A Lewis Leech wonder-goal helped Stockton Town pick up a point on the road in Gainsborough.
Owen Gallacher and Tom Coulthard both returned to the Anchors’ starting lineup after recovering from injuries.
Gainsborough started quickly and came close to an opener in the sixth minute when a dangerous whipped cross from Aaron Simpson was delivered into the path of Fraser Preston but the attacker couldn’t connect with the ball at the back post.
Stockton found a gap in the hosts’ backline briefly as Stephen Thompson was played through, but he fired wide whilst under pressure from a trailing defender.
The Anchors very nearly found the lead in the 31st minute when Owen Gallacher’s inch-perfect cross found the head of Lewis King who powered a header towards goal which bounced off the underside of the crossbar, failing to cross the line on its bounce before being collected by the goalkeeper.
But despite Stockton pressure, the hosts were ahead five minutes before the break when a slip from Arjun Purewal allowed Jordan Helliwell to drive into acres of space, the winger played a ball into the middle which striker Declan Howe powered home.
Half-time: Gainsborough Trinity 1-0 Stockton Town
It didn’t take long for the Anchors to respond, when nine minutes after the restart, Owen Gallacher’s close control down the left-wing got the better of a number of players, before setting the ball up for Lewis Leech to curl into the top corner to mark his first goal for the club.
Nathan Harker made his biggest save of the afternoon in the 73rd minute when a through ball unleashed Declan Howe towards goal, but the shot-stopper quickly rushed out to close the angle and wonderfully executed a crucial save.
Substitute Michael Fowler nearly gave Stockton a late lead when a weak clearance fell to his feet, but his strike was blocked as it travelled towards goal at great speed.
Moments later, immense work from Lewis King kept the scores level as a low cross across the box looked destined to be poked home by Josiah Dyer, but the defender perfected a slide tackle to force it wide before the substitute could make a connection.
Despite a late spell of pressure from both sides, the defences held firm to secure a point apiece in the first ever meeting between the two teams.
Full-time: Gainsborough Trinity 1-1 Stockton Town
Stockton now take a two week break from league action, as Chester come to visit in the FA Cup next weekend, before FA Trophy action the week after.
Gainsborough Trinity: Wharton, Simpson (Dyer 80’), Jackson, Conway, Lancaster, Cogill, Butroid (Stacey 80’), Johnson (Braithwaite 56’), Preston, Howe, Helliwell
Unused Subs: Collins, Clarke
Stockton Town: Harker, King, Baggs, Painter, Purewal, Coulthard, Leech (Birtles 90’), Butterworth, Sweet (Fowler 46’), Thompson (Beddow 87’), Gallacher (Roberts 77’)
Unused Subs: Henry
Goals: Howe, 1-0, 40 min; Leech, 1-1, 54 min.
Attendance: 537
Words: Jordan Clarke
Photo: Harry Cook
