Great game management by Gainsborough.   That's it.   Its a win for Gainsborough 
The best side won tonight. 

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I think we found out last night that there are much better teams in the league than Morpeth.  We just couldn't get going against Gainsborough mainly because they were so strong defensively and such a threat on the counter. Several of our players were below standard. I'm not convinced that Dylan Wharton is as good as Yates. True, Wharton is very good in the air but I've not seen him pull off any outstanding saves yet. Yates gave our defence and supporters a feeling of security and I think that's not there at the moment. Tyler Whyle is steady but not at his best when we're trying to pull a goal back. 
We needed a bit of luck last night and it never came enabling Gainsborough to become more assured as the game progressed. In my opinion we never looked like scoring until Youmbi came on whereas Trinity looked much more likely to score on the counter. The other subs made no real impact so the night ended in disappointment. 
At least Fox got a bit more game time as he tries to get match fit.
That's the way it goes sometimes so we move on to Saturday's match versus Prescot Cables when we need to be much better.


 

Last edited by Matchman (13/8/2025 3:08 PM)

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Gainsborough Managers reaction to their 1-0 win at the NMG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E57ORQluA70

Toothless performance last night, so disappointing after the first half display on Saturday. (Russ Wilcox accused Ashton of time wasting on Saturday and said that he'd never set his team up to play that way - but isn't that exactly what Gainsborough did for the last half hour last night?)

The only chance we had was at the end of the game. Lovely cross from Colin Daniels and Robbie Fox has to score. You can hear Deaks shout 'You've got to score, you've got to score'. For whatever reason, I'm afraid that young man didn't have the courage to stick his neck out and power a header into the back of the net.

https://youtu.be/PuTO0YDvg_M?si=v2JZUWIT5N3IY11Y

Is there a problem with the floodlights (some bulbs looked out), we commented that all down the centre of the pitch it looked dark last night?

Very disappointing crowd (413) for our first home game in a new season, after winning our first game and Derby and Forest not playing at home.

Last edited by Trowell Nicky (14/8/2025 11:03 AM)

Trowell Nicky wrote:

Is there a problem with the floodlights (some bulbs looked out), we commented that all down the centre of the pitch it looked dark last night?

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An electrical was with Andy at the match so he's trying to get the problem sorted.

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Gainsborough's Match Report

https://www.gainsboroughtrinity.com/news/match-reports/1737-ilkeston-town-0-gainsborough-trinity-1

 Ilkeston Town 0 Gainsborough Trinity 1
Victory in Derbyshire was the reward for Trinity's hard work away at Ilkeston Town on Tuesday night. Javelle Clarke scoring the only goal of the game in a hard fought encounter, leaving both sides with three points each on the board, after two matches played.
Making the smallest of tweaks to his starting eleven, Wilcox opted to start Jonny Margetts in place of fellow summer signing Frank Mulhern. The squad otherwise unchanged from opening day. As expected, three former Blues faced their former clubs. 'Keeper, Dylan Wharton only having two games to wait for his reunion, while Callum Minkley at the back & Matt Thornhill have been regular opponents since departing the Northolme.
Trinity raced out of the traps, looking to get on the front foot on a scorching hot evening. Margetts going to ground under pressure in the early exchanges, but Mr Conde wasn't interested in his appeals. Ashley Jackson and Fraser Preston combined well down the left hand side in the opening ten minutes. Preston scampering to the byline. His chipped centre taking out Wharton, but agonisingly - it also narrowly missed Margetts arriving in the six yard box.
Preston was looking to pull the strings. And he threaded a clever ball through for Javelld Clarke. Clarke looked the favourite to get on the end of the weighted pass, but a split second hesitation allowed Wharton to block. Despite looking to pose problems, Trinity needed to remain switched on to the quick counter attack. One attack, ended with Jackson making a brilliant recovery run to retrieve possession for Russ Wilcox's men.
Clarke was becoming an increasingly threat. And he delivered from the right. Lewis Butroid got across the front post well, but he couldn't generate the direction, or power, to trouble Wharton. As Ilkeston looked to finish the half strongly, David Robson got up well to gather a high, hanging cross. His quick distribution out to the right found Aaron Simpson. Helping the ball on, into a good area, Clarke made the movement from left to right - and didn't give up the lost cause. And forced the error as 'keeper and defender failed to communicate. and Trinity had a spot kick in first half stoppage time. Margetts took the penalty, up against Wharton. The Hednesford FA Cup hero guessed right, but couldn't get a hand to the attempt - unfortunately for the visiting Gainsborough faithful, the ball thumped back off the upright - and the sides would go in all square.
Half Time: Ilkeston Town 0 Gainsborough Trinity 0
Despite the setback on the stroke of half time, Trinity again went out with a steely resolve and worked hard in humid conditions. A niggle second period becoming littered with yellow cards as tempers threatened to boil over, in the heat.Aaron Simpson's quickly taken throw in finding Lewis Butroid breaking the lines. Clarke looking to profit from the Gainsborough born midfielders' selfless running. His effort was deflected behind for a corner, as Javelle was left with head in hands. Bobby Johnson's inswinging corner asked questions of Wharton, that he answered. Beating the ball away as it dipped under his bar. A hurried up and under clearance put the hosts on the attack, but Trinity recovered their ground well, snuffing out the danger.
Assured distribution from David Robson helped Trinity stretch the play. Winning a freekick, Preston delivered - and the Robins half cleared - but Clarke couldn't generate the power with his head from 14 yards out. Ilkeston's Walker tried his luck with an improvised finish, but didn't trouble Robson, before Clarke broke the deadlock for the Holy Blues. Ashley Jackson gained some territory down the left for Trinity. And a panicked Ilson clearance fell kindly for Margetts who lifted the ball into the path of Clarke, who was making his run from left to right. Cleverly steering his first time finish back across Wharton before he could set himself, it was a tidy finish by the ex Brighouse attacker. Opening his and Gainsborough’s scorecard for the season.
As expected, Ilkeston looked to find a way back into the game, but Trinity kept their shape. Kept their composure and forced the hosts to go longer. Twelve minutes from time, Robbie Fox gifted possession to Frank Mulhern, who had come on for Margetts & Mulhern quickly released the fleet-footed Javelle. He raced away, and looked to cut back onto his left, only to be squeezed out.
As Ilkeston looked to throw the kitchen sink at the Blues, a mis-placed Sam Essien pass allowed Sisa Tuntulwana to break in behind. Mulhern up in support, Sisa went for goal himself, and passed up the opportunity to double the Gainsborough lead. Trinity had already looked to shore things up, with the late introduction of Harrison Beeden, who was strong in the air. Adding his aerial prowess to the backline. And helping the team to keep a positive clean sheet. Recording the first points of the season, in matchday two.
The Holy Blues are now set to hit the road again, at the weekend. Heading to Warrington Rylands. As the month of August continues at a breathtaking pace.

The Teams
Ilkeston Town Dylan Wharton, Tyler Whyte, Colin Daniel, Matt Thornhill (Tobbie Fox 68) Tom Marshall, Callum Minkley, L'Varn Brandy (Jordan Stevens 56), Sam Essien, Jamie Walker, Harvey Kirby-Moore, Connor Dixon (Dylan Youmbi 56)
Subs not used: Dorian Sulkowski & Frankie Shepherd

Gainsborough Trinity David Robson, Aaron Simpson, Ashley Jackson, Bobby Johnson, Will Lancaster, Adam Crookes, Lewis Butroid, Jordan Helliwell (George Hornshaw 84) Jonny Margetts (Frank Mulhern 74) Javelle Clarke (Sisa Tuntulwana 83), Fraser Preston (Harrison Beeden 87)
Sub not used: Curtis DuroseAttendance 413

Report by Rob Hughes (@AAM_Media)

 

Last edited by Matchman (15/8/2025 9:09 AM)