Gainsborough Trinity promotion fate is in the balance
Gainsborough Trinity clung on to the final play-off place at the weekend, with the result at Stockton going in the Holy Blues' favour, but boss Russ Wilcox was left smarting and hoping his side can now channel their recent hurt into clinching glory.
Trinity were beaten 3-0 at Lancaster City but stayed in the play-off spots thanks to rivals Stockton also losing as the season reaches a dramatic climax.
“I want the players hurting after that one,” said Wilcox.
“ With Stockton beaten by Rushall Olympic, a positive result against Lancaster would have seen us open a four point gap, with two games to play.”
It was a case once again, of Trinity rueing missed chances, and he continued: We were so dominant in the first half - and should have been ahead inside 40 seconds.
“We've pegged them back for long periods of the game - but they've hung in there. And in the second half, they've punished us.
“We've missed chances that we should be scoring. And it is going to come down to fine margins in the next couple of weeks.
“We'll have to dust ourselves off and use the hurt from Saturday to get the result we need against Prescot.”
Stockton still have a game in hand on Wilcox's side.
Tuesday, 21st April is the day the side in sixth position travel to FC United of Manchester.
The fixture has been shrouded in controversy with seven postponements to date and late last week the league announced the game would be held at a neutral venue.
This was met with disdain by the side from Manchester, with supporters taking to Social Media to protest the decision.
One email sparked an angry response from the chairman of the Northern Premier League, resulting in Mark Harris being relieved of his duties pending an investigation into his alleged four-letter word reply.
Gainsborough co-signed a recommendation to the league, alongside fellow play-off contenders Warrington Rylands, outlining concerns surrounding the fairness, consistency and integrity of the competition, particularly at this critical point in the season.
With the heightened spotlight now on the fixture, Trinity will be looking to rediscover their shooting boots, whilst hoping for favours elsewhere, in the final two games.
This Saturday sees Gainsborough host relegation-threatened Prescot Cables, before ending the season away at Hyde United.
It has been a dramatic season so far, with no team's promotion or relegation yet confirmed.
But, with one play-off spot still up for grabs, the fixtures could yet be kind for the Holy Blues.