GREAT GROUND SHOCKING GAME

GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 0 HEDNESFORD TOWN 0
EVOSTIK NORTH PREMIER @ NORTHOLME
19 APRIL 2019 --- 3PM

THE SPLENDOUR OF NORTHOLME

Probably one of the best non league grounds around old style but modern in its outlook and upkeep will have witnessed many classics in North Lincolnshire, sadly this was not one of them.  For a game that purports to be entertainment the handing over of a dozen gold coins ought to have brought more than one effort of note on goal unfortunately it left the double sending off Anthony Wilson and Daniel Racchi to have the audacity to register at the top of the point of note table.

STAR OF THE SHOW

The journey started as ever with a short trip to Sheffield with the dreaded Good Friday announcement of 'the next train is reported as full and standing', this mainly being due to Euston being closed and all capital escapees to Manchester were following the steel city Peak District route. 
The comfort of the Lincoln journey soon allowed a seat, yes a seat and departure was to be at Gainsborough Lea Road, sadly central station which is just that is only served by three inbound services on Saturdays, although this I believe is due to become an improved weekday service from May.

GONE ARE THE STEAM ENGINES ENTER RETAIL WORLD

Gainsborough Lea Road and Central station were only a few years ago described as the most underinvested stations on the network and not too much appears to have improved departing via the structure of wooden steps, ramps topped off with pagoda type structures there is a feel of being stuck in an eternal children's adventure playground at your local.
The walk of about a mile and a half to the ground was for the first mile one of underwhelming monotony however by the time I 'arrived' the highly impressive frontage and gateways of Marshall's the former agriculture machine and steam engine manufacturers to heighten the mood sadly now of course close in post industrial Britain but kindly re developed as a retail park.  The town centre adjacent to this is small but looks functional and on the northern edge the impressive Gainsborough Old Hall a fine example of a medieval manor house, whatever that may be.  The centre was impressive and certainly somewhere had there been a little more time that would have warranted more time in it, ok I'd have spent it in KFC.

IMPRESSIVE NORTH ST ENCLOSURE AND THERES THREE MORE OF THESE

Northolme sits a few hundred yards to the north and had once again been on the cards for a visit for ages for a club so close geographically to base and it is a beauty and thankfully well preserved with so many clubs selling up and moving on to a farmers field lets hope this never happens with Trinity.
Having paid up and draw tickets purchased a circuit of the theatre of dreams found to the left a
fantastic covered terrace behind the North Street goal passing Fergals Shack and the club shop both in a lofted position the far touchline takes us past executive bar and the deep barrelled roof stand which straddles either side of  the half way line.  Through the segregation fencing and along to the 'away' terrace a steep uncovered enclosure leads you back through the demarcation zone to a covered terrace back along the touchline and back to the snack bar, toilets and our original entry point.  It does need re iterating this is impressive its lived in but clearly loved and cared for too.

WINGING IT IN GAINSBOROUGH

Having greeted 'cod of the north' from Kempster who were here filming I had not seen both of them for a while it was time to take up position in a crowd of over 800 the ground still looked well empty so cavernous is it. 
The game er,well yes like a student waffling around his unrevised exam it was ninety minutes were not much happened etc.  Gainsborugh in a play off place I expected to show better bit Hednesford thwarted well and although both teams gave undoubted effort as a spectacle it was poor.

TRINITY KEEPER JOE GREEN WINS THE DAY

The first half and indeed the games only footballing point worth mentioning was a superb free kick ten minutes before half time from Alex Byrne but Jacob Weaver was equal to it with an excellent save to deny Trinity.

HEDNESFORDS RACHHI THE FIRST TOO BE SENT OFF BY REFEREE FREEMAN

The second half was much the same producing little in the final third and after a few frustrations around the pitch seemed to involve Racchi and then Wilson defending himself the referee who had been fussy in stop starting a poor game all afternoon finally got to grips with the situation but of course it resulted in a red card for both players that's after he had called both his assistants together to confirm the confrontation after he had denied Gainsborough a penalty.  As the tensions rose it took around five minutes to re-start the game as both players seemed reluctant to go back in doors with the lovely weather outside!

CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE SCORE

The long walk back would start shortly afterwards for me too and having finally arrived back at Gainsboroughs only functional station today there was a feel that it may be quicker to walk to Lincoln or Worksop to pick up this service.
One thought though remains from today, great ground.