Howe bags a brace as Gainsborough Trinity secure successive wins
Gainsborough Trinity heaped more misery on visiting Hebburn Town with a 3-1 win to record back-to-back wins to start Easter in style on Saturday.
Declan Howe netted twice, either side of Fraser Preston’s strike, to climb to second in the NPL scoring charts.
Trinity dominated the first half possession with Preston creating for Howe, who lifted the ball past Daniel Cameron on 18 minutes.
Hebburn, who are quickly sliding towards the drop zone, then showed character, equalising two minutes after the break when experienced centre back Michael Turner rose highest to power home from Liam Noble’s corner kick.
The Hornets looked to build on that with Joao Gomes a lively threat going forwards.
Russ Wilcox’s men regrouped and with half an hour remaining began to again exert their dominance.
A cut back from the byline was sent narrowly wide of his own upright by keeper Dan Cameron before an almighty goalmouth scramble was hacked clear.
Preston finally restored the Trinity advantage when Howe repaid the favour, laying on for the former Scottish youth international to give Cameron no chance.
Javelle Clarke then looked to catch Cameron off his line with an audacious effort, before Preston’s cutback found Bailey Conway, the second half substitute unable to adjust himself in time.
But two minutes into the five minutes added, Howe completed his brace. Conway’s header initially found Howe, who proceeded to play a neat one-two and round things off.