Russ Wilcox handed two players their debut at opposite ends of the pitch. Adam Crookes starting at centre back, alongside Will Lancaster, while Frank Mulhern started up top. The other two new signings, Jonny Margetts & Harrison Beeden started on the bench for the Blues.

Trinity started the game looking the brighter of the two sides in the opening quarter of an hour, without fully clicking into gear. Ashton looking to punctuate the home side's rhythm. Strong on halfway, Crookes stepped into the Robins' half and fed Mulhern. The former Farsley Celtic man was able to open things up, but his ball was just behind Javelle Clarke. Clarke having to check his run, before letting fly. His effort whistling a yard or so past the angle of post and bar.

Jordan Heiliwell was then sent tumbling after Ash Jackson raked a ball from left to right. And Helliwell's well-timed burst into the box was abruptly halted. Muted penalty appeals waved away by Mr Royston. Bobby Johnson almost picked out Mulhern with a peach of a ball from out on the left hand touchline. Just too much was on the ball, as the opportunity passed the Blues by.

Mulhern was the focal point of Trinity's attack. And he drew the foul thirty yards out. He stepped up to take. Bending his freekick round the wall, but Eastham was across his goal and down to his left to gather.

Beautiful approach play saw Trinity slice open Ashton down their left hand side. Fraser Preston, popping up on the Carlilse Street side, released Aaron Simpson down the right with a lovely ball inside the full back. And Simpson looked to slide the ball across the face of goal. Clarke attacking the near post - was a fraction late - as Ashton cleared their lines. And Javelle was penalised for the foul.

Experienced, former Lincoln City defender Sean Newton, was involved in most of the visitors 'football' and was at the heart of their opening goal three minutes before the break. Coming forward to launch a long throw into the box, Wilcox's men repelled the first ball. But only cleared back to the taker, Newton returning the ball into the box, where Darius Osei rose highest to guide an unmarked header beyond the clutches of David Robson.

Gainsborough went within a whisker of finding a near immediate equaliser. Preston seeing his effort bent towards the far corner tipped over the bar by Eastham. The resulting corner coming to nothing for Russ Wilcox's men.

Despite only one real entry into the Gainsborough box in the first 45, Trinity almost found themselves two down, Louis White catching a 25 yarder well, which Robson was equal to.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 0 Ashton United 1

Ashton made one change at the break as Luca Navarro replaced Willem Tomlinson. A change that would ultimately prove to be decisive for the visitors. And the overall direction of the game. Mulhern was booked early in the second period as frustration told. And Trinity chased the game.

An uncharacteristic slip from Will Lancaster as he looked to step out from the back allowed Navarro in on goal. But Robson made a superb low save to his left, before Jackson closed out Osei as he looked to pounce on the rebound.

Lewis Butroid found himself in the right place as Preston picked him out with a pinpoint ball. A well-timed barge in the back enough to see his header fly off target, but missed by the man in the middle. A key turning point in the game, that was fully exploited by the visitors. Four minutes after the Blues' second half penalty shout, Navarro ran at the Trinity defence. Affording the former Radcliffe man a yard too much room, he cut in off the left and curled home a right-footed finish into Robson's top left hand corner.

Wilcox made changes looking to alter the fortunes for the Holy Blues. Sisa Tuntulwana looking to pose a different threat down the right hand side, but even he couldn't find the magic to unlock the resilient Robins. And three minutes from time, Navarro got his second and Ashton’s third to put the gloss on Ashton's victory & rub further salt into Trinity's wounds.

The early promise of the Blues perhaps lends itself to the argument it wasn't a three-nil game, but Ashton were clinical and took their chances. Trinity huffed and puffed, but lacked some of the quality on show during pre-season. An opening day defeat is never the start you want to a new campaign, but a stark reminder to everyone that things won't always be plain sailing.

There is enough quality in the group. And enough character to bounce back from the disappointment of an opening day defeat. An intensive six league games in the month of August mean a quick turnaround. And little time to lick our wounds and feel sorry for ourselves.

Ilkeston Town away is next up on the horizon. And the Holy Blues will be ready.

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity: David Robson, Aaron Simpson, Ashley Jackson (Sisa Tuntulwana 62) Bobby Johnson, Wiĺl Lancaster, Adam Crookes, Lewis Butroid, Jordan Helliwell (George Hornshaw 78) Frank Mulhern, Javelle Clarke (Jonny Margetts 54) Fraser Preston (Curtis Durose 73)
Sub not used: Harrison Beeden
Yellow card: Mulhern 47

Ashton United: Jordan Eastham, Sam Baird, Josh Doherty, Luke Burke, Louis White, Sean Newton, Alex Byrne, Callum Rowe, Jason Gilchrist (Mikey O'Neill 63) Darius Osei, Willem Tomlinson (Luca Navarro 46)
Subs not used: Tom Denton, Aderemi Efunnuga & Bradley Taylor
Goals: Osei 42, Navarro 72 & 87 

Referee: Ashley Royston
Attendance: 711
Man of the Match as selected by our Match Sponsors, Crooked Billet Nomads and Will Stanser & Reece Gooding, was Lewis Butroid

Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Images by Tommy Cox (@tl.c_photography)