Russ Wilcox kept faith with the side that won 3-1 away at Bamber Bridge in midweek, rewarding a sterling performance at one of the in-form sides in the division, with another opportunity from the start. A decision in hindsight, the boss perhaps felt he got wrong. Citing tired legs, and a midweek off for the visitors, as a major contributor in the way the game went in the opening hour.

Football, as they say is based on fine margins. Lewis Butroid clipping the crossbar inside the opening ten minutes for the Holy Blues. A well worked Trinity corner found the captain in space. Taking a touch, before sending an arrowing left-footed effort goalwards – Alex Mitchell could only wave it by – as it clipped the top of the crossbar, with the ‘keeper beaten. The early goal could have shattered the visitors confidence. But with the score remaining levels, Workington grew into the game themselves.

Morecambe loanee, Daniel Ogwuru looked to cut in off the Workington left, but his curler was high and wide. It should have served as a warning for the Holy Blues. But it wasn’t heeded. On fourteen minutes, Jacob McLoughlin cut out a cross field ball. But he couldn’t find a team mate. Only succeeding in finding Josh Galloway, who did complete the switch of play – out to Ogwuru. Again, he came inside and curled low, off the inside of David Robson’s left hand up right, to stun the hosts.

Kai Nugent doubled the visitors tally six minutes later. Again with too much time and space, he again found the net from eighteen yards out. The Blues’ backline at sixes and sevens, as Workington profited from a sluggish opening quarter of the game by the higher ranked hosts. Nugent was a nuisance on the left. Swinging over a couple of crosses, Jack Leckie did well to cut them out, as Billy Barr’s men looked a threat on the front foot.

Frank Mulhern was looking to put himself about, but things weren’t quite clicking for the Holy Blues. A shot on the turn was blocked. And from a Lewis Butroid corner, Mulhern was almost on the end of it, a yard out, but the Workington centre back took the ball off his head, to divert the ball to safety.

Trinity started to creek into life, Leckie seeing his attempt cleared off the line after George Hornshaw’s freekick was only partially dealt with by Mitchell. The Workington ‘keeper caught out of his goal, but his defenders had funnelled back behind him to protect their goal. Tuntulwana ruffling the side netting, as the Blues applied some pressure of their own.

Just a couple of minutes later, Tuntulwana broke the offside trap, his clever run from right to left, initially saw him forced wide. He did well to get his head up though, picking out Javelle Clarke with his cut back. Clarke opted for placement over power – and he too saw his goal bound effort blocked. Gainsborough were starting to ask questions, but the visitors had virtually had two clear cut chances. And scored them both. Trinity had it all to do in the second half. And cross words were surely to be spoken at the interval.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 0 Workington AFC 2

Whatever was said at the break, there seemed like an immediate reaction. Clarke freed Mulhern in the inside right position. Frank taking his effort on early, but firing into the side netting. That would be an indication of what was to come in the second half. Clarke then saw his effort deflected behind for a corner, after Leckie had flicked on an Ashley Jackson long throw. The visitors putting their bodies on the line. Much to the frustration of the Holy Blues.

Seven minutes into the second half Wilcox turned to his bench, to shuffle the pack. Henry Brown, Harrison Beeden & Jonny Margetts, brought on to replace McLoughlin, Offler & Clarke. Russ tweaking personnel in one or two positions, including Butroid more central, and Hornshaw given license to get forward down the right. Trinity were starting to crank up the pressure, but Mitchell only had a routine stop at the end of it, as Margetts snatched at the opportunity.

Despite the changes, it was the visitors who would have a third. On the hour, Ogwuru grabbed his second of the afternoon, with a cooly converted penalty. Visiting debutant, Luke Hunter, on loan from AFC Fylde found himself up ended by David Robson. And the Referee had little hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Jordan Helliwell’s effort from the edge of the box was well over, as again Workington defended the edge of their six yard box. Jackson floated a ball into the box, that Tuntulwana looked to get hold of. Brown looked to unlock the stubborn visiting defence, with Helliwell arriving late on the edge of the box. And looking to break the deadlock.

The visitors thought they had seen off the danger again, when the ball pinballed around their goal mouth. But having appeared to clear their box, it fell for Trinity skipper, Butroid, to pick his way through a couple of challenges, before firing home from twenty yards – to reduce the deficit.

With twenty to play, the Blues sensed a way back into the game. The visitors’ heads dropped. And momentum shifted. One quickly became two for Trinity. Mulhern tried his luck from range – and the deflection off the defender left Mitchell off - balance and unable to stop Frank the tank’s effort – hitting the back of the net!

Margetts looked to invite Hornshaw forward, George obliged. Looking for the ball into the feet of Tuntulwana – Workington again did well defensively, frustrating Tuntulwana. Seven minutes after launching the comeback. The comeback was complete. With thirteen minutes left to play, Mulhern dispatched from the penalty spot, his second and Gainsborough’s third. Panic ensuing in the visitors ranks, when Henry Brown’s ball inside for Butroid, had Workington fearing for a similar result to the opening goal. The clumsy challenge – again giving the Referee little alternative.

Trinity had done brilliantly to haul themselves level, but fell into the trap of going too long, too quickly, in the quest for a winner. And as they pushed for the decisive goal, Workington weren’t to be underestimated. Luke Ellis saw appeals for a penalty deep into added time waved away, and Trinity were forced to defend a late couple of balls into the box. The back line, with the impressive Beeden & Leckie, working hard to ensure the backdoor remained slammed shut. Below par for an hour of the game, the Holy Blues showed character in abundance, to get something from a game, that for a large chunk, they had not deserved to.

The visitors certainly adding to an engaging encounter for any neutrals in the 643 strong crowd. And Trinity averaging two points per game, from the seven games so far, in 2026, now move on to Whitby Town away, this coming Tuesday night.

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Jacob McLoughlin (Henry Brown 53) Ashley Jackson, Ashton Offler (Harrison Beeden 53), Jack Leckie, Lewis Butroid, Jordan Helliwell, Sisa Tuntulwana (Theo Williams 81) Frank Mulhern, Javelle Clarke (Jonny Margetts 53)
Sub not used: Fraser Preston
Gainsborough goals: Lewis Butroid 70' Frank Mulhern 74' & 77'

Workington AFC: Alex Mitchell, Ceiran Casson, Keelan Leslie, Luke Ellis, Jordan Little, Jack Dickinson, Josh Galloway (Dan Hopper 63) Brad Carroll, Luke Hunter (Steven Rigg 83) Daniel Ogwueu (Josh Palmer 86), Kai Nugent
Subs not used: Charlie Barnes & Daniel Eccles
Workington goals: Daniel Ogwuru 14’ & 63’, Kai Nugent 21’
Workington bookings: Luke Ellis (foul) Steven Rigg (dissent)

Referee: Luke Hood, Assistants: Matthew Maddison & James Day

Match Report written by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Sean Cook (@FoxbyMedia) and Tommy Cox