The opening ten minutes had started brightly, with openings for both sides. Ex Scunthorpe United man, George Hornshaw was denied by former Trinity custodian, Tom Jackson, as a swift Holy Blues counterattack almost found its way through, Kyle Dixon's ball finding Hornshaw at the back post. Trialist Z in the Gainsborough goal, was then called into action, turning the ball round his near post for a corner. Trinity defended the resultant corner well and Curtis Morrison sprinted the length of the field, only managing to find the side netting.

Dixon saw a twenty-five-yard pile drive helped over the bar, by Tom Jackson as the Holy Blues tried to get their noses in front.

Temperatures began to rise ten minutes in. A series of ill-timed, cynical challenges led to questions being asked by both benches and both groups of players as things threatened to boil over, with frustrations rising.

The half became punctuated with offside flags and a very busy man in the middle who let a lot go, before awarding decisions leaving players and supporters alike puzzled. Trialist Z did brilliantly one on one to beat away an effort low to his right, pushing the ball away from immediate danger. Lewis Carr was then on hand to bravely block the follow up. And the Holy Blues defended resolutely, holding the Tigers at arms length. A triple salvo of corners, determinedly repelled to ensure half time was reached with the Gainsborough goal un-breached.

There was plenty of ill feeling in the second period, with the referee often needing eyes in the back of his head, unfortunately something he didn't have. And something that ended up stopping the game from ever truly flowing.

Trinity wouldn't be deterred though, and with little protection continued to stand by their principles and play football with a smile, in the face of adversity. Under extreme pressure towards the end of the game, Trialist Z did well to claim balls swung into dangerous areas to relieve the pressure - before, with the game ticking into over time, two Trinity substitute trialists combined to slice the Worksop defence wide open, only to see the finish marginally lacking.

Gainsborough Trinity: Trialists x3, Gianluca Bucci, Joe Wilson, Cieron Keane, Jock Curran, Kyle Dixon, Lewis Carr, Callum Minkley, Curtis Morrison, Toby Gould, Jack Gibson, Ben Morris, Alex Wollerton and George Hornshaw

Photos: www.klsphotouk.com