Off: NPL Match 22 Bamber Bridge (a)

MATCH POSTPONED: Our trip to Lancashire has been postponed, the cold snap leaving the Iron Gate pitch unplayable. A new date will be confirmed in due course. Gainsborough Trinity are set to hit the road, and head for Lancashire on Tuesday night, to take on a resurgent Bamber Bridge in a match up that pits seventh placed Trinity at 10th placed Bamber Bridge. The two sides having played the fewest games in the division (21) and separated by just two points. Gainsborough's victory, five days prior meaning the Holy Blues can head to Iron Gate, full of confidence and belief.

Details

Further strengthened from Thursday's victory, the Blues will be hoping for a swift return to action for Frank Mulhern, who was withdrawn from the sixteen as a precaution on NYD and new signing, Ashton Offler, is available, following his transfer from Mickleover FC, with Russ Wilcox's men looking to extend their positive start to 2026.

Bamber Bridge are one of the form teams in the division, with twelve points from their last six games. Four wins and two defeats moving them to within two points of the Holy Blues.

Trinity's form in the last six has also been good, particularly with victory in the Lincolnshire Derby on New Years Day. That three point haul helping Trinity to nine points from six games - the one defeat coming away at Guiseley, as Russ Wilcox’s men had picked up three draws alongside the Warrington Town & Cleethorpes wins.

Trinity are becoming harder to beat, but will be looking to continue turning those draws into wins in the second half of the season, as the difference between one and three points become increasingly vital.

Bamber Bridge are averaging 1.9 points a game at home, winning six and drawing one of their ten games at home. They've only conceded an average of a goal a game on home turf, whilst scoring 1.8 goals a game. No team has scored more than two goals in the league past Brig this season & only two teams (Ashton United & FC United) have stopped the Lancashire outfit from scoring.

It's set to be another challenging outing for Russ Wilcox's Holy Blues, making the long trip, cross country on a Tuesday night. Can Trinity underline their play-off credentials by backing up the three points gleaned from derby day? Gainsborough will be looking to count the cost of a bruising New Year's Day battle, with two more injuries picked up at the beginning of 2026.

The hosts will have benefited from an eleven day rest off the back of their Lancashire Derby victory over Lancaster City on Boxing Day. Their Widnes free weekend certainly falling kindly for Jamie Milligan's side - hopefully the weather won't be the deciding factor on Tuesday night. As at the time of writing, it's minus four in the Midlands & with little sign of things heating up... we could yet see this fixture once again - falling by the wayside. Let's keep everything crossed! And see you at Bamber Bridge. Travel safe Holy Blues - And keep an eye out on ours & Bamber Bridge's socials for up to date match information.

Elsewhere

Weather permitting, the other games on Tuesday night, in the Pitching In Northern Premier League are detailed here:

Cleethorpes Town vs Whitby Town (Postponed)
FC United of Manchester vs Stockton Town
Lancaster City vs Rushall Olympic

Preview written by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Sean Cook (@FoxbyMedia)