Ten-man Gainsborough Trinity fell to defeat to Prescot Cables at the KAL Group Stadium, losing 3-2.
Goals from Charlie Hickingbottom and Lewis Butroid saw Trinity come from behind to lead, before conceding twice late in a game where Bailey Conway and Dylan Cogill were sent off.
While play-off hopes had dwindled in recent weeks, Russ Wilcox has said he wanted to end the season strongly.
The Trinity boss made three changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Bamber Bridge last time out. Most notably captain Cogill returning to the line-up after several weeks out with a knee injury.
A slow start:
Trinity started the brighter of the sides, imposing themselves on Prescot. Fraser Preston went closest in the opening stages, his shot was deflected just wide of the far post.
At the other end though Prescot had an opportunity to take the lead themselves on 15 minutes. A deflected shot gave Ben Elliot a chance to maybe tap home, but the effort rolled agonisingly past his foot, and it was a let off for Gainsborough.
Prescot did eventually find their lead on 26 minutes. A brilliant, chipped cross from Jack Goodwin was headed into the top corner by John Murphy. The forward was unmarked in the area in a disappointing moment for the Trinity backline.
Instant reply:
Gainsborough though just minutes later found an equaliser. Preston whipped in a fantastic left-footed cross from the right-hand side and it was impossible for Hickingbottom to miss at the far post. It was suddenly back to level pegging after half an hour.
The game then fell into a slight lull as both sides seemed happy to keep the score-line at 1-1 until the break, and that’s exactly what happened.
Conway sees red:
After a quiet start to the second half there was a moment of madness which saw Bailey Conway sent off. Out of nothing John Murphy found himself through on goal and Conway simply pulled him to the floor, leaving the referee with no choice but to give the midfielder his marching orders.
Just moments later though Trinity took the lead for the first time in the afternoon. A long ball was well taken down by Declan Howe and he passed it off to the onrushing Lewis Butroid. The midfielder’s effort was in truth fairly tame but a poor moment from Calvin Hare in the Prescot goal saw the ball roll into the net.
Prescot fight back:
That goal meant Gainsborough had something to hold onto as they looked to see out the three points with ten men.
The Holy Blues immediately made it clear they were going to sit back and attempt to defend their lead. Sitting deep in a 4-4-1 formation with the man less.
Goodwin had the first real chance since Trinity’s goal, with Goodwin going very close from a long-range curling effort.
With just ten minutes to play though Prescot were awarded a spot kick. Will Lancaster brought down the Cables attacker from behind, and while the decision could be viewed as harsh, the Trinity man gave the officials a decision to make with some clumsy defending.
After a long delay the spot kick was taken and converted by James Foley, perfectly slotting it into the bottom left corner.
When the equaliser went in Prescot would have felt a winner was there for them and in the third minute of stoppage time that is what they found. A corner was well delivered into the box and Murphy was there to volley in a winner and his second of the game.
Despite some efforts for an equaliser from Trinity it was Prescot who saw out the nine minutes of added time to pick up an impressive away win at the Northolme.
Dylan Cogill was shown a straight red card after the final whistle after his complaints to the referee following a penalty shout.
It is a result that drops Gainsborough to 11th before they travel to Ashton United next weekend.