Gainsborough Preview
As the season nears to an end games start to come thick and fast, just like Tuesday’s rearranged fixture at home to Gainsborough Trinity. We have no time to reflect on our win over Whitby as another game has to be tackled if we are to retain our step 3 placement. A while back Gainsborough were a side in the mix with us in a relegation battle, but a run of good results has seen then climb away from the bottom of the table. Trinity now lie 12th with 41 points and have an away record of won 5, drawn 4 and lost 6, which includes last Saturdays fine 1-0 win away to play off chasing Lancaster. Wins on the road also include Atherton, Grantham (5-1), Radlciffe and Stalybridge, while they have lost at Ashton, Basford, Matlock, Nantwich, South Shields and Witton. Their away form tends to mirror a typical mid table side. It is therefore up to the Rangers to take the game to Gainsborough in an attempt to keep up our winning run this month.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club was formed in 1873 as Trinity Recreationists, set up by the vicar of the Holy Trinity Church for young parishioners. Many people forget, but in 1892/93 season Gainsborough were elected to the Football League Second Division and their first game was against Newton Heath, later to become Manchester United. Gainsborough were also founder members of the Northern Premier League.
Historically, this was a regular Northern Premier League fixture in the 70’s. Of the 10 fixtures in that decade we won 7, losing 3 with an aggregate score of 20-7. There were 2 more NPL games in the 80’s winning 1 and drawing 1, but our paths did not meet up again till the noughties where there were 5 Conference North fixtures winning all 5 with an aggregate score of 12-2. Last season we drew 1-1 following Gainsborough Trinity’s first ever relegation in their history. As you can see, we certainly have the upper hand with historical games, but it is the present day that counts, so please get down on Tuesday night to support the team as the great escape could still be on.
Games played on March 10th this century
2001 Welling H 5-2 Southern Premier League
2007 Tamworth H 0-4 Conference
2009 Redditch A 2-2 Conference North
2012 Bradford H 3-1 Northern Premier League
2014 Port Vale H 1-1 Staffs Senior Cup (lost 3-2 on penalties)
2018 Lancaster H 2-2 Northern Premier League
