On the day of the Pope’s funeral maybe it was written that Trinity, known as the Holy Blues, would win this game. However, the result was a little harsh on Josh Brehauts side who probably deserved a point but once again proved that you cannot afford to switch off in this league, even in a meaningless fixture, with Trinity’s winner coming in the 87th minute.

Leek started the game showing two changes to the line up from the previous loss at home to Macclesfield. Olly Heywood had been recalled from his loan spell by Chester City and so Julius Ndene was asked to fill in at left full back whilst Olly Shenton started at the expense of Hayden Campbell.

On a good playing surface Town started the game quite well with Alex Hurst producing a jinking run after 4mins and forcing goalkeeper David Robson into the save whilst Louis Potts tried his luck from 25yds but was high and wide with his effort.

At the other end the Blues own goalkeeper, Xander Parkes, was called into his first action of the game on 7mins when a curled ball was played into the path of Gainsboroughs top goalscorer and main man, Declan Howe, and Parkes produced a good save coming out to block with his legs.

Howe was not to be denied, however, and put the Holy Blues ahead after 13mins. A pass into the front man saw him take one touch before producing an accurate side footed finished beyond Parke low into the far corner.

Leek looked to hit back and, after Potts had been hauled back by Charlie Hickingbottom to earn the Holy Blues man a caution, Lucas Weir delivered a good free kick into the box where a spell of pin pong ensued with Nathan Okome having two efforts blocked before the ball was eventually cleared.

Town remained on top and the equaliser came when a Trinity defender failed to cut out a pass from Weir find the run of Alex Hurst and he was able to take it on and roll it past Robson into the net to make it one apiece after 21mins.

Hurst continued to be the main dangerman for Leek and his opponent, Aaron Simpson, was the second home player to go into the referees book for a late challenge on the wide man when it looked as though Hurst was about to get away from him.

As the Blues continued to have the better of the play Potts headed over from Liam Buckley cross whilst Weir was unable to produce the finish after an impressive driving run to the edge of the Gainsborough box as he dragged his left foot effort wide of the post.

Another foul on Hurst, this time on the goal line, gave Leek another threatening position but Adam Porters driven ball into the 6yd box was well defended by the Trinity defence.

A couple of similar moves by the home side down the right hand side saw Simpson deliver a couple of crosses for Howe who headed straight into the hands of Parke with the first and drifted his second header wide of the post.

Leek nearly went into the break ahead but were denied by Robson as the game seemingly continued to be the Howe and Hurst show. Ndenes return header from a ball played out of the Trinity defence was cleverly directed into Hurst who once again ran at the opposition and was only denied by the outstretched leg of the keeper.

GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 1 - LEEK TOWN 1 HT

The second half commenced and again Leek started as brightly as the sunshine with Hurst having an early chance to put the visitors ahead. Billy Reeves produced a good run down the left flank and slipped a pass inside to Hurst who took it on into the area but somehow tried to finish with they outside of his right foot rather than his left and the ball flew wide of the near post.

Lewis Butroid also put the ball wide for the Holy Blues after meeting a right wing cross before a flurry of substitutions from both sides, including a goalkeeping substitution for the home side, saw the game start to drift and have a real end of season feel about it.

Both sides were comfortably cancelling each other out with only the odd sporadic bit of action. One of these saw Parke deny Howe with a fantastic once handed save low down to his right whilst at the other end Buckleys shot was deflected over the Trinity crossbar after a weaving run from the full back.

Porter’s long range shot sailed out of the ground to the cheers of the home support whilst substitute Dylan Scott could just not get on the end of a header back across the face of the goal from a free kick as Leek made their final efforts.

A draw looked likely and would have been the right result but for that man, Howe, who flung himself at a right wing cross in the 87th minute and his diving header found the net to give his side the late win.

GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 2 - LEEK TOWN 1 FT

REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

The loss means the Blues finish the season in a respectable 15th place on goal difference; a position that no one would have thought possible when the team was second from bottom in December and reflects on an excellent second half of the season and a level of optimism for the future if the majority of the squad can be kept together.

Liam Buckley represented two awards to Billy Reeves after the game, a trophy to mark his 200th appearance and the coveted Players Player Award.