Gainsborough Trinity match preview – Phil Bennett

Jan 21, 2019 | Club News

Someone remarked to me during the Grantham game that Grantham Town have the initials GT and play in Lincolnshire. At home we drew 1-1 scoring first. Next Saturday we travel to Gainsborough Trinity, who have the initials GT, play in Lincolnshire and we drew the home game 1-1 scoring first. So, if you believe in coincidences then you should travel to next Saturdays away game.

We travel to Gainsborough in a league for the first time since 2010/11 when we drew 2-2. Having lost 2-0 to them in last seasons FA Trophy we aim to improve on that especially as hopes are high after the Grantham game. However, they have an imposing home record, with 7 wins against sides well down the league table, 2 draws with Witton and Nantwich and defeats to Buxton, Grantham and Scarborough. Their 6th place to our 19th sees a 20-point gap, so on paper it appears to be a banker home win. However, we travel hoping to cause an upset.

Gainsborough Trinity Football Club was formed in 1873 as Trinity Recreationists, set up by the vicar of the Holy Trinity Church for young parishioners. In 1889The club quickly became well known and won their first Midland League championship in 1890/91 and after finishing runners-up the following season they were elected to the Football League Second Division. Their first match was against Newton Heath, who later became Manchester United. On returning to the Midland League the club remained there until becoming founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1969. Gainsborough Trinity were one of the longest-serving members of the NPL, ending a 36-year stay after finishing tenth in the Premier Division to earn a place in the extended Conference Nationwide North for 2004/05. In the 145 years since they were first formed in 1873, other than through failing to be re-elected or reorganisation of leagues, they had never been promoted and never been relegated. That was until last season when they lost their place in the National League North to find themselves back in the Northern Premier League.

Gainsborough Trinity play their home matches at The Northolme, their home since 1884. In their history a few famous names have played or managed them, more recently managerial spells under Neil Warnock who began his managerial career at Gainsborough, and Brian Little.

There is a supporter’s mini bus running, but I believe this may be full, so car travellers you are looking at a 180-mile round trip with journey time of about 2 hours each way. Your satnav requirements for Northolme, now known as the Gainsborough Martin and Co Arena is DN21 2AW. There is limited street parking, but they have a car park across the roads from the ground with a charge of £2. Admission to the game appears still to be based on National League North prices as they charge £12 adult, £8 concessions and £4 under 16’s. For those wishing to travel by train, then I am afraid you can forget it, as you cannot get back till Sunday.

So, to all the brave souls travelling on Saturday, lets all get behind the team as see if we can spring a surprise and move away from that dreaded relegation zone.

 

Games played on January 26th this century.

 

2002       Bath                       H             postponed, but won 2-1 when played on 2nd Feb

2006       Tamworth            H             1-0          Staffs Senior Cup

2008       Salisbury              H             1-5          Conference

 

Rampant Rangers hit Coleshill for 8.

Jan 14, 2019 | Under 18's Match Report

A feisty Coleshill side arrived to do battle at the Boro on a misty 10th January. Rangers struggled to shrug off the Christmas hangover as Coleshill threatened early on.

Rangers Danny Stevens had a shot saved by Coleshill keeper on 3 minutes against the run of play with Coleshill’s 11 being caught offside a minute later.
Rangers settled, centre back James Black popped a neat pass into Christian Blanchette on the right, Blanchette raced into Coleshill’s box unleashing a strike against Coleshill’s far post, Stevens picked up the rebound firing wide.
Coleshill’s no: 7 continued to cause problems for Rangers defence. Right back Adam Taylor quickly got to grips with the tricky winger sliding in with several brilliantly timed interventions.

The action continued at a frantic pace with Max Dixon chipping just wide on 14 minutes. A couple of minutes later Coleshill were awarded a free kick around 20 yards out. Coleshill’s no: 7 stepped up whipping a shot into the safe arms of Rangers keeper Craig Pain.
On 16 minutes Max Dixon switched to right wing with Christian Blanchette taking up central midfield. Minutes later Dixon broke down the right threading a fine pass to Danny Stevens to run on to. Stevens shot was saved by the keeper, Dixon picked up the loose ball and linked up with Lucas Burnett who buried a shot into Coleshill’s net.

Coleshill persisted, their mobile 7 whipping in a stinging shot forcing a good save from keeper Pain. The end to end action continued, Connor Baikie floating in an inviting corner only to be cleared by Coleshill. Shortly before the break Max Dixon danced through the Coleshill defence and cut a pass to Stevens whose shot was again saved by Coleshill’s now busy keeper. The resulting corner found the head of lofty Captain Connor Taylor who made no mistake making it 2 to Rangers. A few minutes later Stevens was fouled running at the Coleshill defence. Christian Blanchette floated the free kick into the Coleshill box finding the head of Connor Taylor for the second time in as many minutes, Taylor turned the header in for his second.

Half Time 3-0 Rangers.

The Second half saw the introduction of Charlie Baker in goal, hardworking Josh Moody having earned himself a break was replaced by a very mobile Josh Stack, Declan Arber came on for Danny Stevens and Alex Smith and Sam Jarvis replaced Connor Baikie and Max Dixon.
Second half continued in the same vein with both sides still going for the win. Coleshill held their heads high and continued to attack. 53 minutes saw a dangerous Coleshill corner cleared by Blanchette. A few minutes later Rangers earned a throw in following some great work from Tim Khayat on Rangers left. Christian Blanchette launched a long throw into Coleshill’s box finding Lucas Burnett who set up Declan Arber. Arber’s shot struck a defender, Alex Smith latched on to the rebound firing Rangers fourth passed the Coleshill keeper.
59 minutes saw a Rangers corner floated in by Blanchette, finding Connor Taylor at the back post, Taylor headed back across goal finding Alex Smith who headed in for his second. 5-0 Rangers.

Coleshill would not lie down, after a period of sustained pressure Coleshill’s talented no:10 intercepted a loose ball and raced forward to slot home past Baker in the Rangers goal to pull one back.
Rattled by the lapse in concentration Rangers responded. Charlie Baker launched one long which found its way to Declan Arber who tricked his way past the Coleshill defence before firing an unstoppable shot into the back of the net to make it 6-1 Rangers. A few minutes later Rangers won a corner which was floated in by Josh Stack, Alex Smith met the ball with his head to claim a hat trick
Not yet finished the reintroduced Max Dixon tripped past defenders on the right before slipping the ball unselfishly to Arber who coolly slotted in his second.

Final score Stafford Rangers 8 – 1 Coleshill.

Joe Cuff

Jan 13, 2019 | Club News

Following the sending off of Joe Cuff against Workington, the football club appealed the red card.

The Football Association have dismissed the appeal and increased the match ban to 4 matches.

Joe will miss the league games against Grantham, Gainsborough and Lancaster and the Integro Cup Quarter final against Farsley Celtic.

JOE CUFF

Jan 13, 2019 | Club News

Following the sending off of Joe Cuff against Workington, the football club appealed the red card.

The Football Association have dismissed the appeal and increased the match ban to 4 matches.

Joe will miss the league games against Grantham, Gainsborough and Lancaster and the Integro Cup Quarter final against Farsley Celtic.

Stafford Rangers 2 – 0 Port Vale U21’s

Jan 12, 2019 | Match Report

Rangers put a fixture free afternoon to very good use with a hastily arranged friendly against a youthful Port Vale side, and the result proved it to be a good move. In a game that was largely dominated by the hosts, Rangers were first to show in just the second minute, when Andy Haworth supplied the impressive Jake Charles and he shot over from 15 yards. Just a few minutes later, Lewis Banks latched onto a good through ball and he was denied twice as Tom Gregory made a double save, while Charles followed up and was also blocked by Gregory. A minute later and Charles attacked down the left and his cross was met by Banks, whose header could not be held by Gregory and Rangers took the lead. This was to become the pattern of the game, as Banks then retuned the favour but Gregory denied Charles again. Even with the pressure being applied, it took Rangers thirteen minutes too win their first corner where James Askey headed over. Rangers teenage forward Max Dixon then went on a run from the half way line put his composure lacked when it mattered as he fired over after a fifty yard run. Gregory was in action again as a fine dive denied Charles his second with a turn and shot, but he was powerless on twenty nine minutes as Charles let fly from around twenty five yards and his shot hit the top corner for a two-nil lead. Lucas Green-Birch had Vale’s first effort on target but Harry Benns had their best effort of the first half as his shot from twenty yards pulled a fine full length save from Adam Siviter, to retain that lead. Rangers reasserted control, as Charles had a shot deflected over, before Matt Hill fired a rocket of a free kick just wide of the post from thirty yards. Port Vale then had their only sustained spell of possession before half time, as they moved the ball well, but did not threaten the home goal, seriously.
Half time saw six changes for Rangers, while Vale rang just the two. Even with these changes the hosts continued to call the shots and he spoke volumes that it took fifty four minutes for the young Vale side to force their first corner. Theo Bailey-Jones had Rangers’ first effort of the half, firing wide from twenty five yards, while Jack Sherratt broke through and was only denied by a fine tackle from Max Beeston and the resulting corner was cleared by Gregory from under his bar. Gregory was called upon again as Declan Arber forced a good stop with a header, before Sherratt, Lucas Burnett and Ben Mills all had efforts blocked in the same move. Tom Thorley and Mills then combined well for the lively young Arber to fire over, before Vale had a dangerous attack five minutes from time and Jack Wakefield had their best effort of the game as he wriggled his into the box and his low shot hit the left hand post. With every player from both squads being used, it was a worthy exercise both for Rangers, as they look to boost confidence and rise up the table, while the young Vale team will have learned a few lessons.
Rangers – Siviter, Askey, Hill (Bailey Jones 45), Jones(Thorley 45), Burns (Coulson 45). Sherratt, Banks, Williams (Burnett 68), Charles (Mills 45), Dixon (Arber 45), Haworth (Green 45)
Port Vale – Gregory, Knowles (Chambers 45), Daley (Hickson 45), Campbell (Hallchurch 45), Beeston, Davies, Wakefield, Green-Birch (Berks 45), Turner (Stevens 60), Benns (Johnson 60), Ede
Att 126 –
Referee Ben Stott
Report by Alan Gee