FRESH TRINITY GIVE IT THEIR ALL BUT IMPS FIND FINISH
GAINSBOROUGH TR 0 LINCOLN CITY 4
AN EXPERIMENTAL Gainsborough Trinity squad – including eight trialists against a strong Lincoln City side – succumbed to a four-goal reverse at home to the League One outfit.
The Imps, fielding several players to pull on the Blue of Gainsborough, made the bulk of the running in the opening period, with Trinity able to keep their shape, restricting Mark Kennedy’s men to shots from range.
Gainsborough’s trialist between the sticks had to be alert, making a flying save to deny Charles Vernam, who arrived late to connect well with TJ Eyoma’s cut-back
Andrew Wright, a summer signing from Mickleover, was the first to test Sam Long in the City goal, when his thumping 25yard free-kick through the wall was well held.
Ted Bishop saw a couple of efforts blocked by brave Trinity defending, but six minutes before the interval Lincoln had their breakthrough.
Bishop’s glancing header from Vernam’s cross gave the goalkeeper no chance. Three minutes later, they doubled their advantage, full-back Sean Roughan with a crisp finish in off the post.
There were changes aplenty for both sides at half-time and Trinity grew into the game more in the second period, but Lincoln looked a constant threat on the counter in front of a crowd of 1,246.
It was three whenTashan Oakley-Boothe flicked on and Charley Kendall lifted the ball over stranded Trinity custodian Matt Yates.
Ten minutes from time, Brad Grayson hit the Lincoln bar with a sublime, curling free-kick to the right of centre.
Former Trinity loanee Billy Brooks put the icing on the cake for the Imps when he made it four two minutes from time, arriving late to nod past Yates.