With Preston & Brown returning to fitness, Manager Russ Wilcox had a selection headaches. Preston was given the nod to start, while Brown had to bide his time, starting on the bench. Harvey Sutcliffe came in for a start at right back, while Lewis Butroid dropped to the bench. Aaron Simpson & Elliott Whitehouse the unfortunate duo missing out on a place in the matchday squad.
Trinity were in front inside eighty seconds, when midfielder Jordan Helliwell pounced on a mis-placed ball from Hyde defender Kevin Joshua. A composed right footed finish from the edge of the box giving Jordan Eastham no chance. Curled low beyond the despairing dive of the visiting 'keeper.
Harry Ditchfield looked to pose Trinity problems with a series of mong throws, George Hornshaw making a good sliding block to preserve the Trinity lead & David Robson was able to purchase clear when under pressure. Dan Martin curling an effort narrowly wide from the left hand apex of the box. Javelle Clarke showed good persistence, but could only watch on as his deflected effort looped over the bar. Skipper, Harrison Beeden inches away from connecting with a well-worked corner routine involving Kokkinos & Preston.
Ditchfield went down, midway through the half, but tried to continue, before he was forced off. Replaced by Bradbury-Allen & Tom Walker curled over the bar from
25 yards. His effort always rising. The substitute delivered an inviting ball into the box - but no red shirt showed the desire to get on the end of things & when Sutcliffe was adjudged to have impeded Charlile Stewart on the right, visiting skipper Brad Roscoe handled, as the ball was swung in.
An edgy first half ending with Trinity a goal to the good, but the visitors with more of the possession.
Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 1 Hyde United 0
Trinity sprung to life in the second half, an early corners saw Preston & Mulhern link up. Fraser's dinked ball to the back post finding Beeden. But his attempt was blocked. Clarke not far away with a curling effort that had Eastham worried. Clarke was again involved, releasing Ash Jackson down the left hand-side. Jackson’s cut back finding Fraser Preston, who squeezed the ball home, for his seventh goal in all competitions.
The two goal cushion meant the shackles were off. Sutcliffe invited forward in swashbuckling style. At the other end, Beeden had to be alert. Edy Maieco took the ball under his control well, inside the box. And looking to play the ball into the six yard box... the skipper made a good interception.
Sutcliffe & Mulhern linked up, Frank's back heel releasing Preston who was denied his second thanks to a brilliant block by Joshua.
Next, Charlie Stewart clipped the crossbar, with a shot that had very little back-lift, with the score at two-nil. The ball drifting behind for a goal kick. Serving a notice to Trinity, who were restricting Hyde - but weren't quite out of sight. Six minutes later, Preston turned provider. Frank Mulhern’s flick on found Preston in space & he released Sutcliffe to get to the by-line. His cutback found Ronnie Kokkinos, who feathered a beautiful finish into the far corner to make it three.
Jes Uchegbulam looked to cause problems, but Helliwell & Sutcliffe doubled up on him, defensively & working in tandem offensively. Edy Maieco failed to make a telling connection, with possibly Hyde’s best opportunity, And, Connor Brown rounded off the scoring in the third minute of added time. Substitutes Ben Blythe & Brown combining. The striker netting through a crowded box, to put the icing on the cake.
A polished Gainsborough performance, putting Hyde to the sword, as Micheal Clegg's Tigers were well & truely tamed.
The Teams
Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Harvey Sutcliffe, Ash Jackson, George Hornshaw, Jack Leckie, Harrison Beeden, Ronnie Kokkinos (Lewis Butroid 83) Jordan Helliwell (Ashton Offler 87) Javelle Clarke (Ben Blythe 72) Frank Mulhern (Connor Brown 77) Fraser Preston (Theo Williams 68)
Gainsborough goals: Jordan Helliwell 2' Fraser Preston 51', Ronnie Kokkinos 64' & Connor Brown 90+3
Hyde United: Jordan Eastham, Harry Ditchfield (Cameron Bradbury-Allen 26) Taylor McMahon, Dan Martin, Brad Roscoe, Kevin Joshua, Charlie Stewart (Callum Jefferies 73) Ben Hough, Edy Maieco Tom Walker (Jes Uchegbulam 45+1) Dontai Gabidon (Charlie Hall 73)
Sub not used: Yann Songo'o
Referee: Alexander Cotterill
Match Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Sean Cook (@FoxbyMedia)