Baxter strikes late as Bamber Bridge draw at Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity were left frustrated after Bamber Bridge snatched a late equaliser to share the spoils in Saturday’s 1-1 NPL Premier Division draw at the Kal Group Stadium, Jack Baxter cancelling out Connor Brown’s sixth goal of the season for the Holy Blues.
The Holy Blues had looked set to return to winning ways following their midweek defeat against Curzon Ashton, only for Baxter to spoil the treat just six minutes from time.
Manager Russ Wilcox made three changes from midweek.
George Hornshaw was missing, the injury that forced him off before half-time on Tuesday keeping him out of this one.
Ronnie Kokkinos and Javelle Clarke donned different numbers, while Frank Mulhern and full backs Aaron Simpson and Ben Blythe came in to freshen things up in the full back positions.
Both sides were desperate to get the three points and get back to winning ways after losing their last games against Curzon and Workington respectively.
And it was the dawn of a new era for Bamber Bridge with their new man in the dugout, former player and ex-Preston North End midfielder Paul McKenna.
The first half ended goalless, being a game of few chances in a cat and mouse encounter with the best chance of the half coming from Trinity’s Javelle Clarke, who blazed a strike over the bar when well placed.
Bamber Bridge started the second half the better of the two sides in a slow burner of a gaame.
A couple of shots were fired across the bow with Baxter firing narrowly wide before Butterworth forced Robson into action.
Ash Jackson came off the bench to make his 150th appearance in Trinity colours in a straight swap for Blythe, who had been steady at full back, Jackson adding a different dimension to the Blues’ attack in the same way as Sutcliffe replacing Simpson on the other flank.
And in the 74th minute, Trinity finally broke the game’s deadlock with Brown getting on the end of a ball from Frank Mulhern and slotting it underneath Brigg keeper Charlie Brier.
But the Blues dropped off their intensity and paid a price.
Just six minutes from time, Baxter grabbed the equaliser after being given too much space on the edge of the box, leaving the hosts frustrated that they could not hold out for the win.
TRINITY: Robson, Simpson (Sutcliffe 68), Blythe (Jackson 62), Kokkinos, Leckie, Beeden, Clarke (Williams 62), Helliwell, Mulhern, Brown, Preston (Butroid 68). SUB NOT USED: Offler.
BRIDGE: Brier, Illingworth, Knight-Percival, Thompson, Broughton, Baxter, Allen, Adubofour (Benns 62), Butterworth, Ajibola (Trickett 77), Barkhuizen. SUBS NOT USED: Eze, Woods, Yamada.
ATTENDANCE: 501.