Gainsborough Trinity 3-Kendal Town 1.

UNIBOND Premier side Gainsborough Trinity earned themselves a second round FA Trophy tie at Grantham with a 3-1 victory over Kendal Town at their Northolme ground in Lincolnshire.

Peter Smith's men have now bowed out of both major cup competitions to Premier sides away from home, but have performed creditably on both occasions.

This tie was only two minutes old when the home side took the lead.

Kendal goalkeeper Lee Ward was unable to hold on to a shot, allowing Trinity's veteran player/manager Phil Stant to fire the loose ball into the net.

Kendal's response was swift and Jamie Close saw his volley fly inches over the bar a minute later.

A welcome equaliser arrived on seven minutes when Gainsborough keeper Barry Richardson spilled an innocent-looking Lee Blamire volley and Craig Walmsley was quick to seize the opportunity to make the score 1-1.

The lively tempo of the game showed no immediate signs of relenting and a minute later Town were on the attack again with Damian Corcoran and Walmsley combining well to release David Foster, but a defender blocked his effort.

The action immediately switched to the other end and Paul Eshelby went dangerously close to restoring his side's lead when his angled shot struck the post.

Gary Prosser started a well-constructed move on 19 minutes and it ended with a sound effort at goal by the same player as Kendal showed no signs of being overawed by Trinity.

The home side went ahead on 30 minutes when striker Lee Ellington capitalised on Town's hesitancy in defence and showed neat footwork before curling the ball inside Ward's far post to make it 2-1.

Walmsley had an opportunity to level the scores late in the half after Foster had done well to pick him out with a cross.

Unaware of the space, he had he elected to shoot first time and miscued as a consequence.

A mistake by Ward on 46 minutes presented Stant with a goal-scoring chance that he was unable to take, but Eshelby was not so charitable two minutes later when he forced the loose ball over the line at the second attempt to make it 3-1.

Having obtained a two-goal cushion, Gainsborough then went on to enjoy their best spell and Stant had the ball in the back of the net only to be ruled offside.

Town rallied in the last 15 minutes.

Kyle Hayton's shot went straight to the keeper and substitute Smith made several inroads into the Trinity box making it an uncomfortable closing few minutes for the home side.