Lancaster City come from behind to take all three points against Gainsborough Trinity.
Dayle Southwell had given the Holy Blues a first-half lead, like he did in the reverse fixture last season, before the Dolly Blues fought back to win only their second game of the season.
Russ Wilcox reverted back to the side that managed what he described as the “best performance” of the season against AFC Telford United last week, after rotating for the midweek Lincolnshire County Cup tie.
Lancaster City made two changes as they looked to rebound from an extra-time FA Cup exit to step five Barnoldswick Town. The loss was the Lancastrians’ first of the season, while they had secured only one victory alongside six draws.
Another Early Gainsborough Trinity Lead:
It might not have been as quick as in the FA Cup victory last weekend, but Trinity had another early lead. Declan Howe won the ball back in the Lancaster box as the visitors looked to play it out from the back. He unselfishly played the ball across to Dayle Southwell for the experienced attacker’s first goal of the season.
Lancaster came into the game with Aaron Bennett unleashing a stern effort from outside the box. Gainsborough ‘keeper Dylan Wharton dived well to his left and palmed the shot wide, as he continued to impress and command his area.
It was end to end football as the half progressed. Lewis Butroid and Sisa Tuntulwana both went close for the hosts, as the Holy Blues began to have the better of the chances.
Defender Tuntulwana started a move that he almost finished as he launched a long ball forward to Howe. The attacker held it up well and cut the ball back to the on-rushing former Grantham Town man, whose effort was unluckily blocked by a Lancaster defenceman.
Lancaster Resurgent After the Break:
The visiting Lancaster looked a different side after the interval as they created a duo of chances. The first was blocked behind for a corner, while Jack Bryne’s pot-shot was saved well by an under pressure Wharton.
The period of intense pressure brought an equaliser for City. The last of a number of Sam Bailey corners found Charlie Hall at the back post, as he nodded the ball past a helpless Wharton. It knocked the stuffing out of The Northolme, as Gainsborough Trinity were forced to regroup.
Fraser Preston had gone close for the hosts before Lancaster got onto the front foot. He rattled the crossbar with an effort from a short Butroid corner, as Gainsborough looked to employ a training ground routine.
The turnaround was complete on the other side of the hour mark. The lively Sam Bailey has time and space for a shot down the right, which is saved into the path of Dominic Lawson to stab home coolly.
Russ Wilcox Rolls the Dice:
Gainsborough manager Wilcox had a quartet of changes with 20 minutes to go. He brought on Aaron Braithwaite, Joe Stacey, Bobby Johnson, and Dylan Cogill, in place of Jordan Helliwell, goalscorer Southwell, Butroid, and Ash Jackson.
It was almost an instant impact for Cogill as he flicked a Tuntulwana long throw onto the post. The pressure began to build for Gainsborough, as Howe played a neat give-and-go with Stacey. The former had his shot blocked, before getting another bite of the cherry with a header that was saved by James McClenaghan.
The Holy Blues continued to pile on the pressure as time ticked by, but were struggling to penetrate a resolute Lancaster defence. Man of the match Tuntulwana cut in from the right flank and had a curling shot saved.
In the dying seconds Howe had a golden chance. The ball came in from the left and onto the foot of the talisman, who turned his effort over the bar from close range with the very last kick of the game.
It was a game that got away from Gainsborough, as they came away empty handed despite dominating the first half. They travel to Matlock Town on Tuesday, before returning home for the visit of Grantham Town in the FA Cup.
Feature Image Credit: Bryan Pye