam Porter, Billy Reeves, Connor Heath (Hayden Campbell 83) Ollie Shenton (Alex Hurst 86) Lucas Weir
Subs not used: James McClenaghan, Marc Grocott & Ashton Callear
Leek goal: Adam Porter
Leek yellow card: Lucas Weir (foul)

Gainsborough Trinity David Robson, Charlie Parks (Sisa Tuntulwana 46) Henry Brown (Fraser Preston 46) Ashton Offler, Jack Leckie, George Hornshaw, Lewis Butroid, Jordan Helliwell, Jonny Margetts (Jacob McLoughlin ) Frank Mulhern (Harrison Beeden 46) Javelle Clarke
Sub not used: Ollie Sykes
Gainsborough yellow card: Lewis Butroid (foul)

Attendance: 503

Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images: Ben Page