First home defeat

The Blues chief described Trinity’s display after the restart as ‘abysmal’ and refused to defend his troops who have now gone four games without a win in all competitions.

Housham said: “The second half was abysmal and they know that.”

“I live in this town so they [the players] will be down here training tomorrow night because they haven’t earned their money tonight.”

“They’ve come in tonight and done 45 minutes work if that and I can’t stick up for them tonight and I usually like to back my team.”

Trinity got off to the best possible start when Michael Leary stunned the visitors with a second minute volley but the hosts failed to build on their slender advantage despite a flurry of first half chances.

After the break, Gloucester put up more of a fight and three goals in 15 second half minutes turned the game on its head and the Gloucestershire outfit capitalised on some slack defending to compound Trinity’s misery and make it four after the hour.

Housham’s side face a local derby on Saturday when they entertain Boston United and the former Brigg boss has warned there could be several changes.

“It’s one of them games where it doesn’t matter where you are in the league it is a local derby,” he added.

“There is a bit of pride at stake and hopefully we’ll bounce back and send these fans home happy because tonight was a no show.”

“The lads who came on tonight showed a great attitude but does it come back to bite me that I picked that team? It opened my eyes to see some of them aren’t good enough and we’ll be in tomorrow and Thursday and we’re working to get it right for Saturday.”

“They’ve got a chance this season and I’m going to help them get through it.”

There were four changes from the side that suffered a 2-1 reverse at Colwyn Bay on Saturday.

kipper Gavin Cowan was a surprise exclusion for Luke Waterfall while there were also starts for Rory Coleman, Michael Leary and leading scorer Ryan Kendall.

And the Blues could not have wished for a better start with barely 90 seconds on the clock when Michael Leary fired the hosts ahead with a volley from the edge of the area that flew past Gloucester stopper Mike Green via a deflection.

Leon Mettam missed an opportunity to double Trinity’s lead before the quarter-hour mark and the former Corby Town striker was denied only by Gloucester stopper Mike Green minutes later when clean through on goal.

Trinity were far brighter and Housham’s men could have been out of sight before Jamie Yates’s was the next guilty party to be foiled by the quick reflexes of Green mid-way through the first period.

A flicked header from Mettam from Yates’s set-piece looped agonisingly wide as Gainsborough continued to boss first-half proceedings without adding to their tally.

Dimitar Evtimov making only his second appearance for the club was a relative spectator in the first half as the visitors, who sat comfortably in mid-table prior to kick-off, failed to test the Nottingham Forest loanee.

After the restart, Gloucester upped the ante and within six minutes they were level courtesy of substitute Steve Davies who helped in Matt Coupe’s shot from distance.

The goal sparked the visitors into life and Evtimov was picking the ball out of his net for a second time four minutes later.

Trinity failed to clear a goalmouth scramble in the six-yard box and Charlie Reece was on hand slotting home to give Gloucester the lead.

Gainsborough came close to a leveller through Mettam’s acrobatic effort but they paid the price for a catalogue of near misses after Tom Hamblin handed his side a two-goal cushion.

The Gloucester defender leapt highest to head past Evtimov to make the scores 3-1 on 57 minutes.

And skipper Cowan summed up his side’s second half showing when he gifted Gloucester a fourth minutes after replacing Waterfall.

His tame backpass was intercepted by Darren Edwards and he coolly rounded Evtimov to put the game beyond any doubt with 64 minutes played.

The hosts fought in vain for a route back into the game but it proved to be a comfortable final quarter for City.

Gainsborough remain third in Blue Square Bet North but are now 14 points off leaders Hyde while both Guiseley and Corby, the teams directly below them have a couple of games in hand over them.

Gainsborough Trinity: Evtimov; Roma, Coleman, Waterfall (Cowan 59), Boyce, McMahon, D’Laryea, Leary (R. Williams 71), Kendall, Mettam, Yates (Stamp 59). Unused Subs: J. Williams, Sandwith.

Gloucester City: Green; Green (Mustoe 88), Weir, Coupe, Hamblin, Webb, Reece (Rawlings 80), Mullings, Edwards, Lock (Davies 35), Mann. Unused Subs:

Referee: Ricky Wootton

Assistants: Anthony Murphy, Michael Connell.

Goal(s): Leary (2), Davies (51), Reece (55), Hamblin (57), Edwards (64).

Attendance: 373.