Nuneaton Town 2 Gainsborough Trinity 0

Saturday 12th September, 2015;

Match report courtesy of Nuneaton News;

Nuneaton Town rolled back the clock to put in a performance more suited to their first four games, rather than their last, as they scored two goals to take all three points at home to Gainsborough Trinity.

The game was far from a classic at times, especially in the first half, but where the quality was short the domination was not, as Nuneaton earned a victory in what was likened to a training match by some, with Jordan Smith in the Boro goal never really tested.

The game started with talking points off the pitch before there were any on it as Nuneaton boss Kevin Wilson rung the changes after successive defeats, bringing in Rob Duffy for his most high-profile player, Marlon Harewood, and also giving a debut to Elliott Whitehouse in place of Callum Chettle.

Those changes seemed to pay dividends early on as Nuneaton started brightly, with James Clifton going close in just the eighth minute.
That chance, where Clifton broke down the wing and then smashed a shot into the side netting once he had cut inside, was not a prelude for an open game, though, as the next stage of play was almost stale in nature.

There were chances, but not clear cut ones, until a through ball in the 37th minute by Elliott Whitehouse changed the whole complexion of the game.
The midfield man fed in Aaron Williams who found himself one-on-one with Trinity keeper Jan Budtz, it was a dual that the former Rushall man did well to win, sliding it under the keeper and into the back of the net.

It was a lead that Nuneaton had deserved, and one which they ever so nearly stretched in the opening minutes of the second half.
Williams went from scorer to provider as he whipped in a cross for strike partner Rob Duffy, the former Ilkeston man saw his close-range header superbly saved by the lightning quick reflexes of Budtz, though.

There was nothing those reflexes could do in the 60th minute as Nuneaton got the second that their play had merited after a fine start to the second period.
It came via the boot of Shane Byrne – for the first time this season – as the Irishman opened his account with a slightly deflected effort that left Budzt with no chance as it curled into the left hand corner of the net.

Gainsborough never had a reply to either goal, in terms of chances or periods of possession as Nuneaton simply saw out time for what will be one of their most comfortable three points this season.

NUNEATON TOWN: J.Smith, Clifton, Reid, J.Keane, Maguire, Lane, Morgan (Dyer 69), Whitehouse (Chettle 90), Duffy (Harewood 83), Byrne, Williams.
Subs not used: C.Keane, Daniels.

GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY: Budtz, Roma, Lacey, Picton, Quinn, Binns (Stamp 58), Russell, D’Laryea, Bignall, Newsham (Yates 69), Forrest (Rigby 73).
Subs not used: Karkach

ATTENDANCE 625