Gainsborough Trinity run is halted at Leek Town
Gainsborough Trinity's busy run of games continued with a midweek win at Ashton United, and defeat on the road against Leek Town at the weekend with boss Russ Wilcox demanding better from his side.
The Holy Blues were due to be back in action again on Tuesday night - away at in form Bamber Bridge.
Following the midweek heroics and return to scoring form for Jonny Margetts - the striker netted twice to take his league tally into double figures - optimism was high amongst the Gainsborough faithful.
But Saturday's setback – a first defeat of 2026 – had Wilcox adamant: “We must be better. If we want the play-offs, we must be better.
“We were second best. They played better football than us, won more first contacts and picked up more second balls than we did - though saying that - at 0-0 it's a clear penalty, for the foul on Lewis Butroid. He gets there first and their lad takes him out.
“Also, I felt it was a foul on Robbo (keeper, David Robson) for their goal.
“But over the 95+ minutes we played, I don't think we deserved anything from the game.
“It was a disappointing time to concede, just before half time - if we could have got in level, it becomes a 45 minute game.
“Ultimately, we didn't look at our best. We made three changes to personnel and changed our shape, to try and get some impetus, try and get a foothold in the game, but it just didn't happen for us.
“The fundamentals needed to be better. Sometimes you just have to run harder and fight and scrap a little bit more than we did at the weekend.
“It's disappointing, coming off the back of picking up 10 points from 12 and playing some nice football.
“Yes we made a few changes, and freshened up, but the players were told that there is no way we could get through this run of games with 11 players and that it's a squad game.”
Following the third away trip in succession, the Holy Blues return to the Kal Group Stadium on Saturday, looking to continue the unbeaten home start to 2026, when they welcome Workington AFC to Lincolnshire.
The Cumbrians currently sit at the foot of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, but cut the gap to safety, to seven points, thanks to only their fourth win of the season.
“A tough task awaits. They've only lost once in the last six, and are scrapping for their lives,” said Wilcox.
That one defeat came against league leaders and free-scoring Hebburn Town, by a single goal to nil.
Wilcox's side won 2-1 at Borough Park in the reverse fixture, Lewis Butroid and Frank Mulhern on the mark for Gainsborough, before David Symington saw red, and Steven Rigg scored a stoppage time consolation.