SACRED POINT FOR TRINITY

TRINITY travelled to high-flying Harrogate and returned with a creditable point after playing in atrocious conditions at Wetherby Road on Saturday.

A downpour minutes before kick off added to the problems on an already sodden playing surface, and the contestants also had thunder and lightning to contend with before the finish.

Trinity boss Paul Mitchell was without the suspended Eric Graves in addition to injured Danny Wood and Matty Caudwell, recalling Danny Anson and Craig Lill in addition to giving a starting place to Notts County loanee Matt Austin.

Blues' goalkeeper Adam Sollitt was called into action early on, rushing out of goal to clear an underhit backpass with Colin Hunter in pursuit and Sollitt again needed to be alert moments later to deny Roy Hunter for the home side.

The Blues found their footing and Harrogate goalkeeper James Lindley turned away a threatening Craig Lill cross prior to the home side striking the woodwork after a quarter of an hour.

Gainsborough failed to effectively clear a corner and Darren Dunning saw his effort hit a post.

Harrogate's Danny Holland then set off on a penetrating run, but his progress was halted by a vital tackle from Richard Pell.

The home side took the lead after half an hour when Colin Hunter found space on the left and slid the ball past the advancing Sollitt.

Hunter's shot had just enough pace to take the ball over the line despite the valiant attempts of Lill to clear.

Simon Bird saw a free kick saved by Lindley, but should have levelled four minutes before the break when through only to slice his shot fwide.

Trinity did level before the break however, Ross Hannah taking advantage of a misunderstanding between Lindley and Jamie Price to stroke home from a narrow angle.

In worsening conditions, Trinity looked the better side after the break, but there was no addition to the score.

The home crowd were relieved when a floated shot from Hannah landed on the roof of the goal and Charlie Trout caused problems against the meanest defence in the division.

The busy midfielder charged down an attempted clearance from Lindley, but the ball ran just wide of goal.

Another penetrating cross from the former Lincoln United man was ushered out for a corner under pressure from the predatory Hannah.

Blues' defender Nick Ellis cleared a Chris Ellerker header off the line late on, but the visitors were well worth their share of the spoils as they prepare to travel to Nuneaton Borough on Tuesday evening before hosting Moor Green next Saturday.

HARROGATE: Lindley, Price, Merris, Ellerker, Timons, Dunning, C Hunter (sub Philpott 70 mins), R Hunter, Jackson, Holland, L Wood (sub Bettney 75 mins). Subs not used: McGarry, Thomas, M Wood.

GAINSBOROUGH: Sollitt, Purkiss, Lill, Ellis, Pell, Anson, Trout, Austin, Bird (sub Frost 67 mins), Hannah, Needham. Subs not used: Forbes, D Wood, Mallon, Charles.

REFEREE: Mr B Khatib (Sunderland)