MATCH REPORT: Gainsborough Trinity 1 Lowestoft Town 1

Player-manager Dom Roma turned the ball into his own net after Budtz parried the initial shot from Ryan Jarvis into his path with ten minutes to go.

Trinity had taken a first half lead through Nathan Jarman, who notched for the third game in a row, as he met a Josh Lacey cross to give the Blues what looked a comfortable lead at half time.

The second half was anything but comfortable though as Trinity were boxed into their own half by the opposition and their own fear of conceding another late equaliser.

Blues boss Dom Roma named an unchanged side from the defeat to Chorley for the visit of relegation threatened Lowestoft Town.

Changes to the bench saw the returning Simon Russell and Matt Wilson back available after injury.

Understandably with the stakes so high the game had nothing in it up until the 23rd minute when Nathan Jarman opened the scoring.

Jarman somehow beat centre half Michael Spillane to a header and found the corner of the net from a Josh Lacey cross.

The Trawler Boys responded well and had two chances to level within five minutes of going behind.

Ryan Jarvis saw a goal bound strike pushed out for a corner by Jan Budtz and from that corner his brother Rossi thundered a volley against the crossbar.

Trinity regathered their thoughts after the visitors came so close to an equaliser and controlled the remaining minutes of the half.

The Blues came mightily close to extending their lead five minutes into the second half when Stephen Brogan curled a free kick narrowly wide of the post.

The visitors changed to a 4-3-3 at half time and began to box Trinity into their own half.

Adam Quinn had to react quickly to block a Spillane shot over the bar before the centre half rose to head a corner onto the crossbar.

A quick switch of play saw Liam Davis test the visiting keeper in the 77th minute, as the former Grimsby youngster skinned two men to fashion the opportunity.

Three minutes later and Lowestoft equalised through the unfortunate Roma. The player-manager fluffed a clearance after an unsighted Budtz parried a Ryan Jarvis into the six yard box.

The Blues had a huge change to retake the lead minutes later. The ever determined Davis, won two tackles before playing a one two in the box with Brogan and when six yards out somehow screwed the shot wide.

The visitors almost took advantage of the miss in injury time as they were first denied by Budtz before the resulting corner was cleared off the line by Davis.

The result leaves the Blues six points above today’s visitors in 16th place having played two games more.

Gainsborough Trinity: Budtz, Roma, Lacey, D’Laryea, Quinn, Picton, Yates, Brogan, Newsham (Wilson 78), Jarman, Davis. Subs (not used): Stamp, Russell, Binns, Hedge.

Lowestoft Town: Killip, Marsden, Smith, Fisk, Spillane, Ro Jarvis, Mason (Nyadzayo 64), Deeks, Ry Jarvis, Crow, Henderson. Subs (not used): Bennett, Jarrod, Bishop, Putnins.

Gainsborough Goalscorers: Jarman 23.

Lowestoft Goalscorers: Roma OG 79.

Bookings: Marsden.

Attendance: 507

Referee: Mr J Smith. Assistants: Mr E Cook, Mr M Fryer.