Iren Wilson came in for his first start for Trinity, while Jack Dyche returned from injury. New signing Harry Lewis started the game on the bench as Isaac Rice was shifted to full back, with the Blues setting up in an attack minded 4-3-3 formation. The Holy Blues were denied a penalty in the opening couple of minutes, when Referee Waqar Ahmad waved away a handball shout. The unnatural position of the Barwell defender's arm not enough to convince the man in the middle, to point to the spot.
Clayton Donaldson went closest inside the opening ten minutes. Isaac Rice worked a quick throw, got the ball back to feet and slung over a great cross from the left. Rising well, Donaldson arched his neck back and glanced the ball goal-wards. His header falling agonisingly wide of the far post. Inches away from opening the scoring.
Trinity were looking to exploit the space in behind the visiting centre backs, with Hayden Cann and Dylan Cogill taking it in turns to look for front man Donaldson And it was a case of, if you don't succeed, try.. and try again, as Donaldson opened the scoring, with his seventh of the season. On the quarter hour, Cann’s long ball was chested down brilliantly by the veteran number nine, before finishing right footed past Andy Wycherley to put Gainsborough one up.
Barwell were back on level terms inside five minutes, when Jack Deakin 
headed home from close range after Trinity had gifted the visitors a corner. The Holy Blues conceding a corner from their own throw in, in the full back position. Further compounding the situation by switching off from Max Brogan's deep corner from the right. The ball was kept alive at the back post by Kyle Rowley, with Deakin arriving unmarked to power past Yates, from close range.
Clear cut chances in the first half were at a premium, with neither 'keeper having much to do but as half time approached the visitors were reduced to ten men, when goalkeeper Wycherley was shown a straight red card for handling outside his area. Substitute goalkeeper Elliot Lawson was called into action, replacing the sacrificed Tiago Nasslinculo, The first thing the stand in shot stopper needed to do was pick the ball out of the net from the resultant free-kick, Curtis Durose rifling home the deadball.
Half time: Gainsborough Trinity 2 Barwell 1
'Triple D' combined to good effect shortly after the resumption of the second period. Donaldson, Dyche and Durose linking up well with Dyche's cross scooped onto the roof of the net by Iren Wilson, making his first start for Trinity - and looking to get amongst the goals again.
On the hour mark, Jack Dyche saw his effort saved by the legs of the replacement stopper, Lawson. A moment of quality saw Waldock feed the wide man with a perfectly weighted through ball. Dyche let fly - but straight at the 'keeper who found himself in the right place at the right time! Wilson then thought he’d opened his Northolme account, when he was picked out by Hornshaw's right wing centre. Lawson somehow managed to scramble his bundled effort off the line though, keeping the ten men visitors firmly in the game.
Beck-Ray Enorli was a constant menace for the visitors, even when down to ten men, his quick feet and trickery the stand out performance on the day. His low centre of gravity- gliding over the Northolme turf.
Hornshaw was again providing the ammunition for Trinity, but Donaldson was inches away from connecting. Liam Waldock then took aim with a rasping drive that wasn't a million miles away. He wouldn't have long to wait to have his sixth of the season though...
With fifteen to play, Bishop introduced himself and Tom Cursons as Gainsborough looked to secure their passage into the next round. The wily veteran using every second of his experience to see the Blues through.
In second half stoppage time, the move of the match saw Hornshaw link up with Donaldson. Donaldson in turn released substitute Cursons down the right - and he fizzed the ball into the centre. With Trinity committing men forward, and Durose primed to pull the trigger, Waldock nipped in to put the gloss on a performance where Neal Bishop's men were not at their best, but progression was the key and with the Holy Blues 'in the hat' for Monday's draw, it was mission accomplished. Move on.
It's now back to league action - and a first away league game in almost a month, as we travel to Warrington Town on Tuesday evening! Here's hoping as many people as possible can make the trip to support Neal Bishop and Darryn Stamp's Gainsborough Trinity!
The Teams
Gainsborough Trinity: Matt Yates, George Hornshaw, Isaac Rice, Andrew Wright (Harry Lewis 56) Hayden Cann (Neal Bishop 76) Dylan Cogill, Curtis Durose, Liam Waldock, Clayton Donaldson, Iren Wilson, Jack Dyche (Tom Cursons 76). Subs not used: Mo Gashi, Ethan Cowan and Joseph West
Barwell: Andy Wycherley, Micah Edwards (George Ward 80) Deen Masters, Sid Keer, Kyle Rowley, Harvey Pepe Ngoma, Beck-Ray Enorli, Max Brogan, Jack Deakin, Brady Hickey, Tiago Nasslinculo (Elliot Lawson 44). Subs not used: Roger Lee, Cameron Moore
Gainsborough Goals: Clayton Donaldson (15) Curtis Durose (44) Liam Waldock (90+2)
Gainsborough Bookings: Hayden Cann, Dylan Cogill, Neal Bishop
Barwell Goal: Jack Deakin (20)
Barwell Booking: Brady Hickey
Barwell sending off: Andy Wycherley
Attendance: 308
Referee: Waqar Ahmad
Match report: Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Photo: Kate Simmonds (@kls_mediauk)