Grimsby Borough Vs Gainsborough Trinity: Match Preview

Grimsby Borough Vs Gainsborough Trinity: Match Preview

The Wilderness Boys face Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit Gainsborough Trinity on Tuesday evening, as they host the Holy Blues in the Lincolnshire FA Senior County Cup First Round at the Technica Home of Grimsby Borough (19:45 kick-off).

While league games are always the priority, it could prove a good opportunity for boss Tom Claisse to test his side against opponents from a higher tier, depending on how the respective sides approach the clash, which falls in the middle of a packed schedule for both.

However, with the Wilderness Boys having already exited the FA Cup and FA Trophy, the regional competition represents their final chance of a cup run this year.

Borough head into the fixture on the back of taking four points in a week, with a 2-0 victory at Lincoln United followed up by a goalless draw at home against Guisborough Town, giving goalkeeper Heath Richardson consecutive clean sheets on his return to the side following injury.

In recent seasons, the County Cup has been used to present first-team opportunities to those impressing in the age group teams and the Reserves, and with the Wilderness Boys keen to maintain and grow their flourishing player pathway, that could be the case again this time round.

With a tough trip to promotion hopefuls Bradford Park Avenue on Friday night, Claisse will want to get the balance right in his selection, and keep his players as fresh as possible for their upcoming league matches.

However, the visit of Trinity could be the ideal opportunity to get some minutes into the legs of Charlie Clements, Jack Barlow, and Tristan Drummond, who have found themselves utilised from the bench in recent weeks, along with the returning (from injury) Josh Clarke, and new man Luke Ayris, and Borough may choose to field a blend of youth and experience.

Whatever side lines up to start the match against the Holy Blues, Borough will be looking to continue that positive recent momentum and progress to the next stage of the locally contested showpiece.

Gainsborough will likely have their eye on securing at least a play-off spot at step three come the spring, having missed out by four points last time round when they finished in seventh place.

Currently sitting eighth in the early divisional standings, Manager Russ Wilcox’s side have had a reasonable start to the campaign on the whole.

An opening day (2-0) success over Workington was the platform for Trinity to win three of their first four matches, also seeing off FC United of Manchester by three goals to nil, and Stockton Town (4-1).

They did, however, lose out (2-1) at Alfreton Town in that time, and have won just one of their four most recent NPL Premier Division fixtures, a 2-1 success at Ashton United sandwiched in between defeat at home to Bury by a late, solitary goal, a 2-2 draw at Quorn, and a 3-0 home defeat to early pacesetters Cleethorpes Town.

Last time out, Wilcox’s side progressed to the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round, running out 4-2 victors at Sherwood Colliery, where Fraser Preston added to his good early goalscoring form.

Defender Ashton Offler has also begun the campaign well, while former Lincoln United attacker Connor Brown is starting to find his feet at the higher level. Club stalwart Lewis Butroid remains an important part of the setup at the Northolme, though key figure Sisa Tuntulwana moved on over the summer.

However, the visitors may opt to rest the legs of some first-team players, too, and give a chance to some youngsters on their visit to the east coast.

That was the case in the same competition last season, where a youthful Wilderness Boys line-up beat Gainsborough’s Under-21 side by a goal to nil at the Bradley Football Development Centre, and Claisse's men will be looking for a similar outcome this time to further build on their recent momentum.

We look forward to welcoming the players, staff, officials and supporters of Trinity to the Technica Home of Grimsby Borough tomorrow evening, and hope to see our home support out in numbers under the lights, too.