Gainsborough were in front within sixty seconds at the Turnbull Ground. From Whitby’s centre, Harrison Beeden cleared long, to Connor Brown. The forward bringing the ball down well and drawing the foul. Preston, and Aaron Simpson stood over the freekick, but it was Fraser who stepped up, bending the ball up and over the wall, and into the back of the net.
A dream start for Russ Wilcox’s men. The confidence of the early goal meant the Holy Blues were playing with their tails up. Keeping the ball, playing with a slick tempo, Whitby couldn’t live with the visitors. On nine minutes, this time from open play, Preston tried his luck from similar range to the freekick he netted – but he couldn’t keep that one on target. Brown battled well for the ball, ensuring the yellow shirted visitors kept possession.
George Hornshaw the next to try his luck from range. He didn’t trouble Jack Norton from distance. Just past the quarter hour mark, Stuart Rose got an effort away on the turn – serving as a reminder that Trinity would need to remain focused. Javelle Clarke exploded into life midway through the first half. Turning away from right back Leon Parker, Javelle raced away down the left-hand side. Cutting into the box, there was just too much on the ball for the supporting Brown. Brown’s presence at the top end of the park was unnerving the hosts. He 
somehow spotted a gap on the edge of the box, driving into the penalty area. Muted penalty appeals were waved away. But more nervy moments for the home side.
Clarke won Trinity a corner, which Jordan Helliwell took. A well worked corner routine saw the ball played to Preston, with space to take a touch and fire through a crowded box, and beyond Norton before he could react. Immediately on the night, Aaron Simpson had appeared to get a touch on the ball, as it flew into the net. Discussions afterwards have seen the goal credited to Fraser Preston – for his second of the evening and sixth of the campaign, so far. Whitby were left to chase shadows as Trinity’s slick one and two touch passing cut open the side in blue and white.
Unlocking the home defence, Preston saw his effort deflected over for a corner. Helliwell’s set piece deflecting off Parker – and off the crossbar – behind for another corner. The Holy Blues were camped in the Whitby half… another Preston freekick was attacked by Ash Jackson, but he couldn’t direct the ball goalwards, with Aaron Simpson firing over a follow up effort, over the bar. Preston threaded the ball through for Clarke, to top off another spell of flowing football. Javelle’s dancing feet seeing him turn and break through. He worked Norton but couldn’t find a corner.
As Trinity looked to flood men forward, Helliwell slipped into defensive positions to plug holes. The confidence of the visitors was clear to see. The willingness to take on shots and try their luck at goal. But it looked as though Trinity would have to settle for a two-goal cushion going in at the break. But Connor Brown had other ideas, two minutes into stoppage time, he added a third. Ronnie Kokkinos continued to look lively. The way he glided around a couple of challenges, made him look like he was skating on ice. Eventually getting a shot away. His effort from the edge of the box, deflected behind for a corner. And from the resulting corner, Brown found himself with so much time and space four yards out, to bag his goal. His third goal in four away games (away to Sherwood, Leamington and now Whitby)
Half Time: Whitby Town 0 Gainsborough Trinity 3
At three down, and with a half time change and positional shuffle, the home side came out for the second half looking to make amends, for a below par first half, where Trinity had out thought and out fought them in all departments. Callum Hickman twice going close in the opening eight minutes of the second period. Drilling his first effort wide, before dragging the next one narrowly wide of the near post.
Jordan Helliwell warmed the gloves of Jack Norton, before twenty minutes into the second half, Whitby got one back. Former Sheffield Wednesday youngster, Joey Phuthi ghosted past both Ben Blythe and Ash Jackson down the Trinity left hand side. Sliding across an inviting ball across the face of goal. Leon Parker, from his new central midfield position, tapping home to reduce the deficit. At the other end, George Hornshaw forced a smart save, that should have served as a warning, before second half substitute Harvey Sutcliffe found Javelle Clarke with time and space, centrally to turn the ball home.
Phuthi again looked to create, for the Seasiders, another opening fashioned, that saw Callum Hickman crash his effort off the crossbar. A minute later, Preston went looking for Theo Williams, but he couldn’t apply the finishing touch, as the ball was scrambled behind for a corner. Former Seasider Harrison Beeden made it five for Trinity. Swivelling in the box, and firing low past Norton. When the returning Mulhern came on, partnering Offler up front for the final quarter, Frank weighted s lovely ball into Ashton’s path.
Allowing the makeshift forward to drive into the box, he forced a smart save out of Norton. But again, he would be beaten with the next play. Beeden rising highest at the back post, to send his looping header back the way it had come, dropping into the back of the net to make it six of the best for Russ’ Holy Blues. With a minute of regulation time to play, at the end of the game, Beeden made a fine interception, the ball flying behind for a corner. Another goal coming from a set piece, as the unfortunate Sutcliffe diverted past Robson at his near post. A poor corner from the hosts, bearing maximum rewards. Added time traded opportunities in an open end to proceedings. Phuthi flashing another dangerous ball across the face of goal, before Mulhern, spotting Norton off his line, tried his luck from the halfway line.
Six goals. Three points – and an excellent night’s work. Rewarding the hardy Trinity faithful that had made the trip to the east coast, for another midweek clash between Whitby and the Holy Blues. As attention immediately shifts to Saturday – and the trip to Emley – in the Pitching In Northern Premier League. Will you be making the journey?
The Teams
Whitby Town: Jack Norton, Leon Parker (Mo Gashi 80) Stan Heweitt, Ben Turner (Charlie Stirland 46), James Dillon, Alex White, Joey Phuthi, Sam Kay, Stuart Rose (Lucas Reed 80), Dan James (Marley Grant 69) Callum Hickman (Vinnie Steel 80)
Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Aaron Simpson (Harvey Sutcliffe 67), Ash Jackson, George Hornshaw, Ben Blythe, Harrison Beeden, Ronnie Kokkinos, Jordan Helliwell (Elliott Whitehouse 80) Javelle Clarke (Theo Williams 74), Connor Brown (Frank Mulhern 76) Fraser Preston (Ashton Offler 80)
Whitby goals: Leon Parker 63, Harvey Sutcliffe (o.g) 89
Gainsborough goals: Fraser Preston 1 and 28, Connor Brown 45+1, Javelle Clarke 69, Harrison Beeden 80 and 84
Referee: Connor Ledgeway
Attendance: 355
Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)