Cruel late Bury blow ends Gainsborough Trinity’s perfect start at home

Bailey Sloane's 89th minute finish settled what had been an evenly contested encounter.

Russ Wilcox’s side came into the contest in confident mood following an impressive 4-1 victory over Stockton Town in midweek, their third league win from the opening four games.

There was little to separate the sides for long spells, however, it was the visitors who dominated for long periods of the first half.

The opening stages were closely fought, with neither goalkeeper rarely troubled as the two sides settled into their afternoon in front of a bumper crowd.

Bury looked to play on the front foot, with the visiting side looking to build from the back and make use of the width, while Trinity remained organised and resolute.

As the half developed the visitors began to threaten more regularly.

Trinity’s defensive shape remained disciplined, though clear-cut openings proved difficult to come by for the Holy Blues.

The best opportunity for Trinity came 15minutes before the break, right back Harvey Sutcliffe getting forward well, stinging the palms of Mitchell Allen in the Bury goal.

Trinity returned for the second half with renewed intent and began to apply more pressure.

The home side saw more of the ball in promising areas and looked more capable of breaking the deadlock, while Bury were forced to defend deeper at times.

There was a growing sense around the Kal Group Stadium that the game could be decided by a single moment.

Trinity continued to push and made changes from the bench as the match entered its final stages, looking to add fresh energy and find the goal that would turn pressure into a deserved reward.

Instead, it was Bury who struck the telling blow.

Elliott Whitehouse carved open the visitors’ defence with a beautifully weighted through ball for fellow second half substitute Javelle Clarke to race onto.

Beating the advancing keeper, Clarke turned the ball goalwards. But as time appeared to stand still, Bury full back Sloane gave chase, sliding in to clear off the line.

And then, with just a minute of the regulation 90 remaining, the visitors found the breakthrough courtesy of that man Sloane. He rose highest at the back post to guide home Leo Graham’s inswinging corner.

Trinity immediately went in search of an equaliser, throwing everything forward, but Bury managed to hold on and leave Gainsborough with nothing to show for their hard work.

After three wins from their opening four league fixtures, Trinity had been hoping to build further momentum on home soil.

Despite the disappointment, there were positives to take from a performance in which the Holy Blues competed strongly against a Bury side who had also made an encouraging start to their campaign.

TRINITY: Robson, Sutcliffe, Jackson, Hornshaw (Johnson 35), Leckie, Beeden, Butroid (Blythe 79), Helliwell, Williams (Clarke 59), Offler (Brown 59) Preston, (Whitehouse 82).

ATTENDANCE: 1288 (543 away).