10-03-18 – Report – Gainsborough Trinity 1 Harriers 0

Harriers manage the game to a 1-0 defeat against Trinity

Report: Phil Lench

The Harriers turned in their third consecutive defeat in a row at Gainsborough today in a game that they never looked like winning let alone scoring in. The last time we had a three game run of defeats was towards the end of our relegation season and was in fact in a run of four defeats that more or less confirmed our demotion to the National North. This is different though purely because we’re supposed to be trying to get promoted back and two defeats running are inexcusable let alone three.

Of course we’ll get the usual platitudes and excuses coming from the management that we’re a young team learning our trade and that we managed the game well in trying to come away from a relegation certain team with a goalless draw. I’m sorry but having watched that shower today it just doesn’t wash anymore and unless we begin to play with a forward line that wants to score goals, and is capable of scoring goals, then this is where we stay. 

I’m not blaming the midfield or the defence in this shambles because they did what they had to today but up front we were toothless and lacking in ideas. How many times did we fail to challenge for a ball played into the area or from a corner. How often did our strikeforce fail to get in the area and in the faces of the Gainsborough defenders? They had it all too easy coping with Joe Ironside with his back to goal. Dan Bradley opting to pass the ball sideways along the box and Andre Brown just not in the game at all.

In the first half only Elton N’Gwatala showed any kind of skill in front of goal but once he went off at the break, injured, we were never in it and his replacement, Sam Austin, never got a look in. It was Elton that had our best, possibly only, chance of a goal some ten minutes in when he fired in from outside the area and forced the rather decent Henrich Ravas into an excellent save to tip it around the post.

Apart from that we did nothing!  

HT: 0 – 0

The second half we did nothing either including getting into any kind of decent shooting position. We had some half chances but they came mainly from scrambled efforts in a goalmouth melee that saw their keeper come off best every time and when Ironside was exchanged for George Waring there was still no improvement. It was just a like for like swap with the same style of play and the same end product.

Trinity were no better than us and, although they tried hard, they had no end product either but what they did have was a willingness to try and stop us scoring although the main aim seemed to be to end the game with a point.

In extra time that point became three when, with four minutes of extra time called out, they caught us napping at the back and Nicky Walker raced onto a punt upfield from the keeper. He won the race between himself and Jon Flatt to get to the ball and then round the keeper to roll the ball into the net via the upright.

We have York City at Aggborough on Tuesday evening and if we fail to win that then we can wave goodbye to promotion this season. It’s up to this motley crew to do something about it. 

FT: 1 – 0

Goal for Gainsborough: Walker 94

The Harriers Online MotM is: James Pearson

Talk about the game here and phone the Harriers Hotline on 01905 577 777 after the game too

Latest table and stats here

Gainsborough Trinity	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Ravas
Vann
Fleming
Clarke
Stainfield
Beatson
Richards			86
L King
Worsfold			95
C King			74
Walker
Subs:
Jacklin			95
Davie
Russell			74
Simmons			86
Bateson
Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Flatt
Vaughan
Taylor
Croasdale
Horsfall
Pearson
Weeks
Bradley
Ironside			62
N’Gwatala			46
A Brown			81
Subs:
Palmer
Sonupè			81
Waring			62
McQuilkin
Austin			46
Referee:
Mr Aaron Jackson
Liverpool