The Holy Blues made one change to the side that was victorious against Ashton United on Friday night. Bobby Johnson came in to skipper the side, in place of George Hornshaw, who started on the bench. The visitors were without top scorer (centre back) James Blunden & talisman Liam Hughes, with former Trinity midfield schemer Bailey Conway amongst the substitutes, as he continued his return from injury.

In a half that struggled to get going – quite literally after a pitch inspection was eventually concluded at ten past three, with kick off agreed for quarter past, in front of another bumper Kal Group Stadium crowd – there were few clear cut opportunities for either side. Harrison Beeden went closest for the Holy Blues. Attacking a Harvey Sutcliffe freekick, his close range contact taking a deflection and almost deceiving Ollie Battersby, in the Cleethorpes goal.

Athletically, DavId Robson had to be alert. Tipping behind a Jack Leckie back header. Beeden did well to make the first contact from the corner, with Theo Williams looking to spring the counter. He was fouled by Aaron Braithwaite, who picked up a good booking for his side.

An Ashley Jackson long throw was only partially cleared. And Jordan Helliwell swung in a good ball that Beeden attacked. But he couldn’t generate the power to trouble the Cleethorpes’ keeper. Battersby was beaten all ends up eight minutes from half time when Lewis Butroid, making his 150th appearance for his hometown club, fired narrowly over the angle of post and bar from distance.

Defences were most certainly on top in the first half though – one that would not last long in the memories of the 1,024 in attendance.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 0 Cleethorpes Town 0

The Owls started the second half quickly. Braithwaite forcing Robson into a save with his feet, before Callum Ainsley tried his luck with an audacious snapshot, that Robbo regained his composure to save comfortably. Joe Ackroyd got in and toe-poked over the bar after Josh Walker slipped in the box, the Trinity defence having momentarily switched off.

There was already more life in the game in the opening ten minutes of the second half. And after Sutcliffe had done well to win a corner for the Holy Blues, Ash Jackson fizzed an effort a whisker wide of Battersby’s left hand upright. Theo Williams looked to trouble Callum Foster with his pace, but lost his footing at the key moment, with Clee sweeping down the other end, Robson again doing brilliantly to deny Walker with another fine save.

Just two minutes later, the visitors led. A clever move down their right saw Callum Ainsley slide the ball across the face of goal, giving Walker the easiest finish, nudging over the line from half a yard out. The goal coming as Wilcox prepared to make his first switch of the afternoon.

One quickly became two, when Trinity failed to clear their lines. Walker lashing his and Clee’s second of the afternoon, high into the roof of the net. Punishing the Gainsborough mistake & taking the game away from the Holy Blues. When three became four, after Fewster was played through. He kept his cool to slide past Robson, as the ground waited for the flag to be raised. The decision wasn’t forthcoming. And Trinity found themselves three down without reply.

Changes littered the closing quarter of an hour, with Brown and fellow substitute Javelle Clarke looking to make things happen – but there was no way back into the game, as Cleethorpes shut up shop and saw out the game.

A disappointing result. A below par performance – but one the Holy Blues will look to put right on Saturday, when they travel to Sherwood Colliery in the Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round.

Defeat bringing to an end a hectic first month of the season, that has seen Trinity pick up thirteen points from the first eight games, with four wins and a draw in those games. We move onwards, in touching distance at the top. Dust ourselves down ready to go again. Together, with everyone behind us. Let’s keep believing.

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Harvey Sutcliffe, Ashley Jackson, Bobby Johnson, Jack Leckie (Ben Blythe 64) Harrison Beeden, Lewis Butroid (Elliott Whitehouse 78) Jordan Helliwell (George Hornshaw 75) Theo Williams, Ashton Offler (Connor Brown 64) Fraser Preston (Javelle Clarke 71)

Cleethorpes Town: Ollie Battersby, Dan Gallimore, Nathan Newall, Liam Ravenhill (Jamie Tomlinson 90) Jamie Bramwell, Callum Foster, Billy Fewester (Charlie Elliott 87) Joe Ackroyd (Bailey Conway 71) Josh Walker, Aaron Braithwaite (Marshall Burke 78) Callum Ainsley (Lewis Hey 79)
Cleethorpes goals: Walker 63, 67, Fewster 73
Cleethorpes bookings: Braithwaite & Foster

Attendance: 1,024
Match report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Ben Page & Tommy Cox