Gainsborough Trinity impressing as big kick-off nears
Gainsborough Trinity will play their final pre-season friendly at home to Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday ahead of the big kick-off on 8th August.
An impressive and defiant 0-0 home draw with EFL League One side Doncaster Rovers last Saturday was due to be followed by a trip to Stocksbridge Park Steels in midweek as boss Russ Wilcox sought to manage his players' minutes ahead of the opening NPL fixture at home to Workington.
Wilcox is pleased with what he is currently seeing and said: “We are still short on bodies and still want a few back. But two weeks away, we are in decent shape.
“The last two games have been really difficult, certainly without the ball.
“But we were brilliant against Doncaster on Saturday – bodies on the line, getting blocks in – I don't know how many George (Hornshaw) got in today.
“We were good with the ball at times when we had the ball.
“Obviously they had a lot of ball second half after making changes which made it more difficult.
“But I said to the lads that if we can apply ourselves like that and work that hard, we do have quality in there that will shine through in our league.
“It's about doing the ugly bits of the game and we did that in abundance today.”
He added: “Now we are looking at doing the other side of the game, even though you have to do the basics no matter who you play, whether it's Step 5, Step 5 or League One.
“It doesn't really matter, the fundamentals of the game never change.
“You have got to be good in both boxes. If you are, you have got a chance, and that is what we did today.
“We were decent in both boxes, certainly our box. We had a lot of defending to do.
“There was a bit of a mismatch height-wise too. So to defend the corners and free kicks like we did was outstanding.
“We have got a good group in there – and we have added to it. But we have to keep that fight that we have been showing in pre-season.”