Gainsborough Trinity beat Lancaster City in a tight encounter to climb up the table, thanks to a Declan Howe strike.
Russ Wilcox’s side were unbeaten in their last four league games heading into this clash, and had yet to taste defeat on their home ground in Northern Premier Division action this season.
In contrast, Lancaster’s form wasn’t anything to celebrate about. They had picked up just four points from their last six outings and had recorded three consecutive away defeats.
The Dolly Blues top-scorer was defender Simon Grand, but he had not found the back of the net since September.
As November began, Gainsborough’s Holy Blues knew a win would allow them to rise up to mid-table and leapfrog their Lancastrian opponents.
First-Half:
The game started in scrappy fashion, with corners being traded by both teams. Russ Wilcox named an unchanged starting-eleven for the third consecutive game, but the first chance fell to the visitors.
In the 13th minute, Lancaster City delivered a dangerous free-kick that the Holy Blues couldn’t clear. The ball fell to Bradley Carroll who fired a good chance just over the bar.
Gainsborough replied with their first chance of the game a few minutes later. Bobby Johnson drilled a long-range effort that forced Andre Mendes into a fine, low save to his right.
Lancaster, known as the Dolly Blues, travelled to Lincolnshire without manager Mark Fell. Assistant Graham Lancashire took charge of the visitors and had watched an even first half an hour in damp conditions.
The next chance of the game came in the 33rd minute, as George Hornshaw ran down the right and played Trinity’s top-scorer Declan Howe in between in Lancaster defence. Mendes smothered his effort to keep the game scoreless.
It was a scrappy half, dampened by the condition. Gainsborough grew into the fixture after Lancaster started the brighter, but goalless at the break was a fair reflection of a drab first-half devoid of any big chances.
Second-Half:
The second-half started in brighter fashion as Gainsborough Trinity looked to stretch their unbeaten run in the league to five games.
The Holy Blues had a chance in the 49th minute as Calen Gallagher-Allison made a mistake at the back. It left Declan Howe with a chance to square the ball to Dayle Southwell for a certain goal, but the striker was looking to score in his fifth consecutive game. His shot barely troubled Mendes, who made a simple save.
It felt like a Gainsborough goal was coming after the break, and it did in the 59th minute. Declan Howe was clumsily taken down in the box, leaving referee Daniel Woolley no choice but to award the home side a penalty. After a heated discussion between Howe and Southwell, it was Dayle Southwell that stepped up to take the penalty.
However, the Lancaster City goalkeeper was equal to it, parrying it away with a strong right hand. The ball wasn’t fully cleared as it bobbled around the Lancaster half, before it was eventually crossed into the dangerous Howe.
He drove the ball from the edge of the box and into the top corner of Mendes’ goal, as he recorded his sixth goal in five games.
With less than 20 minutes to go, Gainsborough captain Dylan Cogill was subbed off with an injury. Jack Moore-Billam came on as Bobby Johnson took the captain’s armband.
As time ticked by, Lancaster sought an equaliser. Matthew Clarke had a good chance as the ball landed to him from a deep cross, but Luke Jackson was equal to it. The Trinity ‘keeper was forced to stop a number of shots, including a stinging long-range effort from around 25-yards out.
As the bad weather returned to Northolme, Gainsborough were looking to hold on to their slender lead. Referee Woolley started brandishing the cards to both sides, for a number of fouls and one instance of Gainsborough time-wasting.
Trinity created plenty of chances as the game edged to a close. They were able to get away on counter-attacks as Lancaster committed men forward, but they couldn’t find a second goal.
It should’ve been all over in the 90th minute as Bobby Johnson went on a surging run up the field. He was one-on-one with the Lancaster goalkeeper, but pulled his effort wide. Perhaps, he was caught in between playing the ball to the supporting Howe or driving it full-bloodedly beyond Mendes.
Gainsborough Trinity 1-0 Lancaster City:
Gainsborough Trinity managed to hold out to claim all three points against Lancaster City, keeping a strong clean sheet. The win means Russ Wilcox’s men continue to rise up the Northern Premier League table, as they extended their unbeaten run to five league matches.
It also meant Lancaster fell to a fourth straight away defeat, with two coming in the past week.
The KAL Group Stadium remains unpenetrated, as Trinity are yet to taste defeat on their own patch.
The win lifts Gainsborough to 12th in the table, leapfrogging their opponents.