Gainsborough Trinity Cause Another Upset in Rushall Olympic Win

A Declan Howe double saw Gainsborough Trinity into the draw for the Isuzu FA Trophy fourth round.

The Holy Blues came out 2-1 victors against Rushall Olympic at the KAL Group stadium, beating yet another higher-division opponent.

Gainsborough went into the game on fine form, having lost just once in their last ten games and winning eight of them.

The last time the two sides faced each other was September 2021, when Rushall left victorious, winning 2-0. It was an unchanged eleven for Gainsborough from the team that got eliminated from the Emirates FA Cup by League Two Harrogate Town.

The away side entered the game on less appealing form, sitting rock bottom of National League North with just three league wins since the start of the season.

They had only won once in the competition to get to the third round, while the Holy Blues had made it through three rounds to reach this stage beating Kettering Town, Clitheroe and Chester on the way.

Gainsborough Trinity Start Brightly:

Just five minutes in and Gainsborough started very brightly, Fraser Preston’s cross was deflected into the path of Howe, who took a poor touch. The ball fell perfectly for Bobby Johnson just outside the box whose shot was deflected high over for a corner that produced a Will Lancaster header that trickled agonisingly wide.

Rushall had parted ways with Adam Stevens before the game, with former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Richard Sneekes took interim charge.

Just over ten minutes in and the deadlock was broken after a high ball was expertly controlled by Javelle Clarke, who directed it into the path of Preston. He played a lovely through ball into Howe, with the striker rounding the goalkeeper in one touch and tapped it into an empty net with the second.

Howe nearly doubled his goal tally with a delicate dink over the keeper after a quick throw in from Gainsborough. Fortunately for the away side, Laiith Fairne was there to deny it on the line.

The home side kept knocking on the door for a second as Preston sent a curling effort goal bound from outside the box, Paul White was forced into a great save at his near post.

Despite dominating possession, the away side had failed to generate a serious threat to Dylan Wharton’s goal. Their first big opportunity came in the 37th minute when Danny King fired an effort at goal from inside the box, only to see it blocked by a fully stretched Lancaster.

A bigger chance for the equaliser would come five minutes short of the break when Wharton’s poor roll out was intercepted by Keziah Martin. The shot-stopper redeemed himself with a great save to stop the away side going in on level terms.

Another Cup Upset for Russ Wilcox’s Men:

Bobby Johnson’s backwards header caused Gainsborough problems which were only worsened by Wharton not dealing with the loose ball. Luckily for the home side, Lancaster was there to clear the ball forwards where a chance would come for Dec Howe.

He beat his man brilliantly, but his powerful strike was directed straight at the ‘keeper.

On the hour mark Rushall Olympic got back level. It was a tremendous goal from ex-Chelsea youngster Milan Liakovic, who cut inside and smashed it into the top corner.

Gainsborough nearly regained the lead immediately, after a great whipped cross from Sisa Tuntulwana found Howe in the middle. The striker improvised and tried to chest the ball into the net but his effort bounced off the post.

Though, Dec Howe did eventually add his second to give Gainsborough the advantage in the cup tie.

Dylan Cogill’s lofted ball caught the defenders and goalkeeper off guard, allowing Howe to make up the distance and lift it over the Rushall ‘keeper. This time he was not denied on the line, making it 2-1 Gainsborough.

Trinity were able to hang on despite a few late scares. It was another huge achievement for Russ Wilcox’s side, who recovered brilliantly after their heart-breaking defeat in the FA Cup to Harrogate.