GR8 To Be Back

Gainsborough Trinity 3-5 Scunthorpe United (Friendly)

Less than 18 miles of the A159 separates north Lincolnshire neighbours Gainsborough & Scunny. I'm back scouting after a two month lay off, last season it feels only ended on Sunday night after England lost their Euros final v Spain, two days later my 'official' pre-season campaign gets under way, as news filters that Gareth Southgate calls it a day.

I was a big fan of Gareth and what he did for the nation but even I were a little tiresome of those negative tactics he employed. Looking forward to seeing a couple of lower league rivals 'go at it' tonight. Nothing to lose no caution to the wind but all to win, on the card this evening it's all about local bragging rights. They'll be no pessimism on show, no pragmatism aloud, just a battle of honesty and brutality towards the leather sphere hoofed from one end to the next in search of scoring goals.

Scunthorpe failed last season in their quest for promotion after the year previous relegation to National League North level. They have a new Manager in Andy Butler who played well over 100 games for the Iron including 36 league apps when they were a Championship side.

Gainsborough boss Russ Wilcox also played for Scunthorpe United many moons ago. The 60 year old is these days assisted at the Northolme by former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Kevin Pressman.

The Venue

It's a ghost town is Gainsborough, there never seems to be any people about, on the plus side there's plenty of spaces as I park up outside KFC in a local town car park which is free after 6pm.

The short walk down Northolme is peaceful as one or two Scunny fans join me from nowhere, through the turnstile and into the old ground, pitch in squashy green carpet looking conditions, a place of holy worship for the holy blues as one old boy shouts 'raffle tickets pound a line', a lady beside him calls out 'programmes'.

One of the oldest homes of football in England it's also one of my favourites, I'm standing behind the goal making journey towards the large curved roof main stand on the left, the low roofed terrace on my right backed by terraced houses, an open end immediately in front as the Gainsborough goalkeeper coaches drill balls towards me in their pre-game warm up.

The Game

The home team in bright pink start fast and within 3 minutes their tubby number nine Fraser Preston gives them the lead. He's a player I like, technical, tricky, but as each year goes by an extra ounce or two on his hips increase his midriff, one of those for the level, he's dynamite, but probably not arsed about getting back up the divisions?

Scunthorpe wrestle possession but Gainsborough have pace on the break, a long ball over the top is latched upon by their trialist number ten, he beats Ross Fitzsimmons to it and taps into the unguarded net.

It's a deserved lead as the visitors don't look in great shakes, their 3511 formation not really working, but as we approach half time they win a corner, bundle one in, then do it again moments later, two in two minutes to tie up the tie.

The Score

Those scrappy goals from Boyce and Kouogun, big defenders up from the back, give Scunthorpe the impetus, and it's they who strike first in the early stages of the second 45 whilst reverting back to a simpler and easier on the eye 442.

Whitehall heading home after a good move down the right to spark the loudest cheer of the night from the away support. But Gainsborough aren't done, they strike back through Lewis Butroid who curls from the edge of the area left footed, the game turning into an end to end classic and well worth the ten pound spent.

Changes are soon made though, and with it a load of trialists are on for Trinity, by now the impressive Tuntulwana who started at centre back, who moved to right back, is now playing right wing, shape gone and unknowns everywhere, it's Scunthorpe's second string who takes advantage of Trinity's trialling, first Ubaezuono again from a set play, he prods home a third Scunny goal from yet another corner kick, then the recent signing from Chorley turns provider for Max Brogan who blasts home a fifth, it's been quite a game, better than any England Euros encounter I have had to endure over the past two or three weeks.

In the dying minutes there's an injury to Kian Scales who's crunching tackle by Ashley Jackson leaves him with a stud mark in his ankle, the referee blowing up early as he receives treatment ahead of minute 90, thankfully the player was ok and once eventually up on his feet, received a warm applause from the exiting 700 plus supporters.

The Stars

Scunthorpe, you feel played at a tempo below their usual best and their Manager Andy Butler will be annoyed by the goals they conceded, Max Kouogun in defence however is Mr reliable, more comfortable in a four than a three, he's strong, powerful, solid, and will be a key campaigner should the Iron go up this season.

With invention, Cal Roberts was the man in the hole behind Danny Whitehall to provide, I can't help feel the former Notts County wingers career has gone stale though. Roberts who is hugely talented, at one stage having a little ding dong with his own team mate Ross Barrows which shows frustration to where he's at as a footballer. Michael Clucas with the armband on was neat and tidy in the centre of the park as he always is when I watch him and recent signings Danny Law and Brad Nicholson shown glimpses of promise to come, as did the pacey Ubaezuono who's a handful at the level.

For Gainsborough, grit and determination got them through the early stages up on the score cards, Dylan Cogill at centre half has a lovely left foot, his partner on the day, the skinny and fragile looking Sisa Tuntulwana, almost the star of the show, running out of defence with the ball at full speed, he's technically talented a twenty year old to watch.

The Verdict

Back in the game, how I've missed football at this level over the past few months, to endure a Euros of largely defensive negativity to be back smelling the mud and hearing the thud, remarkably this is the third time in three years I've visited the Northolme as a scout. On each occasion I've seen 8 goals a game... It's certainly never dull in Gainsborough, a place where you won't often find defences on top.

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity: Josh Render (Ollie Battersby 23), Jordan Helliwell, Ashley Jackson, Bailey Conway, Sisa Tuntulwana, Dylan Cogill, Lewis Butroid, Bobby Johnson (Trialist 5), Fraser Preston, Trialist (Declan Howe 29), Joe Stacey.

Scunthorpe United: Ross Fitzsimmons, Max Kouogun (Finlay Shrimpton 60), Will Evans (Brad Nicholson 46), Andrew Boyce, Michael Clunan (Joe Rowley 60), Alfie Beestin (Max Brogan 60), Danny Whitehall (Carlton Ubaezuono 60), Cal Roberts (Sam Fishburn 60), Kian Scales, Tyler Denton (Jason Law 46), Rob Barrows.

7:30pm Kick Off. Tuesday 16th July 2024, The Northolme, Gainsborough (att 747).