In front of a bumper crowd of 1952, it took the hosts a little time to acclimatise. Sam Osbourne the first to test Dylan Wharton in the Trinity goal, but his attempt with routinely thwarted. Moments later, Wharton quickly redeemed himself with a sliding challenge after scuffing a clearance back towards his own goal. Nervy moments for the former Sheffield United youngster. Just past the quarter hour mark, Maguire's deep corner was met at the far post by Jai Rowe. His header was worked goalwards by Hazel, but the former Trinity striker couldn't keep his effort down.

Fraser Preston then looked to unlock his former clubs with a deft ball over the top, but Pilgrims' goalkeeper Elliot Craven was quick off his line. Getting there ahead of Declan Howe. And straight down the other end, Hazel profited from some slack defensive play to roll the ball beyond Wharton to give the visitors the lead. Maguire, and then Tom Leak tried their luck from distance. But Will Lancaster and Wharton dealt with the efforts in turn. Lancaster was looking a composed figure on the ball for Russ Wilcox's men and was looking to step out from the back, and into the middle as Trinity refused to lie down.

Just before the half hour mark, the Blues were level! Ashley Jackson found Javelle Clarke, and Clarke's centre was helped up in the air by Howe. Craven came to try and claim, but as the ball bounced around the box, Jordan Helliwell lashed unnervingly into the top left hand corner, to level things up after Howe and Lewis Butroid hadn't been able to find that all important finish moments prior. The goal knocked some of the stuffing out of the visitors, bereft of confidence and without a win in eight - and the Blues could have been ahead five minutes before the break. When Howe raced away down the right, he opted to look for the supporting Clarke rather than pull the trigger - and the danger for Boston passed by.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 1 Boston United 1

An end to end encounter swung into play at the start of the second half, although clear cut chances were few and far between, when just before the hour mark, Referee Mr Treharne quickly took a couple of names. Blues' skipper Dylan Cogill finding his way into the notebook for a handball on halfway, while Sam Osborne quickly followed into the book. His persistent fouling finally breaking the camel's back.

The Referee wouldn't reach for his pocket again though, until added time. But more about that later. Adam Marriott, then blazed high and wide for Boston, almost immediately getting hooked by Ian Culverhouse, as he turned to Derby County prospect Tony Weston. The substitute wasn't on the park for long, when Ashley Jackson lit up the Northolme with a stunning strike from nearly thirty yards. The impressive Fraser Preston won the ball back from a Boston throw, deep in the Pilgrims' defensive third, and found the tireless Helliwell who laid the ball on a plate for Jackson to steer a controlled finish beyond the despairing outstretched arm of Ellis Craven.

A quick response almost saw Boston immediately back on terms, with Hazel causing problems. Working a shooting an opportunity from the left hand edge of the box. Bending his effort towards the top corner, his finish kissing the woodwork, on its way over Wharton's crossbar. Declan Howe then did brilliantly. Surrounded by amber and black shirts, he somehow managed to spin away from a number of challenges. Firing a low effort across the face of goal. It looked like Craven had got a touch but the decision didn't go Trinity's way.

As a number of substitutions, for both sides, began to take place, the game became disjointed. Favouring the Holy Blues who had the lead to hold on to. Although that got harder when talisman Howe was forced off, with cramp ten minutes from time. In amongst the Fourth Officials busiest period, substitute Weston came the closest for the higher ranked visitors, but he dragged his effort wide of Wharton's near post.

The Boston supporters were growing increasingly frustrated, as the Holy Blues worked hard and soaked up the visitors pressure, but then with four minutes of added on time, the Pilgrims sensed a shift. And when Aaron Braithwaite was shown a straight red card midway through the allotted four minutes, you feared the worst. Officially sent off for dangerous play, Braithwaite had his eyes firmly on the ball. Unaware of the stooping Rowe, the Referee was in no doubt, quickly over to brandish the red card, leaving Trinity to see out the remaining (couple) of minutes of added time.

With the man advantage, Boston chose to sling a few crosses into the box. And seven minutes into the four added minutes, Pemi Aderoju bundled Wharton and the ball into the back of the net, to set up a replay at the Jakeman's Community Stadium on Tuesday night. The Holy Blues barely having time to restart the game, Boston having snatched the late, late equaliser, and depriving (for now) Gainsborough's first appearance in the First Round Proper, in seven years.

Despite the late devastation, Russ Wilcox's men can take great pride in going toe to toe with a side 45 places higher in the pyramid, Extending their unbeaten run to three games, and going away to a Boston side, now without a win in eight. Nobody ever said Trinity do things the easy way. So, we go again. Tuesday 15th October 2024, 7.45pm kick off. Will you be there?

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity: Dylan Wharton, Aaron Simpson (Sisa Tuntulwana 74), Ashley Jackson, Bailey Conway, Will Lancaster, Dylan Cogill, Lewis Butroid, Jordan Helliwell, Javelle Clarke (Bobby Johnson 80), Declan Howe (Joe Stacey 80), Fraser Preston (Aaron Braithwaite 87). Subs not used: Kian Johnson.

Boston United: Ellis Craven, Cameron Green (Dan Mooney 72), Tom Leak, Jacob Hazel, Adam Marriott (Tony Weston 63), Jai Rowe, Jordan Richards, Sam Osbourne (Pemi Aderoju 72), Frankie Maguire, Zak Mills, Dylan Hill (Kieron Coates 90). Subs not used: Michael Bostwick, Harvey Tomlinson, Zach Marsh.

Gainsborough Goals: Jordan Helliwell (28), Ashley Jackson (64)
Gainsborough Booking: Dylan Cogill, Russ Wilcox
Gainsborough Sending Off: Aaron Braithwaite (90+2)
Boston Goals: Jacob Hazel (21), Pemi Aderoju (90+7)
Boston Booking: Sam Osbourne
Referee: Gavin Treharne
Attendance: 1,952

Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Photo credit:(@kenafox)