Two first half goals by Gainsborough, were enough to condemn Harrogate to defeat at the Northolme.
Peter Crook made his debut in Town’s goal, in place of the suspended,Craig MacGillivray, and Paul Beesley was recalled to the subs bench.
Craig Nelthorpe and Dave Merris tested the home defence with early free kicks and Liam Hardy’s long run out of defence was halted by a last ditch tackle by Simon Russell.
Nelthorpe found his way into the referee’s notebook after he scythed down Liam Davis, but Crook easily dealt with Williams’ 30 yard free kick.
Town were well in the ascendency,and a superb pass inside the full back,by Michael Woods,released Merris down the left,but his hurried shot sailed well wide.
Strong play by Anton Brown set up a chance for Adam Bolder, whose 30 yard drive forced Phil Barnes into a brilliant fingertip save.
Hardy went close with a shot from the edge of the area and Woods had an effort blocked, as Town turned the screw,but it was Trinity who broke the deadlock.
A deep corner from Jonathan Williams was headed back across the goal by Darryn Stamp and Bradley Barraclough nodded past Crook from close range.
Ten minutes later, a clumsy tackle by Leigh Franks on Davis earned Trinity a penalty and Russell gave Crook no chance from the spot.
Simon Weaver, rang the changes at the break with Adam Nowakowski and Ashley Worsfold replacing Woods and Nelthorpe.
This gave Town an aerial threat and Nowakowski soon made his presence felt with an header across goal.
Bolder and Brown were prominent in midfield,and Bolder went narrowly wide when he picked up a weak punch from Barnes.
Although Trinity were reduced to occasional breakaways,they still posed a threat to Town’s rearguard.Darryl Stamp spurned a chance to make it three, when he headed ex townie, Dan Clayton’s cross wide, and Peter Crook did well to block Barraclough’s shot, after he broke clean through.
On the hour,Paul Beesley replaced Chris Hall and Town made a tremendous effort to salvage something from the game.
Cleveland Taylor began to torment Trinity down the right wing, supplying several dangerous crosses and Brown curled a shot just wide of the far post.
As time began to run out,Barnes earned his corn with a spectacular save to keep out Beesley’s far post header from Taylor’s centre, and a long cross from Franks was diverted onto the underside of the crossbar.
Deep into stoppage time,Nowakowski headed wide and Barnes made yet another fine save to deny Worsfold, but for Town, the goal drought unfortunately continues.
Town, 1 Crook ,2 Taylor,3 Merris, 4 Bolder, 5 Franks, 6 Killock (c), 7 Hardy, 8 Brown, 9 Hall ( Beesley 60 mins),10 Woods ( Nowakowski 45mins), 11 Nelthorpe (Worsfold 45 mins).
Unused subs,16 Bloomer,17 Rowe.
Bookings Franks,Nelthorpe.
Attendance 401
