Trinity boss, Russ Wilcox made two changes to his side that faced Worksop Town on Bank Holiday Monday. Ashley Jackson coming in for Dylan Cogill, while Bailey Conway started in place of Aaron Braithwaite, who he also replaced on Monday. Gainsborough were potentially rocked, in the warm up, as Dylan Wharton was drafted in to start, after Josh Render picked up a knock in the pre-match preparations. Other than that, Trinity were able to name a strong seven man bench, with Render lining up alongside Joe Stacey, Cogill, Javelle Clarke, Braithwaite, Glen Sani and Bobby Johnson.
Straight from kick off, Trinity got on the front foot. With Jordan Helliwell picking up the loose ball in the middle of the park, he drove forward releasing skipper-for-the-day Aaron Simpson, and the former Telford man did well to dig out a cross. Hot shot Declan Howe with the bravest of close range headers,
One could have become two shortly afterwards. A Butroid corner wasn’t fully cleared, and Ashley Jackson had not just one, not two, but three efforts blocked. Each one getting progressively closer. The third of which, Referee Scott Mason deemed to have struck the arm of Bucks’ skipper, Kyle Storer, on the line. Mason pointed to the spot, and yellow carded the visiting skipper. Declan Howe taking responsibility from twelve yards, as four minutes turned into five. Howe stepped up to 
strike down the middle – only to see his effort saved by the legs of the goalkeeper.
Trinity were really playing with a swagger and intensity that the visitors couldn't contend with. Allowing the Bucks little time on the ball. Neat passing moves, the Blues looked resplendent in the sunshine. After Nathan Fox conceded a free-kick, Howe wasn't far away from Lewis Butroid’s devilish set piece swung in towards the front man – but his close range header was narrowly up and over the bar.
A short tactical pause looked to have swung momentum Telford's way, as they began to see more of the ball, but the visitors would need the wherewithal of their 'keeper. Hall, getting down low to his left, when Alex Gudger and Orrin Pendley were caught all at sea, Fraser Preston threading the ball through the eye of a needle. Shaping the ball onto his right, Howe crashed a low effort towards the bottom corner, but Hall did brilliantly low down, to divert the ball behind for a corner.
The visitors retorted, when Dior Angus swivelled and struck over the top from the edge of the box, to show their first real goal threat. And remind the Blues, that if they weren’t going to be able to add to their dominance in terms of goals, they could be made to pay. And when Remi Walker was afforded too much space down the Gainsborough left, his cutback from the byline was poked into the smallest gap at the near post by Ricardo Dinanga – and the Bucks were level!
Howe and Preston again combined, this time Fraser pulling the trigger. As he dug out his shot from the right of the box, Hall was again equal to the effort. Sisa Tuntulwana then recovered well to block Dior Angus’ effort, as the visiting number nine did well to spin in behind, Tuntulwana showing great recovery speed.
Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 1 AFC Telford United 1
Like the first half, Trinity came out like a train – Trinity’s talisman Howe almost delivered a carbon copy of the first-half, as he was sent through by Preston inside the first minute of the second 45. The chance might have been different, but it had the same ‘quick out of the blocks’ energy.
Gainsborough Trinity did have their lead back in the 53rd minute. Simpson stood up a picturesque cross to the back-post, where opposite wing back, Lewis Butroid arrived right on cue, to meet the ball with a header back across goal, and into the corner of Hall’s goal. The Bucks matched up formation wise with around half an hour to play, and looked a little more threatening, goalscorer Dinanga poking an effort towards goal. Wharton equal to the effort.
Penalty appeals were waved away at other end. The ball seemingly striking the hand of Storer again – but with Referee Mason having already awarded one – he was unlikely to award another… And Mason was unmoved, as the Telford bench went up in unison, as Tuntulwana eventually got the better of Dinanga. The Bucks feeling aggrieved – but in truth, it was another good recovery from Sisa, showing good strength as he went shoulder to shoulder with the Telford threat.
Wharton saved well, as the Blues put bodies on the line, the ‘keeper claiming well to relieve some pressure, but also having a moment of good fortune, the least the Holy Blues deserved, when Orrin Pendley stole in at the back post, but could only plant his downward header the wrong side of the near post (the right side for Trinity). A golden opportunity for the visitors, going begging.
Gainsborough managed to withstand the late surge of Telford pressure, cashing in on the now minimum £3,375 prize money. And ensuring our spot in the draw, due to be announced at 1pm, Monday lunch time. Only the second time in five years, the Holy Blues have been able to navigate the First Qualifying Round of the world famous, Emirates FA Cup.
The Teams
Gainsborough Trinity: Dylan Wharton, Aaron Simpson, Ashley Jackson, Bailey Conway, Sisa Tuntulwana, Will Lancaster, Lewis Butroid (Joe Stacey 67 ) Jordan Helliwell, Dayle Southwell (Bobby Johnson 88) Declan Howe, Fraser Preston (Dylan Cogill 80). Subs not used: Javelle Clarke, Glen Sani and Josh Render.
AFC Telford United: Brandon Hall, George Burrows (James Armson 78) Nathan Fox, Kyle Storer, Orrin Pendley, Alex Gudger, Remi Walker, Sam Whittall (Ellis Myles 59) Dior Angus (Ellis Brown 78) Ricardo Dinanga, Byron Moore.
Gainsborough Goals: Declan Howe (1), Lewis Butroid (53)
Gainsborough Bookings: Lewis Butroid, Declan Howe, Dylan Cogill
Telford Goal: Ricardo Dinanga (35)
Telford Bookings: Brandon Hall, Kyle Storer, Remi Walker, James Armson
Referee: Scott Mason
Attendance: 375
Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images courtesy of Mike Sheridan/TwoEight