Preview: Gainsborough Trinity v Harriers
April 22, 2017

Preview: Gainsborough Trinity v Harriers

Harriers can clinch second place in the league, and home advantage in the play-offs with victory at relegation threatened Gainsborough today.

If leaders Fylde lose at Boston Harriers could close the gap to just one point with a game to play with victory to set up an exciting final weekend of the season.

John Eustace has a near full squad to select from with only Josh Ezewele on the injured list, and he will be assessed before the game and could feature in some way.  The manager, though, is likely to stick with the same side that won convincingly at bottom club Altrincham on Bank Holiday Monday so Jared Hodgkiss may have to wait again to make his 100th appearance for the club.  Two who should figure are midfielders Ryan Croasdale and James McQuilkin who both signed extended contracts today, Croasdale's keeping him at Aggborough until the summer of 2019 and McQuilkin until 2018.

Gainsborough have had a disappointing season and are staring relegation in the face.  They currently sit in 20th place level on points with the team above them and have won just once in their last thirteen games.  In their last four games they have scored just one goal, although that was the only goal of the game as they beat Salford, and haven't conceded in their last two.  Since the clubs met earlier in the season Trinity have changed their management team and now have former Harrier Terry Fleming as assistant manager alongside boss Dave Frecklington.

The first meeting of the clubs earlier this season saw Harriers come out on top 3-0 with goals from Arthur Gnahoua, Elton Ngwatala and Tyrell Waite.  That was the first time that the clubs had met.

I expect Harriers to line up as follows (4-3-3): Hornby; Williams, Francis-Angol, Lowe, Tunnicliffe; Croasdale, McQuilkin, Ngwatala; Nti, Ironside, Gnahoua.
Subs (from): Austin, A. Brown, Carter, Hodgkiss, Knights, A. Palmer, Sonupe, Taylor, Truslove, Waite, Webb.
Missing (injured): Ezewele.
MIssing (on-loan): J. Brown, Clarke, Dieseruvwe, Digie, Forsyth, Hancocks, T. Palmer, Sweeney, Thomas.

The referee at Northolme will be Matthew Dicicco from North Riding.  This will be his second Harriers game having done the 3-1 win at Bradford Park Avenue earlier this season.

This afternoon's weather is forecast to be mostly cloudy with a temperature of 11°C and a 5% chance of rain.