Winning start for new Gainsborough Trinity boss

Nathan Jarman gave Dominic Roma a winning start to his managerial career with a last gasp winner in a 1-0 success at home to Nuneaton Town.
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Jarman latched onto a Stephen Brogan ball to effortless guide home the winner as the clock ticked over to 90.

It was the only bit of a class in what was not the greatest spectacle football wise but the way they ground out the win will have pleased Roma.

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Gainsborough started life without long serving manager Steve Housham by making one change to the side which were defeated by Curzon Ashton on Tuesday.

New manager Roma’s only change was to drop himself from the team, saying that after seeking advice from Chesterfield assistant manager Chris Morgan and former Matlock player-manager Martin Foster.

The next job was to name a new captain with the nod given to former Barnsley striker Jarman.

It was never going to be an easy task for the new manager in his first game ever in charge, and to make matters worse fifth placed Nuneaton were the visitors.

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Boro were unbeaten in the last five coming into the match as they faced a ferocious battle to finish in the play-offs this season. They could even afford to start former Premier League striker Marlon Harewood on the bench.

The first half failed to truly get started in all honesty with both sides cancelling each other out.

It was not for lack of trying though as good defending at both sides, prevented gaps opening up for either side.

The only true chance came in the 20th minute when Joe Ironside found himself with space in the box, drilled a low shot on target and Jan Budtz gathered at the second attempt after seemingly letting the ball slip under his body.

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Following this Trinity began to dominate, both in possession and territory but had no rewards to show for their efforts and the half ended goalless.

In truth the second half did not particularly get any lively.

Ironside had another shot parried away for a corner just after the break as Nuneaton attempted to assert their dominance on proceedings.

They could not however as a lack of quality mixed with a solid defensive performance from the Blues made sure of a first clean sheet in five games.

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Gainsborough only managed their first shot on target in the 72nd minute as they attempted to claim all three points. Liam Davis cut in from the left and his effort did not test the visiting keeper.

Former West Ham forward Harewood then came on and struck a firm drive over the bar before Stephen Brogan jinked into the box and hit a deflected strike on goal.

In the 82nd minute it looked as if the Blues had missed their best chance to win the game. A devilish Brogan free kick, was somehow headed backwards by Jake Picton when he looked likely to score and Jarman volleyed over the bar from the penalty spot.

The ex-Ferriby man’s reaction said it all, putting his head in his hands as he knew he perhaps should have done better.

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The visitors themselves could have snatched it with less than five minutes left.

A Harewood flick on found Elliott Whitehouse in a great position at the far post and the attempt was easily gobbled up by Budtz.

The game had all been building up to the ultimate crescendo when Borgan picked out Jarman with diagonal ball, which the striker controlled on his chest on the run before slotting it into the back of the net.

It was a perfect start for Roma as his Blues side claimed the points ahead of what could have been a crunch game at Lowestoft next Saturday.

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TRINITY: Budtz, Lacey, Brogan, D’Laryea, Quinn, Picton, Russell, Davis, Reid, Jarman, Hodge (Yates 63). Subs (not used): Stamp, Roma, Binns, Hedge.

NUNEATON: Smith, Clifton, Lane, Morgan (Harewood 65), J Keane, Rowe-Turner, Matthews (Dawson 71), Byrne, Ironside, Whitehouse, C. Keane. Subs not used: Duffy, Maguire, Elliott.

REFEREE: Mr P. Graham.

ATTENDANCE: 505.