The boss made three changes to the side beaten at the weekend, by Leek. Back in came Sisa Tuntulwana, partnering Frank Mulhern up top, Jacob McLoughlin and Ashley Jackson coming in for Henry Brown, missing through injury and Charlie Parks. The latter starting on the bench along with Jonny Margetts. The visiting Blues looked to cause the hosts problems at Iron Gate early on. Deservedly taking a fourth minute lead, when Butroid scored his eighth of the season. Arriving on time, in space. He profited from the selfless play of Tuntulwana. Sisa putting the ball on a plate following good play involving Frank Mulhern and Javelle Clarke down the right. That came after Mulhern and Tuntulwana had linked up well, with the latter firing narrowly over the top.

Archie Lang threatened immediately after the Blues had taken the lead. But David Robson was equal to his effort. Olly Molloy was next to work Robson, as the scene was set, and you immediately got a taste for what this encounter was going to be about. Trinity were hunting in packs. Forcing the error in possession. Clarke was looking to get on the front foot, as he looked to release Butroid, finding acres of space, but his touch got away from him, as Dowling was smartly off his line. Kofi Moore and Jamie Allen took turns, in quick succession, to fire balls across the face of the Gainsborough goal, while Jack Leckie and the big Brig striker Molloy engaged in a humdinger of a battle, that started early and commenced throughout the evening.

Midway through the half, Trinity conceded a freekick in a dangerous area. Gainsborough had appeared to pinch the ball fairly on the turnover, but Mr Aldred had other ideas. Fortunately, Emerich Poilly didn’t catch the freekick cleanly. Deflected behind for corner, Brig were very inventive with the corner routine. But Robson was bravely across his goal line to smother the danger. Trinity felt agreived as Moore equaliser for the hosts. A clean strike from Molloy’s knockdown – but incensed, the travelling Blues felt Ashley Jackson had been barged off the ball in the build up. Ashton Offler going into the referee’s notebook for his protests at the decision. On the half hour, Mulhern thumped a powerful header off Dowling’s right hand up right. The striker generating some considerable power with his head. Leaving Dowling rooted to the spot – the ball rebounded to safety.

Again, a contentious freekick went the way of the hosts in the middle of the park. Taken quickly Michael Potts saw a couple of efforts in quick succession, go close for the hosts. His second narrowly wide of the upright. Great interplay down the left from Trinity almost ended in a goal, as Oluchuwkwu nearly put through his own goal. His sliced, attempted clearance, just past the post. Perhaps the last goalmouth action of an engaging first half.

Half Time: Bamber Bridge 1 Gainsborough Trinity 1

Tuntulwana continued to look threatening for Trinity. Just unable to bend his run in behind, after some more good football from the visitors. Meanwhile, George Hornshaw and Jordan Helliwell continued to be industrious in the middle of the park. Covering every inch of the Iron Gate playing surface, twice over! They provided the shield for the Trinity backline, and were the spark to start each promising attack the Holy Blues mustered. Robson was called into action. Making the save from point blank range as Molloy beat the offside trap, before Jack Leckie went into the notebook. His back and forth with the Bamber Bridge number ten – before Sisa asked questions – but didn’t get the answers he deserved. Having his shirt pulled, advantage was played, before he was barged off the ball. That wouldn’t unsettle the Gainsborough number nine, as he persisted. Clarke found Tuntulwana inside the box, and as he chopped onto his left foot, with only Dowling to beat, he was sent to the ground. Unmoved, Mr Aldred waved play on.

Sweeping from one end to the other, Offler found himself in trouble. And a mis-timed tackle saw him sent off. A second yellow, his first mis-timed tackle. And the Blues would have to see out just under half an hour, with ten men. Having gone down to ten, Wilcox sacrificed Mulhern for the presence of Harrison Beeden, alongside Leckie at the back. The former Lancaster City stopper immediately settling back into life at the heart of the Gainsborough defence. Molloy got the better of Leckie, the on loan man got back well, to deflect his effort behind for a corner. The setpiece, swung in to the near post was initially well defended, but Brig maintained the pressure, and with the ball recycled, Knight-Percival couldn’t steer the ball inside Robson’s left hand up right. As both sides continued to battle, McLoughlin was booked, before Lang looked to drive at the Trinity full back. Robson making a brave block at his near post and Beeden putting his body on the line to divert the ball away from Knight-Percival.

With just under twelve minutes to play, the Blues retook the lead. David Robson sent a free kick from right to left, picking out Butroid on the far side. His clever spin left Isaac Abankwah chasing shadows. Butty sending a ball flashing across the six yard box, where Tuntulwana poked home. The double act combining for a goal, for the second time of the night. Having fallen behind for a second time, the hosts rallied again. From point blank range, Robson stood firm. Taking one flush in the face, he was backed up. Bodies on the line, flung in front of the ball. The danger repelled. Potts looked to thread the ball through the eye of a needle, but Beeden snuffed out the danger, before Robson was bravely into action again at his near post. The ten men were hanging on. Wave after wave of white-shirted attacks, pouring forward.

And when seven minutes of added time were put up on the board, Jamie Milligan’s Brig sensed blood. Beeden again produced the heroics, clearing off the line from Aidan Dowling, up from the back for a stoppage time corner. Trinity limbs, slamming the door shut under extreme pressure. Seemingly dead on his feet, from working the line, Tuntulwana managed to summon yet more effort six minutes into added time. Chasing down a lost cause. A miscommunication, saw Sisa nip in between defender and ‘keeper. Rounding Dowling, he just had the defender to beat, but Abankwah recovered well, to block. And Helliwell got up in support. His running off the ball, not tracked by the hosts. And he added the third with a smart low finish for his first of the season. Putting the game beyond doubt. That strike,

Trinity’s third of the night, the Holy Blues’ two hundredth goal under the management of Russ Wilcox. Another milestone under the boss! An incredible seventh win on the road in midweek. The nineteenth point picked up, away from home – in midweek. Coupled with the victory at Hartlepool… it was another special night on their travels for the Holy Blues. And a result that sees the Blues just four points off fifth placed Warrington Rylands, with three games in hand

The Teams

Bamber Bridge Aidan Dowling, Isaac Abankwah, Oluchukwu Nwankwo, Chris Churchman, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Archie Lang, Jamie Allen, Michael Potts (Danny Forbes 90+!) Emerich Poilly (Lewis Pilgrim 76) Olly Molloy, Kofi Moore (Harry Benns 77)
Sub not used: Spencer Knight
Bamber Bridge goal: Kofi Moore 25’
Bamber Bridge booking: Isaac Abankwah

Gainsborough Trinity David Robson, Jacob McLoughlin, Ashley Jackson, Ashton Offler, Jack Leckie, George Hornshaw, Lewis Butroid, Jordan Helliwell, Sisa Tuntulwana, Frank Mulhern (Harrison Beeden 66) Javelle Clarke (Fraser Preston 71)
Subs not used: Charlie Parks, Jonny Margetts & James Leverton
Gainsborough goals: Lewis Butroid 4’ Sisa Tuntulwana 78’ Jordan Helliwell 90+6’
Gainsborough bookings: David Robson, Jacob McLoughlin, Ashton Offler (two yellows) Jack Leckie

Match Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images courtesy of Ruth Hornby (Bamber Bridge