Gainsborough Trinity returned to winning ways, putting four past Workington AFC.
The Holy Blues returned to the KAL Group Stadium after their five-game winning run ended away to Ashton United last weekend.
The hosts looked to maintain their rich vein of form in 2024, which has seen them pick up seven wins in ten games. Meanwhile, Workington looked to move level on points with their hosts with a win.
Russ Wilcox’s side have a strong home record, picking up 27 out of their 44 points at home going into the game.
First-Half:
The first chance of the game fell to the home side in the opening three minutes, as Fraser Preston got his head on the end of Joe Stacey’s cross. However, it hit the top of the net.
Trinity would not let up, as in the sixth minute, a long throw into the box bounced around until Declan Howe poked it in for his 15th goal of the season.
It would be that man Howe again in the 13th minute, to make it 2-0. Running onto a ball over the top by Preston, he chipped it over a flailing Workington keeper.
The hosts would continue to pile on the pressure, with Preston’s effort from the edge of the 18-yard box being saved by the keeper in the 17th minute.
The visitors looked all over the place in the 19th minute as Jim Atkinson’s mis-hit kick was picked up by Gainsborough’s Bobby Johnson ,who played Howe in again. The striker tried another audacious chip, but could not beat the keeper this time.
The visitors would finally have their first chance of the game in the 29th minute, as Steven Rigg’s header would fly just over the bar.
Howe was played clean through on goal for his hat-trick by Preston in the 33rd minute, but would not make his chance pay, hitting it straight at the keeper.
The Holy Blues’ danger man would again have a chance in the 37th minute, but his touch took him out wide, with his shot just going wide of the post.
Gainsborough would make it 3-0 in the 41st minute as an error by Workington’s Ceiran Casson would find its way to Preston who would roll the ball past the keeper into the bottom left corner.
The last chance of the half would come to Workington, as top-scorer David Symington, shifted inside from the wing, but his effort would fly over the bar.
Second-Half:
After an opening ten minutes being played in the middle of the pitch, Howe would have the first attempt in the 56th minute with his shot across goal just missing.
The visitors would finally get a goal of their own in the 57th minute, as the ball fell to Scott Allison who rifled it into the side netting from inside the 18-yard box.
Workington would grow into the game, as Allison had yet another effort a minute later, but it soared over the bar.
Howe would miss out on his hat-trick once again in the 70th minute as he miskicked the ball from point blank range.
Workington would continue fighting to claw back their deficit, with Finlay Wallbank’s effort in the 77th minute skimming the crossbar.
The league’s top-scorer would pull it back to 3-2 in the 81st minute, with Dylan Wharton failing to keep the ball out at his near post.
Workington’s hard-fought effort would be stumped as Bailey Conway restored the two-goal lead for the hosts less than a minute later. He calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to record his first goal of the season.
The visitors would not give up their fight as Wallbank’s effort from a tight angle was tipped over the bar by Wharton.
Gainsborough Trinity 4-2 Workington AFC:
A stellar first half performance by the Holy Blues saw them come away with all three points, taking them into the top half of the table.
Russ Wilcox’s side did not let last week’s defeat to Ashton United deter them, having won eight of the 11 games played in 2024.
Workington picked up a second defeat in a row, conceding four goals in a game for the first time since Boxing Day against Atherton Collieries.
Trinity have a double header over the Easter weekend, away to Bamber Bridge on Saturday 30, then Stafford Rangers at home on April 1.