A late winner, and an own goal cancelled out Trinity’s goal in a 2-1 defeat to Prescot Cables at the KAL Group Stadium and saw them drop down to seventh.
An 88th minute own goal put Gainsborough level, but a goal from Thomas Scully and an earlier own goal from the hosts saw Cables clinch all three points in their bid to stay in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
Manager Russ Wilcox made one change to the Holy Blues team that lost 3-0 away last time out against Lancaster City with Lewis Butroid coming into the side for Javelle Clarke, who fell to the bench.
Young Billy Housham was named on the bench – ten years and one month since his dad, Steve Housham, managed at Trinity.
Nothing to split them
Trinity had their first break on the nine-minute mark with a ball in from Harvey Sutcliffe on the right defended well by Scully for the Cables.
Goodwin burst through the middle of the park – Frank Mulhern trying to dispossess the Cables forward – yet even with his shot wide, David Robson still made the dive.
A long ball forward glazed over the head of Mulhern as he attempted to find a running Sisa Tuntulwana who just couldn’t get there.
Moments later, Preston had managed to get the ball round the keeper but with the tight angle couldn’t make anything of it.
Cables’ Thomas Scully tried a cross, come shot, to challenge the hosts with the ball going well over the goal.
The visitors went so close half an hour into the match with Sharif Deans getting the ball towards the goal after making a great run.
Another corner from Preston was put in well, finding the foot of Jack Leckie with a Cables body able to block quickly.
Cables forced Trinity to scramble on the goal line following a corner with attempts from the visitors forcing the hosts to defend.
As the game went into added time, a shot from distance by Matthew Watters was just wide of Robson’s goal as the half ended equal.
A late dagger
The Holy Blues first break of the second half came courtesy of Sutcliffe and Preston working well down the right to force forward and resulted in skipper Butroid sending a deflected cross just over the top of the crossbar.
A great effort for Trinity was kept off the line by Cables with the follow up half-volley from Butroid saved by Pradic.
A defensive error from Gainsborough led to a George Hornshaw own goal for Prescott Cables putting them 1-0 up just over an hour in.
Following the goal, Trinity made a double change with own goal scorer Hornshaw and Preston coming off for Aaron Simpson and Javelle Clarke.
Robson was called into action going into the final five minutes following a free kick from Prescot substitute Francis Smith.
With two minutes to spare, Trinity got one back through an own goal, this time by Cables’ Peter Clarke after a looping header ended up in his own goal.
Straight from kick-off, the away side went up the other end and scored past Robson with the finish coming from Scully.
The 2-1 loss means Trinity slip out of the playoffs and down to seventh place but only on goal difference. They remain equal on points with Stockton Town and Lancaster City who occupy fifth and sixth respectively.