David Robson was named between the sticks, returning to the side where he had picked up multiple awards in last season’s Player of the Year awards. And he settled back in, with an assured performance between the sticks. Theo Williams made his first start as a full Trinity player, whilst Elliott Whitehouse and Ben Blythe were named amongst the substitutes, alongside club captain, Bobby Johnson.

Trinity started the game brightly, with Williams seeing a shot charged down, after the ball sat kindly for him in the box. Twelve minutes in though, Gainsborough’s defence rearguard swung into action. Kai Nugent looked for Luke Hunter, but the combined bodies of Beeden, Leckie and Robson, saw the ball deflected up and over the bar for a corner. Robson claiming the corner high at his far post.

Roving forward from right-back, Harvey Sutcliffe swung a ball in from the right, with Lewis Butroid primed, the ball was eased away from his furrowed brow. Preston twice went close to opening the scoring for the home side. The first - side footing narrowly wide after a good move down the left. Soon after, Alex Mitchell was forced into a full length save to keep the score goal-less.

Jordan Helliwell was covering every inch of the Northolme playing surface at the Kal Group Stadium, and showing some real quality on the ball too. Spraying the ball out to Sutcliffe. The former Leeds United academy graduate tested Mitchell. Equally involved, at the other end, Sutcliffe cleared over his own bar as Hunter squared across the face of goal.

Visiting captain, Matt Douglas, met the resulting corner. But he was unable to generate the power behind his effort, with Robson scooping up the danger.

Preston’s second attempt came in the final moments of the half. George Hornshaw did well to fall on the loose ball, and when he was shoved to the ground, referee Ethan Nundy awarded the Blues a freekick. Preston took. And saw his freekick tipped over the bar by a full length Alex Mitchell. in the Workington goal. Harrison Beeden & Jack Leckie coped well with the threat of Luke Hunter, whilst the full backs did well to cope with the intent of Kai Nugent and Jake Allan.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 0 Workington AFC 0

Five minutes into the second half, Javelle Clarke showed good strength to wrestle possession back of the ball, before looking to feed Williams. Mitchell was quickly off his line, as Williams hesitated momentarily.

Dickinson, of Workington, was winding up some huge throws into the Trinity box. Ash Jackson diverted one behind for a corner, Jamie Allan swung in the set piece, which Luke Hunter met – but he planted his header wide of the near post.

Robson was commanding his box well, and his quick release of Jackson down the left, saw the experienced full back look long for Williams. There were glimpses that something was starting to stir for the Blues A quick Preston freekick saw Helliwell burst into the box, his squared ball across the six yard box, well gathered by Alex Mitchell.

Yet the big turnaround occurred with nineteen minutes of the game remaining. Russ Wilcox making what would turn out to be an inspired substitution, replacing Clarke with Ashton Offler – the former Mickleover and Matlock man, was thrust into an attacking role, and less than two minutes into his cameo, he was opening the scoring.

Mitchell was the busier of the two ‘keepers, but there was nothing he could do to keep out Offler’s towering backpost header. Following Offler’s introduction, Williams was shifted out to the right, and immediately he was more involved in the action – driving at his full back, the former Kings Lynn man delivered a wicked ball on the run, picking out the late run of Offler, who crashed his towering header home, off the underside of the bar!

Moments later, Mitchell was at his best to deny Leckie from close range, And Jackson saw his looping header tipped over the bar. And another header, this time from Leckie, looped onto the roof of the net.

Though there was nothing Mitchell could do when Fraser Preston caressed home a delicate finish, after a flowing move. Williams again the outlet down the right for Trinity, he found skipper Lewis Butroid, who instead of shooting, deftly rolled the ball into the path of Preston who made the game safe.

As Workington looked for a way back into the game, David Robson took the pressure off the back line, with good command of his box, as Trinity secured an opening day victory in the Lincolnshire sunshine.

Two goals scored. A clean sheet in the bag. And up and running for the new season. What’s not to like, as the Blues start a busy opening month to the campaign. One down, seven to go in August. With the trip to Alfreton Town up next, for Russ Wilcox’s Holy Blues.

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Harvey Sutcliffe, Ashley Jackson, George Hornshaw (Bobby Johnson 90+1) Jack Leckie, Harrison Beeden, Lewis Butroid (Jacob McLoughlin 90_6) Jordan Helliwell, Theo Williams (Ben Blythe 89), Javelle Clarke (Ashton Offler 70) Fraser Preston (Elliott Whitehouse 85)
Trinity goals: Ashton Offler 73, Fraser Preston 80

Workington AFC: Alex Mitchell, Ceiron Casson (Ted Thomson 90+5) Keelan Leslie, Isaac Whitehall, Matt Douglas, Jack Dickinson, Tom Stephenson (Charlie Barnes 77) Luke Ellis (Simon Rigby 79) Luke Hunter, Kai Nugent (Josh Palmer 85) Jake Allan (Dan Hopper 70)
Workington bookings: Jack Dickinson & Josh Palmer

Report written by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Sean Cook (@Foxby Media)
Sean's Match Album