Russ Wilcox was without the services of Ronnie Kokkinos. The attacking midfielder, who made his debut away at Bury in the FA Trophy, last weekend, was cup-tied for this one. Having played against Trinity for Sherwood Colliery in the First Qualifying Round. He was replaced in the engine room by Jordan Helliwell. Fortunately having recovered from what looked a nasty injury in the win over Leamington, to set up this afternoon's clash. Helliwell for Kokkinos the only change

The visitors found themselves forced into an early change, when skipper Jordan Annable was replaced by Jonty Bouch. Connor Brown looking to cause problems for Anstey as they looked to adjust.  Luis Rose fired straight at David Robson, before at the other end, Brown thought he had given Trinity a fourteenth minute lead. Only to see his strike ruled out for offside.

Anstey were biting into the challenges, but the Blues were starting to grow into the game. Harvey Sutcliffe looked to drive Trinity forward down the right. Earning some territory, Helliwell created some space for himself, but his drive took a slight deflection and could only ruffle the side netting. From the corner, Price acquitted himself well, punching away, under pressure.

Tristan Thomas' right wing cross was kept alive by Luis Rose, but Robson did well to claim under pressure. The Nomads were looking more dangerous, as they strung more impressive moves together, without really testing Robson, in the Trinity goal.

When Helliwell pounced on a loose ball in the middle of the park. He looked to drive forward. Running out of options as he burst into the box, he went to ground under pressure from the recovering centre back, but not with enough contact for Mr Jones to award a penalty to the home side.

Jack Leckie conceded a freekick on the nearside touchline, the deep cross teasing Robson off his line. The Trinity 'keeper committed, and just got enough on the ball to divert it away from the danger zone.

Connor Brown then did brilliantly for Trinity. Out-muscling his marker, with his back to goal, he got himself goal side. Bursting towards the box, he opted for the pass to his right, looking for Javelle Clarke centrally. The recovery challenge thwarting the Gainsborough number nine. And as three blue shirts converged at the edge of the box, the ball fell kindly for the visitors.

Price was twice the Nomads hero, in quick succession. His double block from first Brown &  then Helliwell coming at a key moment in the first half, with the score level. Shortly after the double save, Tristen Thomas opened the scoring. Two minutes before the break, he found space to turn, and with a fine curling effort from distance, he bent it round Robson to open the scoring - in quite spectacular fashion.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 0 Anstey Nomads 1

The visitors started the second period on the front foot. Rose, Thomas & Tendi Chitiza pinning  the Blues back in the defensive third. Lewis Butroid had a brilliant chance to level things up for Trinity - but he fired straight at Price, after he was rolled in by George Hornshaw.

Rolling the dice, with a triple change seven minutes into the second half, the tide turned in favour of the hosts. Aaron Simpson, Ash Jackson & Theo Williams all having the gauntlet thrown down to them - to get the Blues back in the game. Javelle Clarke & Lewis Butroid saw chances come, and go, as Wilcox's substitutions almost made an immediate impact. Clarke's stinging volley well blocked, before Williams' cross, looking for Brown had Price scrambling.

Popping up centrally, Butroid fashioned himself a shooting chance. Working the ball onto his left, his connection wasn't true, as it drifted the wrong side of the upright.

Next, Butroid’s volley was acrobatically turned away by Price, before substitute Ashley Jackson powered home a tremendous header from Aaron Simpson's pinpoint centre. And Gainsborough were back on terms. Shortly after dragging Trinity level Jackson was denied a second by Price. His low drive, seen late – diverted behind.

The Nomads restored the lead, through Tendai Chitiza’s disputed penalty, awarded for an apparent Ben Blythe tug. The Anstey man getting his effort away. An effort saved by Robson, but pulled back by Mr Jones for the foul that didn't hinder the forward's effort. Rubyn Gill’s attempt was then a whisker wide, as chances continued to be traded.

Helliwell then crashed an effort off the underside of the crossbar. The danger frantically cleared by Anstey Nomads. Urged on by Wilcox, Trinity found themselves three one down, ten minutes from time. Tobias Liversedge skipped into the box, firing home from the angle. Gainsborough again looked to close the gap, but Robson had to be alert as the visitors countered, with Trinity chasing a way back into the game. When Connor Brown bundled home his goal three minutes from time, it set for a nervy ending, but Antsey continued to look a danger on the counter.

Three into four added minutes, a late offside flag meant Robson could be thrown forward, but Chitiza fired over as Robbo was forced to retreat quickly. There was to be no late comeback for Russ Wilcox's men this time. Though they had certainly had the better of the chances, the Nomads were just the more clinical on the day. 

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Harvey Sutcliffe (Aaron Simpson 52) Ben Blythe, George Hornshaw, Jack Leckie (Ashley Jackson 52) Harrison Beeden, Lewis Butroid, Jordan Helliwell, Javelle Clarke (Ashton Offler 75) Connor Brown, Fraser Preston (Theo Williams 52)
Subs not used: Elliott Whitehouse & Thornton Checkley (G/K)

Gainsborough goals: Ashley Jackson 57' Connor Brown 87'

Anstey Nomads: Price, Hartmann, Tonge (Gil) Annable (Bouch 7) Wauchope, Liversedge, Thomas (Tomlin) Bestwick, Kirby-Moore, Chitiza, Rose (Grantham)
Subs not used: Wright & Smith

Anstey goals: Thomas 43' Chitiza 72' (p) Liversedge 80'.

Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images courtesy of Sean Cook (@FoxbyMedia)