Worst of the season

“The worst performance of the season, by a country mile,” fumed the Blues gaffer after his side let a lead slip to share the spoils on the Northolme.

Trinity had led at half-time thanks to Paul Connor’s 12th goal of the season but a stunning strike from the visitors’ Richard Marshall levelled the score in a game where Housham said the Blues were ‘lucky to get away with a point.’

Speaking to the Standard, he said: “I’m disappointed. There are not many positives out of the game.”

“The only real positive is that we got a point out of a bad performance.”

“We’ve gained a point because we were awful tonight. We should have got beat. They had a lot better chances than us.”

Gainsborough started the match well and they were ahead inside 12 minutes.

After a good save by Jason White, Trinity broke forward and Nelthorpe sent a pass through to Connor who had broken the offside trap.

Connor drew John Lamb off his line before calmly slotting the ball past the visiting goalkeeper from 10 yards.

The Avenue looked to respond immediately and attacked from kick-off – Marshall swinging a ball in to the back post where Alex Davidson connected with a half-volley, but White made an excellent save.

The two teams exchanged half-chances before Jamie Yates should have put Gainsborough further ahead.

A defensive mix-up allowed Connor to play Yates through on goal but he took a heavy touch whilst running through and this allowed Lamb to gather the ball.

Trinity’s opponents then came close to punishing that missed opportunity as they managed to work a five-on-two break but they, again from a Davidson shot, were stopped by an excellent save by White.

Just before the hour mark the scores were level once more.

A loose ball in midfield was picked up by Marshall and, as it bounced up favourably, he unleashed a strike that dipped over White and crashed into the net.

Both teams tried to push for a winner, and both could have had one, but the game finished 1-1 – a result neither team wanted as they both harbour play-off aspirations.

As well as the point, another positive for Trinity was the goalkeeping performance of White, making his first start of the season, as he produced several fines.

Housham added: “He has won us the point. He’s kept us in the game.”

Trinity: White, Roma, Wilde, Waterfall, Hone, Thompson, Russell, Nelthorpe (Platt 60), Yates (Barraclough 45), Connor (Stamp 73), Hawkridge. Subs not used: Young, Clarke.

Bradford: Lamb, Duckworth, Lamb, Duckworth, Drury, Price, Knowles, Clayton (Corner 45), Davidson, Hotte, Marshall, Deacey, Walker (Savory 69). Subs not used: Holland, Daly, Jackson.