Gainsborough Trinity 0-1 South Shields

Gainsborough Trinity 0-1 South Shields

Northern (Unibond) Premier League

Tuesday 3rd November 2020

Although they showed signs of improvement in the second half, it ultimately wasn't enough for Gainsborough Trinity as they went down at home to South Shields.

In the final game before part two of the apocalypse (and with nobody knowing exactly when the hosts will play next) the only goal came on 71 minutes as Robert Briggs scored from the spot - thus ensuring Shields will be on the fringes of the play-offs when, or if, the season resumes.

It was no more than the visitors deserved considering they completely dictated the first 45 minutes - creating chance after chance but just failing to convert any of them, before things were much more even after the re-start. Gainsborough might have even snatched something on a different day as AJ Greaves spurned a golden chance early into the second period at 0-0; firing wide from inside the area when it seemed harder to miss, whilst they also hit the bar late on.

The DRFC loanee wanted the ball and got a few things going for Curtis Woodhouse's team. He isn't the finished article yet by any mean and any experience he gets now will be beneficial in the long-term, but he possesses all the qualities which makes me believe he'll go on to play senior football for a sustained period of time. Sadly, there was no appearance for Keaton Ward, on loan from Barnsley and, along with AJ Greaves, the primary reason why I turned up at this game instead of the many others played last night. Despite claiming an assist in last weekend's defeat at Peterborough Sports in the FA Trophy, he made way from the starting line-up and was an unused substitute.

With the loans of both players now up due to 'Lockdown 2' (thanks Boris!) I just hope they're quickly able to get themselves fixed up with an 'elite' team ahead of many other young players who no doubt find themselves in the same situation due to no fault of their own. Whether it be in the National League North/South - or even in Scotland which can sometimes be a springboard to forging a career, they're both good enough to compete at a decent level and given the right opportunity and right scenario, they'll do a decent job for a team somewhere.

If they're in need of inspiration, then the last time I saw a game at the Northolme Ground prior to last night was some seven years ago when Mansfield Town sauntered to a comfortable 5-0 win in pre-season. There was a memorable half-time thunderstorm (during which Travis' Why Does It Always Rain On Me?' played over the tannoy), but nothing altogether too remarkable about the actual game.

The Stags used two trialists that night. Calvin Andrew, who scored twice, was one and he got a six-month deal on the back of it - before, obviously, he went on to score one particularly important goal during those six months which every MTFC fan will remember!

The other trialist was called 'Eddy Gnahore' - a young, tenacious, combative midfielder who was at Birmingham City at the time. He was alright, wasn't bad - though his shooting left a lot to be desired as he managed to clear the stand with one of his efforts. Anyway, Eddy didn't get offered a contract but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise... 

...three years later he was contracted to Napoli and playing in Serie A! 

He's now playing in Wuhan (yes, that's 'Wuhan' in China - not a move I'd massively recommend but... fair play to him anyway) following a spell in France's Ligue 1 with Amiens in the past couple of years. So it just proves anything can happen. Get with a good agent, speak to people, believe in your ability and with a bit of 'luck' and good timing, then anything can happen. You never quite know who is watching you play or where football will take you!

Good luck to South Shields in the FA Cup at Cheltenham Town on Saturday. Ridiculously, they aren't allowed to train together as a team in the two days prior to the game (and if they win they might not even be permitted to train together again until their Second Round tie). They're a decent team who I'm sure will give it a right good go at Whaddon Road.

P.S: Good little finish in the warm-up, AJ. The 'keeper needed some sauce with that chip!