Harrogate Town and Gainsborough slugged out a goalless draw in front of a 400 plus holiday crowd, at a sunny but cold, C N G Stadium.
The pitch was the driest it’s been all season and both sides had difficulty adapting to the lively conditions.
Trinity almost took a shock lead after only 25 seconds when Craig MacGillivray did well to keep out Craig Nelthorpe’s snap shot.
Late addition to the visitor’s team sheet, Paul Connor,then crossed to Shane Clarke, who fortunately blazed wide.
Town began to gain a foothold but found it hard to make progress against the visitor’s giant defence.
An intricate move between Paul Bolland, Dwayne Samuels and Colin Larkin, ended with Trinity’s Luke Waterfall just managing to block Luke Dean’s shot.
At the other end, a superb tackle by the impressive Shane Killock ended a dangerous break by Connor, before Town skipper, Paul Bolland was on hand to clear off the line.
However, it was Town who finished the half the stronger.
Adam Nowakowski, just failed to reach a Michael Woods corner, before Samuels played in Larkin behind the Trinity defence and his measured cross to Dan Forrest was met with a spectacular bicycle kick which sailed just wide.
Woods and Larkin almost carved out a chance for Dean who was denied by a last ditch tackle by ex Townie, Dom Roma.
The second half commenced with Trinity surviving a couple of goalmouth scrambles in which Tyrone Thompson got the final touch to clear the visitor’s lines and then Forrest had a goalbound shot charged down.
Gainsborough were still proving a threat with MacGillivray having to tip away a dangerous Roma centre and Matt Bloomer and Samuels combining to clear a Nelthorpe free kick.
Just as in the first half, Town finished the stronger.
Chib Chilaka and Lee Elam replaced Woods and Dean respectively, giving Town a new lease of life.
Elam immediately found Dave Merris, whose foraging run ended with him firing past the upright.
Larkin was off target with a flick from another Elam cross and Chilaka almost replicated his goal at Bishop’s Stortford, but saw his effort sail just past the far post.
It only remained for Trinity keeper Jason White to turn a late Larkin ground shot round the post, before the final whistle ended proceedings.
With most of Town’s near rivals losing or drawing,it proved to be a valuable point.
Town
1 MacGillivray, 2 Samuels, 3 Merris, 4 Bolland (c), 5 Bloomer, 6 Killock, 7 Nowakowski, 8 Dean ( Elam 67), 9 Larkin, 10 Woods (Chilaka 56), 11 Forrest.
Unused subs 12 Beesley, 16 Radcliffe, 17 Metcalfe
Bookings Nowakowski
Attendance 408
