Grimsby Borough 7-0 Gainsborough Trinity: Match Report

Grimsby Borough 7-0 Gainsborough Trinity: Match Report

The Wilderness Boys were in Lincolnshire FA Senior County Cup First Round action on Tuesday evening as they hosted Gainsborough Trinity under the lights at the Technica Home of Grimsby Borough.

It turned out to be a productive evening all-round for Tom Claisse’s side, with players returning from injury, along with those who have been utilised off the bench in recent weeks getting valuable minutes in what was comfortable victory over a youthful Holy Blues team.

With the fixture falling in the middle of a busy early season schedule, there was changes aplenty to the matchday squad, with just two players who started the weekend’s goalless draw with Guisborough Town retaining their place in the starting XI.

One of those was goalkeeper Heath Richardson, along with captain on the night, Tom Sawyer, who was joined at the heart of the defence by Osei Bismark. Youngsters Myles Lane and Jacob Harvey were given their first-team debuts in the respective full-back positions, with a central midfield trio of Jack Barlow, Josh Clarke, and George Burton.

Bailey Wright and new man Luke Ayris took up the wide roles, with Charlie Clements leading the attack. Claisse named a young substitutes bench containing Day, Hewitt, Augusta, Arnold, Hall, Mikele, and Williams.

First-Half

As we got underway on a cool, breezy early autumn evening at the Bradley Football Development Centre, the visitors were given little chance to settle by a Borough side quickly on the front foot, both in and out of possession.

Clarke, Barlow, Sawyer, and Ayris in particular were setting the early standard, and it was a well-worked short corner that allowed the latter to drill a ball across goal that was turned in by the Wilderness Boys’ skipper at the far post to give his side a sixth-minute lead.

Just three minutes later and Borough doubled their advantage when a superb cross from Wright was turned in from close range by Clements for a real poacher’s strike. Clarke and the same man then combined to almost make it three with just 12 minutes on the clock, though the Gainsborough goalkeeper was equal to the striker’s diverted effort.

Claisse’s men wouldn’t have to wait long for a third, however, as Barlow’s delivery from a left-sided free-kick evaded everyone and bounced in the far corner, with Borough taking a firm hold of the game against their hardworking opponents.

Clarke tested the visitors’ keeper from range, before Trinity carved out their first chance of the evening, the striker’s well-struck shot from just inside the area drawing a good save from Richardson to his right.

The Wilderness Boys soon added to their lead, however, and in some style, with Barlow firing home a superb free-kick from 25-yards out as we reached the half-hour point.

The game continued in a similar pattern for the remainder of the first period. However, despite Clements’ effort from distance going close, there would be no further change to the scoreline before the referee’s half-time whistle.

Second-Half

There were no changes at the break, and, as the second-half began, Borough were quickly on the offensive once more; Wright’s 47th-minute header drifting wide of the upright.

Clarke’s drive from distance was turned over the bar, before Clements scored his second of the night, finishing well after a cross deflected into his path to make it 5-0 just before the hour mark.

That was the cue for a raft of changes, with Sawyer, Clarke, Ayris, and Clements making way for Day, Arnold, Hall, and Williams.

Richardson was called into action on 65 minutes, saving well at the near post, before Wright made it 6-0 with a thumping left-footed strike into the top corner from 18-yards out.

The wide player, along with Richardson and Harvey, then made way for Augusta, Hewitt, and Mikele for the final stages as Claisse looked to give opportunities to more young players to shine on their first-team debuts.

With 15 minutes remaining, Mckenzie Day, who’d looked lively since coming on in an attacking role, burst through on goal, before being brought down in the area as he looked to get his strike away.

Day picked himself up to drive home the resulting penalty and make it 7-0 on the night. The visitors kept going in difficult circumstances, however, and held firm for the remainder of the game, with the final 15 minutes providing few talking points at either end.

As the final-whistle went, Claisse would have been pleased with his team's efforts on the night, with the senior players’ performances showing a real hunger and the debutants grabbing their chance to impress with both hands.

Jacob Harvey was awarded the Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Man of the Match award; just one of a number of youngsters who impressed on their first senior showing for the club. Borough now progress into the second round of the regional competition, where they'll face National League club Scunthorpe United.