Gainsborough Trinity 2-1 Hyde United (Northern Premier League)
It was Christmas jumper day at Southwell Races on Saturday which I attended with friends. A few quid down and fifteen pints of Guinness later, Sunday was a complete write off as I hardly moved hungover on my sofa, still struggling on Monday, by Tuesday I'm 95% over it and ready to get back to what I know. Not exactly Craig David but you get the gist.
I've never previously watched Hyde play live, although I did once wear the kit. Back in the days when they were Man City blue our Sunday league team manager John O'Kane played for them, so for a season or half we got to model as then Conference North stars on the parks pitches of Nottingham.
Formed in 1919 the South East Manchester outfit long played in the Cheshire County League. In 1982 they joined the Northern Premier League and went on to spend ten years in the Conference (reaching the Premier Division in 2012) before a hat trick of relegations saw them drop down to step 7.
The club were renamed from Hyde United to Hyde following financial troubles in 2009 when fans from Manchester City donated much needed funds before painting Ewen Field sky blue. As well as dropping the name 'United' the red shirts were also binned whilst their ground often hosted the Citizens Reserves and Academy, but when that deal ended in 2015 the club reverted to old ways midst suffering tougher times back in the red.
Since 2018 however, the club have played in this very division. The same year that Gainsborough Trinity dropped down from the National League North, and ever since the two teams have been friendly foes at step 3. For many years previous, they had long been too.
Trinity, founded in 1873 as a church team, were actually founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1968, they had a spell in the Conference North from 2005-2018 but have incredibly only really had one other relegation on their CV since finishing bottom of the Football League in 1912. The 2017/18 season saw them fall back into the Northern Premier League where they have held their head high in the top tier for 43 of the last 57 years.
The Venue
I've left Nottingham at 5pm, it's an hour or so's drive to Gainsborough just over the Lincolnshire border, across the A46 and up through the villages of Collingham and Torksey, I plan to park up at Church Street car park (which is free after 6pm) and grab a KFC.
It's a sleepy old town is Gainsborough, quiet, no foot traffic, dark skies, hardly anything on the road, no noise at all, the only thing lit up is the stunning looking Marshalls Yard, a shopping centre with an M&S and Next, which has been beautifully decorated for the upcoming festivities.
Fed and oiled I'm walking down North Street, as always I'm the only soul in town, before seeing the lights above the terraced houses and warehouses, of the Northolme, one of the oldest standing football grounds in the country.
There's a bit more life around the gates, stewards chat as some folk walk through the doors of the clubhouse, i'm scanned in for a £13 ticket before walking to my seat at the back of the stand next to the press area, where it's elevated and warm high up in the rafters.
There's the usual Gainsborough crew of tweeters and commentators, a couple from Hyde, their main radio guy tells me it took 2 and a half hours to get here "I left at four" he said, before stating "I need to go for a walk and stretch my legs".
The ground holds over 4,000 and is beautifully old fashioned, blue posts prop up the curve roofed Ping Stand, one blocking your view of each goal, open end terrace to my left where players are smashing the balls in to the houses behind during their warm ups, to my right a roofed standing area and opposite likewise, I love that you can see the roofs of the terraced housing behind.
The Game
Not even a quarter full tonight it's cold and windy as the two teams come out from different entrances on to the field of play. Hyde in all yellow, Gainsborough seeking in blue, the action underway and I'm impressed with what's on show.
The form teams in the division, Gainsborough are unbeaten in three but their only loss in 13 a 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup second round at League Two Harrogate Town, Trinity are also flying in the FA Trophy with York City up next, but have plenty of matches to play to catch up on those above them in the league.
Hyde are unbeaten in seven and it's they who start best, a floated cross in by Harry Bunn from the right leaves Trinity keeper Wharton in two minds, he doesn't know whether to come or stay, by the time he's made his mind up he's picking the ball out of the back of the net as Jack Redshaw nips in, he missed Saturday's draw at Guiseley to watch the birth of his newborn, quite the week for him.
The Tigers knock it around well, but so do the Holy Blues, you feel these are two competent teams at the level and in the fifteenth minute the game is back level, United suffering similar hesitancy as Javelle Clarke nips in following uncertainty between the Hyde back line.
It ebbs and flows does the first half, a few half sniffs and whiffs, Wharton looks nervous in the home team goal, dealing now with wind and rain, but both teams defences are decent, the midfield engines work hard, up front they pose handfuls in different ways.
The Score
Locked horns at the break I'm expecting explosions in the second half but we don't really get it. Gainsborough the enforcers, have a shot deflected onto the bar as Jackson's effort has Hiddleston sprawling, then a contentious decision, but a right one, as Ewan Bange defending in his own box, leads out an arm whilst attempting to clear a corner, penalty awarded, penalty dispatched, by the lively Declan Howe.
That, I thought would kick Hyde into an attacking gear but it never really comes, as Trinity hold firm, there's a scare late on when a home player handles whilst lying on the floor in the area but nothing given, the away team commentators raging "you can't give one but not the other".
The Stars
Ahead of the match, the Hyde commentator said "It's too cold tonight, just give Declan Howe his hat-trick now and let's f*ck off". Jesting of course, but he felt an expectancy that Gainsborough's star man would have the telling say, and that was the case. Not your typical style non league centre forward, not very big, not particularly quick, but the fully haired front man has a knack of scoring goals, a bit of style and a lot of respect from opposition defences. I discussed 'this is his level' but that is certainly not a bad thing, because at this level he will continue to score a lot of goals.
Other impressive efforts from Gainsborough players, Sisa Tuntulwana is one I've previously raved about. I sat with a scout from Grimsby and we both agreed 'he won't be at this level long'. Supposed to be sub tonight but centre half Dylan Cogill was caught in traffic, so starting in his place, Sisa, who's not the tallest, won plenty of headers against a front man far bigger, he reads the game so well, he plays with such confidence, his best position is probably right wing, but can play anywhere, right back, number ten, centre half, he's that good.
Ashley Jackson at left back did well for Russ Wilcox's side whilst in midfield Jordan Helliwell and Bobby Johnson provided plenty of energy, as an attacking force Gainsborough have plenty of talent, Fraser Preston, Lewis Butroid, Javelle Clarke, all doing their bit on the night.
For Hyde, my first viewing had me really impressed, and on another night, they could easily have taken something back to the North West. Back four is very good, two centre halves Jack Byrne and Joel Amado in particular, in midfield the energy and drive from Callum Spooner I really liked, up front the awkward Ewan Bange is a real handful, buzzing around him, Jack Redshaw in that number ten role is their talisman.
The Verdict
I felt slightly sorry for Hyde after the match but assured one of their commentators "you have a bloody good team" and his response was 'everyone who plays us tells us that, but we're still bloody sixth'.
Hyde have finished sixth, a place outside the playoffs for the last two seasons, and it could easily happen again, but they have plenty of time and talent, to make a promotion rally with just under half their season still to play.
Gainsborough have more than half of their season to play. Whilst Hyde have 33 points from 22 played, Trinity with games in hand have only played 16 times in the league this season due largely to their cup exploits. On 26 points they too have the credentials for a late playoff cause, but priorities may lay elsewhere, by the time April comes they'll be likely playing three times a week, and that will probably take its toll.
The Teams
Gainsborough Trinity: Dylan Wharton, Aaron Simpson (Dylan Cogill 76), Ashley Jackson, Bobby Johnson (Bailey Conway 81), Will Lancaster, Sisa Tuntulwana, Lewis Butroid (Joe Stacey 69), Jordan Helliwell, Javelle Clarke (Curtis Durose 75), Declan Howe, Fraser Preston.
Hyde United: Callum Hiddlestone, Drew Baker (Frankie Sinfield 87), Lewis Thompson, Callum Spooner, Jack Byrne, Joel Amado, Callum West (Jordan Scanlon 62), Jay Glover (Matthew Fearnley 62), Ewan Bange, Jack Redshaw, Harry Bunn (Ayo Quadri 87).
7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 17th December 2024, The Northolme, Gainsborough (att 554).
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