Gainsborough Trinity 0 Nuneaton Town 1

Nuneaton Town won consecutive league games for the first time this season as Jordan Nicholson’s 17th minute goal proved the difference on a bitterly cold afternoon in Lincolnshire.

The result leaves Gainsborough Trinity deep in the drop zone and helps the Boro’ climb further away from danger. Dino Maamria’s side managed to pick up six points in the space of four days after their home win against Harrogate Town on Tuesday.

The pattern for the day was set early with James Ferry and Luther Wildin causing problems down the right hand side from the off. Clear cut chances were difficult to come by though as Gainsborough defended well every time the Boro’ worked their way in to the penalty area. Nicholson did eventually find a chink in the armour, converting Ferry’s ball across the box. Ashley Chambers‘ neat flick had released Ferry down the right and Nicholson fired home from his pull back.

Gainsborough’s first sight of goal was excellently blocked but Michael Jacklin had been flagged offside anyway. Moments later Lee Beevers’ defensive error was seized upon by Chambers, but, Henrich Ravas, who was in excellent form, got out well to block the pacey forward’s shot, sparing Beevers’ blushes. Trinity had their first spell of sustained possession as half time approached, but it ended with Shane Clarke’s effort going out for a Nuneaton throw-in.

Ravas was called upon once again as Chambers latched on to another clearance, the Derby County loanee raced off his line to block once more, beating away Daniel Nti‘s follow-up also. Moments later and it was Nicholson’s turn to be frustrated by Ravas, as he produced a string of fine saves to keep his side in the game.

Nicholson had a strong penalty shout denied early in the second half as he appeared to be pulled back. It was the second time that Referee Steven Copeland waved away Boro’ claims as Nti lloked to have been felled in the area late in the first half. Nti was the next player to be frustrated by Ravas, a 1-2 between himself and Tom Elliott left the winger through on goal but Trinity’s shot stopper did exactly that. On the hour mark Elliott’s rising blast was tipped over by Ravas as he single-handedly kept his team within touching distance.

Ryan Beswick, returning from his three match suspension, saw his powerful drive turned away by Ravas and moments later he was on hand to save at his near post from Nicholson. With 20 minutes to play Nuneaton remained on the front foot, searching for a second goal that would secure the points. Nicholson and Nti linked up well with Ravas, again, saving from the latter. Ashley Worsfold looked like Trinity’s best route back in to the match but Dean Lyness bravely denied him with ten minutes to play, snatching the ball off his toes when he was through on goal.

Lyness came to the rescue once more in the closing moments, snatching Worsfold looping header as it looked like it was going to drop in for a scarcely deserved equaliser. After four minutes of stoppage time Copeland blew his whistle to signal the end of what could have been a landslide victory for the Boro’ were it not for Ravas’ Man of the Match performance. The victory lifts Nuneaton to 15th in the National League North, a world away from the 21st place they were in this time last week.