Without the injured Aaron Simpson, boss Russ Wilcox made just the one change to the start eleven. Sisa Tuntulwana making his first start in just under a month, while Trinity’s threadbare squad saw Wilcox name two goalkeepers on the bench and young defender Jacob McLoughlin. Keep it tight and quieten the crowd was the message from Russ before the game. Three minutes in, and Declan Howe silenced the home faithful. Fraser Preston, on his return to his former side, sliced open the home defence with a through ball that sent Howe clear through on goal. Ice cold, the result was never in doubt as his slid the ball past the advancing Ellis Craven.

Boston responded, winning a number of corners. But they were dealt with by the defence, backed up when required, by keeper Dylan Wharton. It was the Holy Blues who would go close next though, when Will Lancaster was able to meet a Lewis Butroid corner. Unfortunately for the former BPA man, his header was planted straight at Craven. Dylan Hill down the left, and Kieran Coates down the right, looked to offer some width for the hosts, but rarely provided that final ball that would trouble Wilcox’s men.

Gainsborough doubled the lead on fifteen, when Trinity’s other regular source of cup goals, Lewis Butroid was on hand. Making the run across the near post, he was able to guide Jordan Helliwell’s ball beyond Craven, to cries of he’s one of our own, from the Gainsborough faithful. Butroid receiving the ball into feet from Javelle Clarke, feeding it out to Helliwell, before bending his run into the danger-zone, undetected by the hosts. Trinity were hungry. And when Tuntulwana got forward, looking to link up with Howe, Gainsborough’s prolific marksman just couldn’t take Sisa’s ball in his stride. The former Cleethorpes’ forward appreciating the idea.

Cogill saw the glory, as he found space at the back post to bring the ball down. Looking to strike an ambitious right foot, sidewinder volley, the skipper couldn’t keep his effort down under the crossbar. Wilcox’s men were growing in confidence, and when Howe threatened to go up through the gears after winning the ball through some good defensive pressing. Zak Mills committed himself. Lunging in on Howe, over on the far side, Boston’s experienced captain picked up the first yellow of the evening.

Clarke, who was stunning all night, went close to adding a third before the break, but his lifted effort over Craven only found the side netting after more good play. Trinity causing all kind of problems to a creaking Boston rearguard. Hill’s tame effort took a deflection wide. The corner was delivered in, but the Blues slammed shut the door, and looked to turn defence to attack. Preston led the charge, but as he ran into difficulty, Clarke picked up the baton – and really wasn’t far away from adding his name to the scoresheet.

Boston’s attacking threat was limited. A neat swivel and shot was straight at Wharton, from Hazel. As the Holy Blues went in at the break to a rapturous ovation, boos rang out from the Boston fans, though outnumbered, it was the Trinity fans more audible at the interval.

Half Time: Boston United 0 Gainsborough Trinity 2

In the knowledge that two goal leads can be difficult, the next goal could prove to be crucial, and although the Pilgrims rallied after the break. Trinity were tight, compact and resolute. And it was just past the hour mark, when Trinity noticeably grew in stature. It came as Derby County loan man, Tony Weston cracked an effort low to Wharton’s left. Striking the inside of Dylan’s left hand upright and fizzing back across the face of goal, towards the shot taker. Weston seemingly injuring himself, perhaps his foot getting stuck in the pristine playing surface. The effort rebounding to safety perhaps the moment of luck that Gainsborough needed.

Strangely, the Pilgrims passed up the opportunity to load the ball into the box, and that played more into the visiting Blues’ hands. A long clearance from the former Sheffield United youngster was only partially cleared by Coates at full back. Preston winning the second ball, and he looked to force Coates back again. Ashley Jackson, Clarke and Butroid proceeded to play some nice one touch football, getting Clarke away to the by line. He got his head up and picked out Howe’s clever run, and Dec did, what Dec does, making no mistake from close range.

Fraser Preston added the icing on the cake, eleven minutes from time. Needing two bites of the cherry, he didn’t pass up his second invitation. First his left footed effort towards the near post, was bravely blocked, but the ball went straight back to the former Scottish youth international, and he made no mistake, curling a smart finish out of the reach of Craven. Howe the willing worker, looked to make things stick. Finding Butroid out on the left, Lewis did well to pick out Fraser, with time and space to not only get one attempt away, but the second one too!

Gainsborough continued to defend manfully, making most first and second contacts, they looked hungrier than their beaten hosts. The hosts who tried to chase the game, but looked a beaten outfit. Conway released Howe down the Boston left, but he couldn’t add to his tally as he hit the side netting from an acute angle. Hazel then saw his effort blocked at the other end, as he cut a frustrated figure.

And the Holy Blues could celebrate a fabulous victory away from home. There was even half a chance at the end for Howe to complete a dream treble. But he passed up the opportunity to shoot with his weaker foot.

The Teams

Boston United: Ellis Craven, Kieran Coates, Tom Leak, Jacob Hazel, Jai Rowe, Tony Weston, Jordan Richards, Sam Osbourne, Frankie Maguire, Zak Mills, Dylan Hill, Michael Bostwick, Keaton Ward, Dan Mooney, Pemi Aderoju. Subs not used: Cameron Green, Adam Marriott and Zach Marsh.

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

Referee: Mr Richard Eley
Attendance: 1512

Match Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Photos by Oliver Atkin Photography