Gainsborough Trinity had three new signings and seven trialists on display as they won their pre-season opener 2-0 at Club Thorne.
The Holy Blues took the lead after 20 minutes, with last season’s marksman Declan Howe picking up where he left off. He pounced on a loose ball in the box and slotted it past the Thorne ‘keeper.
On the stroke of half-time, Gainsborough doubled their lead. One of the debutants, Sisa Tuntulwana raced down the right flank, before pulling the ball back to Fraser Preston in the middle. He laid it off to Lewis Butroid, who finished coolly.
Gainsborough Trinity Start Pre-Season with Win:
Howe was lively in the first-half. He had an early shot blocked, and rounded the Thorne shot-stopper Charlie Dixon-Brown twice, with defenders recovering both times.
Butroid smacked the post with a header with half an hour gone, while Josh Render was forced into a low save by Thorne’s Lewis Walker.
Half-time brought nine changes for Trinity, as only Dylan Cogill and new signing Jordan Helliwell remained from the 11 that played in the first-half. Youngster Kyle Simpson, defender Cody Collins, and Gainsborough’s newest goalkeeper Ollie Battersby all came on, alongside six trailists.
Trailist number seven entered the field with an hour gone, replacing an impressive Helliwell.
The second-half was a slower affair, while Collins had a header blocked on the line, and Callum Verhees hit the woodwork for the hosts.
Russ Wilcox on “Pleasing” Performance:
The Trinity boss, Russ Wilcox, entered his 44th pre-season in the game, and said: “The most important thing is to get the players through the 45 minutes unscathed. It was pleasing, a bit rusty with a few little bits, but you are going to be.
“We’ve got some real challenging games coming up, obviously Bottesford on Saturday are a league above Thorne, so that will be a different kind of test. And, Scunthorpe on Tuesday, which will be a huge test, we know that.”
Reflected on the work of the seven trailists, Wilcox said: “It was a little bit mis-jointed, some round pegs in square holes at times positionally. But, the main thing is they worked hard, that is the main thing from today.”
The Gainsborough manager was sure not to give too much away when asked if any of the trailists are likely to sign for the club.
However, he did say: “There are positions we need to fill, without a doubt. The squad is not big enough at the moment to complete, we need a bigger squad to be able to compete. But, also competition for places, we don’t want people not looking over their shoulder.”
Gainsborough Trinity return to action on Saturday, July 13, away to Bottesford Town.
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Feature Image Credit: Rob Hughes