Gainsborough Trinity took to the KAL Group Stadium one final time this season, finishing a memorable campaign with a 2-1 victory over Leek Town.
A brace from Declan Howe was enough for Wilcox’s side to get one final set of three points before the summer break.
Russ Wilcox named an unchanged side to the one that beat promotion chasing Guiseley 2-0 on Easter Monday.
The Holy Blues started the day in seventh place, two positions outside the play-off positions. Whilst the play-offs were out of reach, the battle for the best of the rest to occupy sixth place was still up for grabs.
Leek Town starting the stronger side:
Trinity looked to start on the front foot, with Fraser Preston having a quick pop-shot from the edge of the box blocked well inside the opening minute. It was the visitors who forced the opening save of the contest.
Trinity number one David Robson was down well to deny winger Alex Hurst, after his twisting and jinking run inside the Trinity area. The frantic opening 10 minutes continued, as a trademark Trinity lobbed ball over the top found Dec Howe bearing down on goal, with visiting goalkeeper Xander Park doing well to come out and smother the ball. Howe got to his feet first, but from a tight angle, could not squeeze his effort on target.
The deadlock was inevitably broken 13 minutes into the tie, as Dec Howe did well to find Preston in midfield. Preston returned the favour back to the Trinity talisman, who opened his body up and slipped the ball round Park to put Russ Wilcox’s side in front.
Charlie Hickingbottom was the first to be cautioned by referee Samuel Bragg, pulling down Louis Potts on the right wing. The resulting free-kick saw the ball pinball around the area, before falling to defender Nathan Okome, who saw his effort from 12 yards blocked by a sliding Aaron Simpson.
Leek Town soon took advantage of their momentum, as an inch perfect pass from Lucas Weir cut through the Trinity back line, finding Alex Hurst, who rolled the ball beyond Robson to make it one a piece on 21 minutes.
Aaron Simpson became the second to be booked, for a late sliding challenge on the Trinity right, as Leek looked to continue their surge forwards.
Ten minutes before the break, Hurst broke down the left-hand side again and forced a smart save from Robson. From the resulting corner, Okome put his volley over the Stuart Horsley Stand and relieved the pressure for Trinity.
Gainsborough Trinity coasting into the summer, or so we thought:
Leek Town started in the same fashion as they left the pitch at the end of the first half. Dangerman Hurst continued to be a threat, after he had a golden opportunity to give his side the lead, but decided to go with the outside of his right foot, missed at the near post and let Trinity off the hook.
Goalkeeper Robson was replaced by Russ Wilcox for Dylan Wharton to return from injury. Dylan Cogill and George Hornshaw also came on, replacing Aaron Simpson and Charlie Hickingbottom.
A big opportunity came and went for Trinity, with Bailey Conway’s teasing ball across the penalty area, finding Lewis Butroid in the middle. The Trinity man’s effort was wide at the near post, as the changes look to help.
Howe forced a fine save from Xander park, after his clever touch on the turn allowed him the time and space to strike a powerful effort down low to the goalkeeper’s right.
The game from the 70th minute mark had an end of season feel to it as neither side really was able to get control of proceedings and very much cancelled each other out. A noteworthy opportunity came with just over five minutes to play as Leek’s Adam Porter saw his effort fly well over the bar and out of the stadium.
With three minutes to play of regulation time, Declan Howe threw himself at a Bailey Conway cross in the six yard box, and guided his header into the bottom corner to ensure that Russ Wilcox’s side finish the campaign in a positive fashion.
An excellent season was finished in dramatic fashion, with Trinity ending the campaign in seventh position.