Stockton Town were comprehensively outplayed in a heavy defeat at Gainsborough Trinity.
Goals from Ashton Offler, Jordan Helliwell, Theo Williams and Ben Blythe helped Trinity cruise to victory past the Anchors who ended with ten men following Layton Watts’s red card.
Stockton scored from the penalty through Josh Scott for what proved to be a consolation.
There were two changes to Starting XI as Owen Gallacher and Stephen Thompson made their first starts of the season. Aaron Brown was moved from right-back to centre-back to accommodate for the absence of Tom Coulthard.
The Anchors made the worst possible start to the contest when they fell behind inside three minutes. Converted striker Offler rose highest to head Trinity ahead from a floated cross from the right.
Stockton struggled to contain Gainsborough in the early part of the game. George Hornshaw dragged a dangerous strike wide and Williams slid an effort wide.
Michael Dunwell’s men began to see more of the football as the half went on but had nothing to show for it.
They were then hit by the second when they conceded possession in their own half, Helliwell was played in and he slid the ball beyond Harker to score.
Stockton could have found themselves further behind at the interval. Nathan Harker got down well to tip round a low effort from range. Then Lewis Butroid fired wide in a congestion penalty area.
Half-Time: Gainsborough Trinity 2-0 Stockton Town
Helliwell almost had his second early in the second half but he was denied by the feet of Harker one-on-one.
Gainsborough carved Stockton open again but Williams spurned the opportunity from close range.
Shortly after the hour mark Williams had his goal when he weaved into the box and rifled beyond Harker.
With less than 15 minutes remaining Stockton had a faint route back into the game when they were awarded a penalty when Scott was fouled. Scott stepped up and dispatched it.
The evening went from bad to worse for Stockton when Watts saw red. He was caught up in an incident with Gainsborough’s Connor Brown.
Gainsborough capped off the game with a fourth when Harvey Sutcliffe’s cross was bundled in by Blythe.
Full-Time: Gainsborough Trinity 4-1 Stockton Town
August’s relentless schedule continues with a home game against Alfreton Town on Saturday.
