Gainsborough were rocked by a goal straight from the kick off. Eastwood controlling a cross field ball, and expertly sending it to the back post for Hallows to net his first goal since coming back from injury and loan. The lead didn't last long, as Trinity battled to get back into the game. Ellington's cross was nodded past Dootson by Grant after quarter of an hour, but it was Celtic who were taking the initiative, and providing problems for the home defence, and were unlucky not to double their tally and regain the lead with some excellent work by Hallows and Eastwood who look a natural pairing. German twice almost grabbed a goal, and Potts took the paint off the post about half an hour in. Trinity did get close just before the end of the half, but a timely interception from Bowker prevented Grant from getting his second. Indeed, apart from the goal Dootson had not been needed!
The second half saw every increasing pressure from Celtic, but no goals, with Hallows heading a Potts cross over the bar, and Eastwood trapping Potts' lay off to turn and fire just wide. Potts himself went close twice, once dancing through the Trinity defence, and eventually shooting wide of the mark, then later playing off Eastwood to get into the box, but as Pettinger advanced off his line, Potts' chip cleared the keeper, and the bar narrowly avoiding giving Celtic the lead again. Trinity were never really in the second half, despite replacing Jones with Stant with quarter of an hour to go, and it was sheer bad luck that saw Celtic come away with only one poin, especially after a dead-cert handball appeal was waved away inside the penalty area.
This was by far a better performance from Celtic, and bodes well for Worksop on Saturday. Parr's return to the middle of the park, and the pairing of Hallows and Eastwood made the team looked balanced and slick.