Worcester City 2-0 Gainsborough Trinity
Vanarama Conference North
Jonny Bonell reports from Aggborough
Attendance: 518
TRISTIAN Dunkley is starting to make a real name for himself at Worcester City.
The pacey winger has been something of a revelation in recent weeks and he was on song once more to play a pivotal part in his side’s 2-0 victory over struggling Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday.
Dunkley opened the scoring within three minutes and had a key role in substitute Micah Evans goal to seal the game late on.
Trinity failed to offer much attacking threat and could have been on the end of a heavier scoreline had Dunkley’s first-half strike not been cleared off the line and Daniel Nti’s goal questionably been ruled out for offside.
But without six regular first team players the hosts dug deep and claimed another three points to hoist them to tenth in the Conference North.
Manager Carl Heeley said: “We were looking at the changing rooms when we picked the side and there is as many players injured that we have got available to us.
“But credit to the boys that played, it wasn’t pretty, the pitch was really dried out and it was very bobbly but we have won the game and kept another clean sheet and considering how many big players we have got missing we are delighted with that.”
Despite that depleted squad on his hands it was Heeley’s side who made the perfect start after three minutes when new signing Anthony Charles pumped a long free-kick into the visiting box and Dunkley was on hand to react quickest and fire home off the inside of the post.
Having shown what he can do with a brace in the 3-3 draw at Chorley, Dunkley was at it again and could have doubled his – and City’s – tally just five minutes later when he poked an effort under Rory Watson, but Jake Picton was on hand to hack the ball off the line.
Sitting just five points above the drop zone before the start of play, the visitors were looking to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap and responded well to Worcester’s quick-fire start as Picton fired over before Jamie Yates had two efforts which flew wide.
A strong end to the first 45 saw Daniel Nti have his cool finish ruled out for offside and Sean Geddes watched on as his fierce drive flew just past Watson’s post.
Both sides failed to gain a strong foothold in proceedings after the break but it was the hosts who looked more likely to add to their slender lead as first Geddes dipped a half volley past the post and then the midfielder curled his 25-yard free-kick wide.
The game should have been all wrapped up after 77 minutes when a quick Worcester counter saw Geddes feed the ever-lively Dunkley, he burst into the box but seemed caught in two minds as his effort took a nick off Watson and rolled across the six yard box.
Substitute Hamish Watson did have the Aggborough hearts in mouths with five minutes left when he fired a shot just wide of Ryan Boot’s goal but Evans made sure of the three points when he tapped home after Nti, who was teed up by Dunkley, had his initial strike well saved by Watson.