Winsford Utd 2 Gainsborough Trinity 0

Unibond Premier Division

By Nick Smith

THE lowest league crowd of the season at Barton Stadium witnessed one of the most convincing victories as the Blues swept aside their FA Trophy conquerors with ease.

Gainsborough's 1-0 win here in the Trophy in November attracted 104 to the ground. Just ten more ventured out this time, but the quality of football on show should have given this fixture more pulling power.

The reason why Winsford have dropped so many points at home this season is usually because they don't capitalise on early chances, as was the case in the cup tie between these two sides.

This clash set out on a similar pattern, although the visitors' net was found after three minutes.

Gary Talbot rose to head in a corner at the far post, but the referee cut short the celebrations by ruling he had fouled Trinity keeper Steve Cherry.

The corner which led to this chance came from Cherry tipping over a drive by Winnie Steele and after 14 minutes the vastly experienced keeper showed his acrobatics again, when turning away a Tony Jones shot. This time, though, the corner produced the crucial opening goal, which signalled there was only going to be one team in it.

Gainsborough cleared the kick to Eddie Hussin who knocked it to Steve Hibbert on the edge of the area.

The big centre half showed all the poise and grace of a nifty winger to chip in a beautifully weighted ball which Colin Lambert trapped on his chest before firing a half-volley low into the corner.

This was only Lambert's second goal of the season, a disappointing return from a man who notched 12 for Hyde United last season. But he showed there's much more to his game as he and midfield partner Gary Thomas proceeded to boss the show in the middle.

It was a fine pass by Thomas which created the second on 56 minutes. He sent Winnie Steele, who was always at his explosive best, haring down the inside left flank.

Steele skipped into the area before playing a square ball to the impressive Tony Jones. How he kept up with Steele during the break is anyone's guess, but he was there to sweep the ball in on his first full appearancee since signing from Mossley.

Once Steele catches fire he's hard to snuff out. Rob Hanby did his best as the striker took the ball half the length of the field and, at the third attempt, the visiting right back stuck out a foot to deny Steele a wonder goal.

The game ended with a looping Steele header, which seemed destined to give him the goal he deserved, bouncing off the crossbar, following more good work from Jones.

Only disappointment? Once again, the attendance. If you want to attract crowds, the basic requirement is to have a team who play attractive football and are challenging near the top of the league. So who knows where Winsford United are going wrong?

Winsford: Knowles, German, Harmer (sub Heesom 88), Hibbert, Talbot, Jones, Thomas, Lambert, Shaughnessy (Bridge 84), Steele, Hussin (Harris 72); Goals: Lambert 14, Jones 56

Gainsborough: Cherry, Hanby, Limber, Swailes, Marques, Olsson, Raspin (sub Brown 63), Price, Turnbull (Wilkes 71), Dunn, Neil

Attendance: 114

Man of the Match: Gary Thomas

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.