Nuneaton Town 0 Gainsborough Trinity 1 (12.08.2017)

Boro slip to undeserved defeat…

BORO have slipped to an undeserved 1-0 defeat at the hands of a Gainsborough Trinity side who defended for their lives.
There was little action in the opening exchanges until the visitors took a 13th minute lead when a corner from Craig King was swept home from close range by Michael Jacklin.
Ashley Chambers saw yellow for a robust challenge as Boro looked for an instant response.
An intelligent ball from Jordan Nicholson looked to play in Chambers but Lewis Jones, who was making his debut in the visitors’ goal, was alert to gather well at his feet.
Just past the half-hour mark and a foul on Brady Hickey by Shane Clarke resulted in a free-kick in a promising position which was curled goalwards by Ryan Beswick but well saved by the ‘keeper.
Then a neat move on the edge of the area involving Hickey and Chambers ended with Nicholson placing his effort just wide of the target.
Boro were starting to ask more questions as the half came to a close but went in at the break trailing by a goal to nil.
It was the visitors who started on the front-foot in the second period and Jonathan Wafula’s teasing cross caused concern as Boro managed to scramble clear ahead of Jarman.
At the other end, an effort from Chambers was bravely blocked and as the loose ball fell to Nicholson, his strike lacked the necessary power to trouble the ‘keeper.
A corner from King curled dangerously goalwards and required Billy Daniels to head clear from under his own crossbar.
Some more sharp play from Nicholson saw him make room for a low strike on 65 minutes but the ‘keeper was able to get down to make the save.
It was Boro who were seeing more of the ball but Trinity were defending resolutely to hold on to their lead.
Luther Wildin whipped in a cross from the right that was met by the head of Chambers but he couldn’t direct his effort on target before Bewick was denied by a clearance off the line from Jacklin to keep his side in front after the Boro skipper latched onto Wildin’s pull-back.
The visitors were defending in numbers as Trotman had a strike blocked and then Nicholson fired over in quick succession.
The closing stages saw a long throw-in from Heaton fall out to Coutney Wildin whose low strike was deflected inches wide and then from the resulting corner Heaton headed onto the roof of the net as the visitors rode their luck but held on to claim the win.