Gainsborough boss, Russ Wilcox made two changes from the Bank Holiday defeat to Cleethorpes. Ben Blythe replacing Jack Leckie at the heart of the Trinity defence, whilst at the other end, Connor Brown started in place of Ashton Offler, up top. Youngsters Lewis Greenfield and Thornton Checkley were named on the bench, for the Holy Blues.

From the first whistle, the Preston brothers were at the heart of their sides good work. Fraser winning a freekick early, that he got up and over the wall – but didn’t test the home ‘keeper, Ben Blythe stepped out confidently from the back, releasing Theo Williams down the right hand side. His early ball into the box was turned behind for a corner. The deep cross causing problems in the Sherwood box. Striking Ferdinand Barkley at the back post, the ball rebounding off the full back and onto the post.

A short corner involving Williams & Lewis Butroid was well-worked creating space for Preston, who dinked narrowly over the bar. Preston then looked to chip the ball into the path of Connor Brown, before the elder brother looked to link the play for the hosts. A neat one two, looking to release Nathaniel Crofts down the right

A touch too keen, Brown wasn’t quite timing his runs in behind, drawing the flag on more than one occasion. Midway through the half, Williams darted in between centre half and ‘keeper, following a desperately short header back towards the Colliery goal. Forced a touch wide, Harrison Leech did well to make the block.

When Harvey Sutcliffe found the feet of Fraser Preston, the playmaker did brilliantly to drag the ball into his path, before finishing left footed, at the goalkeeper’s near post. Victorious Manager, Russ Wilcox said, "Credit to Sherwood, they're a good side that caused us problems. We wanted to get control of the game, but they scored straight after us taking the lead."

Less than ninety second after Fraser had opened the scoring, Jordan had Sherwood back on terms. George Hornshaw’s rash challenge saw the midfielder carded. And from the set piece, Trinity failed to clear their defensive lines, Jordan Preston firing through a crowded box. Leech had to be smartly off his line, to head clear outside his box, after Brown looked to nip in behind.

While at the other end, Crofts was looking to provide the ammunition for the hosts, but Blythe was equal to the danger. Williams had a sighter of goal, but with time and space on the edge of the box, he couldn’t trouble Leech. Ronnie Kokkonis did well to win his side a corner, but Trinity dealt well with the set piece, looking to turn defence to attack. Jordan Helliwell’s clearance fell for Williams, who looked to run through – but he had the shirt ripped off his back, as the retreating Sherwood defender took one for his team. Brown looking to take up the running, found his momentum halted, as the Referee booked Bircumshaw.

Crofts again looked to cause problems down the Sherwood right. His ball across the face of goal diverted away by Robson. Trinity winning a goal kick off Ethan Wiezstort. As half time approached, Preston & Williams looked to combine on the edge of the Sherwood box, but the Gainsborough number eleven was just edged out.

In added time at the end of the half, Connor Brown headed home a Lewis Butroid freekick, but his joy was short-lived, as the Assistant Referee raised his flag. Again, Brown had gone a fraction too early – and his wait for a first goal in Trinity colours – would go on for a little longer.

Half Time: Sherwood Colliery 1 Gainsborough Trinity 1

With words spoken at half time, the Holy Blues came out with more purpose. Fraser Preston fizzed an effort narrowly past the angle of post and bar, before expertly freeing Brown down the right. The lively forward twisting and turning, before flashing an effort across the face of goal. Williams not gambling on the ball in true centre forward fashion.

Preston was pulling the strings, as he linked up with Brown. Brown providing the willing outlet down the right. His cutback found skipper, Butroid, but he didn’t trouble Leech The opening quarter hour, of the second half, had seen wave after wave of incisive yellow attacks, but Sherwood always threatened to have something on the counter. Crofts’ clever run from left to right – saw him deliver. An acrobatic attempt wasn’t connected with, before Kokkinos fired just past the post, with Robson at full length diving to his right.

Connor Brown fired Trinity back in front, after excellent work by Harvey Sutcliffe. Switching from defence to attack with ease, he tided up defensively. Nodding back to Robson, before turning on his heel, and driving Trinity forward. Freeing Williams, he fed the striker inside the box., Brown took a touch onto his right, and lashed past Leech to get up and running for the campaign.

When Williams spun his man on halfway, six minutes later, his acceleration took him into the box. His low finish past Leech gave the visitors their cushion. Lewis Butroid saw one cleared off the line, before Williams added his second and Trinity's fourth. Tapping home after Preston & Brown had combined again on the right. To their credit, the hosts didn’t stop, and kept going to the death.

And they did get one back late on, when the impressive Kokkinos steered the ball past the retreating Harrison Beeden, on the line, after a short backpass had Robson scampering. His clearance ricocheting off the forward and into the path of Kokkinos – who made no mistake. Wilcox admitting after the game, "We had a few words at half time. And came out a lot better. Fraser was outstanding & involved in everything we did – the goals will give the individual players confidence, so it was a good day overall. And the main objective was getting through. And we have done that."

The Holy Blues now turn to the draw on Monday, when we find out our opponents in the Second Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup, following a second half where Trinity demonstrated their quality on the ball, and their superior finishing

The Teams

Sherwood Colliery: Harrison Leech Ferdinand Bartley (David Olatomide 79) Oliver Lobley , Harry Birkumshaw (Mo Mohamed 85) Phil Watt (Kyle Coke 58) Nicholas Hood, Jamie York (Kian Brennan 85)Ronnie Kokkoinos, Jordan Preston (Toby Woodward 85) Ethan Wiesztort, Nathaniel Crofts (Destiny Wognin 85)
Sherwood goals: Jordan Preston 26’ Ronnie Kokkinos 90+2

Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Harvey Sutcliffe, Ashley Jackson, George Hornshaw (Bobby Johnson 73) Ben Blythe Harrison Beeden, Lewis Butroid (Javelle Clarke 88) Jordan Helliwell (Elliot Whitehouse 84) Theo Williams (Ashton Offler 88) Connor Brown (Lewis Greenfield 88) Fraser Preston
Subs not used: Thornton Checkley & Jack Leckie
Trinity goals: Fraser Preston 24’, Connor Brown 66’ Theo Williams 72’ & 82’

Match report written by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Sean Cook & Tommy Cox