A five star performance from Gainsborough Trinity saw them comfortably see off bottom of the table Blyth Spartans to keep their play-off hopes alive.
Gainsborough went into this one as the clear favourites after their midweek victory against Warrington Rylands and proved it as their dominant first half display put them in a comfortable position to manage the game in the second-half.
The home side took advantage of set pieces as Dec Howe, Ashley Jackson, Will Lancaster and Fraser Preston all scored from them. Jackson’s goal was the only from open play before Blyth joined in on the act scoring one of their own with the final kick of the game.
Wilcox named an unchanged side for this one after ending Warrington Rylands’ 12 game unbeaten run, with Sisa Tuntulwana returning to the bench in the only change.
Dominant first half display:
Gainsborough got started quickly with plenty of possession before Javelle Clarke did well to win a free kick twenty-yards out. Fraser Preston stepped up to take it and brilliantly found the near corner leaving goalkeeper Alexander Walpole rooted to the spot.
Preston was involved again just three minutes later as he was played through down the left, he nicked in ahead of an onrushing Walpole. Who brought him down just outside the penalty area.
The Holy Blues failed to capitalise on what was a well worked free kick routine as Preston this time fired well over after working the angle well.
Gainsborough doubled their lead just five minutes later as Jackson worked hard to chase the ball towards the left corner flag and was rewarded with a corner for his efforts.
Butroid played the corner to the edge of the penalty area where Preston struck brilliantly first time and watched his attempt loop towards the far corner and bounce in off the post for his second of the game.
Trinity put the game to bed just 24 minutes in, as Howe rose highest to turn home a corner from close range and bag his 28th goal of the season.
The confidence in the Gainsborough team started to show 25 minutes in as Clarke did brilliantly to beat his man down the left. He squared the ball low into the six-yard box and Walpole did well to get a hand to the ball prevent Howe from turning the ball into the open goal.
A fourth came for Trinity as Jackson was found brilliantly down the left by captain Dylan Cogill, Walpole was hesitant again in the Blyth goal. Which allowed Jackson to loop the ball over his head and celebrate before the ball nestled into the far-right corner.
Blyth’s first attempt came 37 minutes in as Preston was dispossessed in the middle of the park but before Dean Briggs shot from 25-yards out.
Gainsborough came close twice in the final five minutes of the half as Preston chased the ball down the left before he squared to Howe. Walpole got down brilliantly to save the attempt from close range.
Clarke struck wide of the far-right post just a minute later.
A well-managed second half:
Blyth came out a changed team for the second-half, making three substitutions and changing formation, and it worked as they threatened twice early on.
The first of which came as a dangerous free-kick went through everyone and out for a goal kick, before Aitken came close from a tight angle eight minutes into the half.
Trinity came close after the hour mark as a corner was crossed in from the left. Howe rose well, but his header was well blocked and Lancaster could not quite follow it up.
A lengthy stoppage followed as Walpole went down injured following a collision from a corner and was forced off. Blyth, without a substitute goalkeeper, were forced to put captain Mathew Ridley in net for the final 20 minutes.
He was not tested for a while, as Lancaster flicked the ball narrowly over the crossbar.
Going into the final ten minutes, Trinity continued to manage the game well. Gainsborough won a corner that was headed in at the near post by Will Lancaster as Ridley was tested for the first time.
Blyth came close to pulling one back on 85 minutes as Aitken danced into the penalty area, but his shot deflected into the side netting and behind for a corner.
The Spartans fans were finally rewarded for their support as Hopper headed home a dangerous corner with what was effectively the final touch of the game to take the clean sheet away from Trinity.
It was a comfortable victory in the end for Gainsborough, while focus now switches to next weekend where they face another team threatened by relegation in Mickleover.