Gainsborough Trinity once again ended the season seventh in the Northern Premier League after missing out on the play-off places in a disappointing manner.
One win in the final eight games of the campaign meant a four point gap separated them and Stockton Town who sit fifth in the league – the last available play-off spot.
Until then, there was vast optimism for the Holy Blues to sneak into top five as before that underwhelming run, the side sat inside the play-offs with just eight matches remaining following a 2-0 victory over Hyde United on March 18.
After that crucial win, it looked like Russ Wilcox’s side would push on and establish themselves as a team on the hunt for promotion, as they had a favourable run which included facing five sides who eventually finished in the bottom half.
Though, it ultimately wasn’t to be, with Trinity only picking up just five points in those games – a run that included a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of would-be relegated side Prescot Cables.
Despite the frustrating end to their league campaign, the Holy Blues can certainly hold their heads up high when focusing on how they once again massively exceeded expectations in the FA Cup.
Trinity progressed to the first round of the competition where they welcomed Accrington Stanley – a side who ranked 56 places above them on the date they played, marking the first time in a decade that the KAL Group Stadium hosted an FA Cup game beyond the qualifying rounds.
That monumental day came after the side already beat National League side Hartlepool United, as well as fellow Northern Premier League opponents Dunston UTS, Rushall Olympic and Corby Town.
On the night, Wilcox’s side pushed hard as substitute Sisa Tuntulwana came on to equalise in the 76th minute in front of the cameras, taking the game to extra-time where Trinity ultimately fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat.
In terms of the other cup competition, Gainsborough advanced past Redditch United with a 2-1 win in the first round of the Isuza FA Trophy but were eliminated by Alfreton Town after falling to defeat by the same scoreline in the next.
The season marked manager Russ Wilcox’s third in charge of the club and when reflecting on the campaign as a whole, he said: “We’ve had a bumpy April, the eight months before that we had been superb.”
“It’s a seventh place finish, people will be disappointed and I get that – we’re disappointed, you don’t get many opportunities in the game (to experience promotion), I said to the lads whose had a promotion and only one or two hands went up.
“It’s something you always look back on. We haven’t managed to get in the play-offs but like you say the bigger picture for me it’s been an outstanding season.”