Blues look to move on from FA Cup debacle

Gainsborough Trinity return to league action on Saturday hoping to put the off-field stresses of the last few weeks behind them.

Steve Housham’s men travel to Solihull Moors in a Skrill North game, well rested after a Saturday off.

After the misery of being removed from the FA Cup for playing an ineligible player, the Blues had to endure an empty Saturday whilst Rushall Olympic – the team they comfortably beat in the last round – went on to eliminate Stockport County.

And as if to compound the Blues’ dismay, the Evo-Stik Premier side were drawn against Grimsby Town in the fourth qualifying round – a game Trinity fans would have relished.

However, the club’s form on the field is providing a silver lining, having recovered from an atrocious start to the league season to rack up a run of five games unbeaten.

That streak has seen them rise to the security of midtable ahead of Saturday’s clash at Damson Park.

Despite the recent goings-on, confidence within Gainsborough Trinity remains high after the recent upturn in form.

After a start that saw them bottom after six games, the Blues have been playing with the confidence and belief brought by good results.

Following Mark Jones’ late winner against Barrow in early September, there has been a drastic upswing in the club’s fortunes, following up with a draw at Worcester City and wins over Leamington and Rushall.

The 2-0 win over Harrogate Town in their last outing two weeks ago saw arguably the team’s most compete performance of the season.

The attacking threat of Brad Barraclough and Liam Davis in particular consistently troubled the visitors’ back four.

Add that to three successive clean sheets, and it’s easy to see why a positive attitude is prevailing at the Northolme.

Trinity took four points off the West Midlands side last season, picking up a 2-0 win on the road courtesy of Darryn Stamp and Paul Connor goals , but Moors may well provide a different proposition this time round after a good start to the season.

Sitting in sixth place in the Skrill North, Moors will be the highest placed opponent Trinity have faced this season, and also progressed in the FA Cup last Saturday with a 4-0 win over Gainsborough’s local rivals Worksop Town.

With goalkeeper Jasbir Singh in top form, Moors ensured they remained unbeaten in all competitions bar the County Cup with their win over Tigers.

Following Saturday’s game, the Blues have their first chance of the season to secure some silverware as they welcome Lincoln City in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup final on Tuesday night.

After seeing off bitter rivals Boston United in the semi-final back in August, Trinity take on an Imps side likely to feature former Blue Andrew Boyce in defence.

The centre-half, who counts Doncaster Rovers and Worksop Town in his former clubs, has earned rave reviews at Sincil Bank since joining the Skrill Conference Premier club in 2012.