Gainsborough Trinity unlucky as Warrington Rylands win ding-dong battle

This was a spirited performance in an action-packed spectacle that Trinity didn’t deserve to lose with an inspired performance from Rylands' keeper Luke Pilling.

Trinity started brilliantly. Connor Brown forced a hurried clearance from Pilling, the ball landing at the feet of Frank Mulhern on the left hand touch line, instantly sending the ball back over the stranded goalkeeper only to land the wrong side of the upright.

Ronnie Kokkinos fired a whisker wide of Pilling’s upright and three minutes later, Sutcliffe had time and space to pull the trigger from 25 yards, Pilling flinging himself athletically to his left to deny the Gainsborough full back.

But momentum swung and there was nothing David Robson could do on 21 minutes as a well-worked corner routine saw Charlie Munrow swing the ball into a good area and Calum Costello provide the telling touch, glancing the ball into the far corner.

As the game continued to ebb and flow, Kokkinos had the ball in the back of the net, only to see the effort ruled out for a handball in the build up.

Robson was again called into action with another smart stop before Brown was hauled down by Gamble as he raced through on goal, albeit on the halfway line. Gamble’s punishment was only a yellow.

Brown was denied by the legs of Pilling from a tight angle. Then South African international Dean Furman lofted a ball through the middle for Wood, but he got his lob all wrong.

But it was a temporary let off for the Holy Blues, as two minutes later Charlie Munroe struck from range, his effort moving all over the place, deceiving Robson in the Trinity goal to make it 2-0 on 36 minutes

Two became three two minutes later when it opened up for Harrison Wood 30 yards out, his strike arrowing into the bottom corner.

In no way did Wilcox’s men deserve to be three down, and they weren’t for long.

Five minutes before the break, Lewis Butroid reduced the arrears, ramming home after Mulhern played in Kokkinos, who picked the pass to tee up his skipper, to net his 30th goal in Gainsborough colours.

The second half started in much the same way as the first with two good teams going at each other and Robson had to be at his best, plunging full length down to his left to deny Hardcastle.

Then Preston swivelled in the box, Pilling getting down well to divert behind.

As Trinity chased a way back into the game, Rylands looked to exploit any gaps, Hardcastle poking an effort goalwards, that Robson did well to get down to and hold on to.

Robson made another important save while Matt Regan blocked Williams’ effort.

Centrally, Mulhern lined up a 40 yard free kick, but Pilling flung himself to his right to deny the Trinity talisman.

In added time, Robson saved with his feet from Hardcastle.