Match Reports 2005/06 - first team

League

Leeds Medics 0 Trinity 3

Mark Scarsella scored all three goals as Trinity ended their season on a high, with victory over Leeds Medics.  Their 3-0 victory meant they'd completed an excellent double over last season's Senior A champions.

Leeds Medics started the game on top as Trinity struggled to get out of their own half but then Trinity gradually got into the game.  Following a corner Scarsella, the big Australian forward, headed over from three yards out.  However he made ammends shortly afterwards when he scored his first goal of the game.  Midfielder Neil Higgins demonstrated some neat footwork in the penalty area before laying the ball to Scarsella, who drove low past the keeper to make it 1-0. Trinity largely dominated the rest of the half territorially though their crosses were well dealt with by the Medics defence.  At the other end of the pitch Trinity's defence ensured Lee Field in the Trinity goal had a quiet half.   

Scarsella scored his second goal early in the second half, latching onto a loose ball in the Medics' penalty area before turning and shooting low past the keeper.  2-0 to Trinity.  Field, whose handling was excellent throughout the game, was at full stretch to make a couple of saves as Medics sought to get back into the game.  In the latter stages of the game Scarsella completed his hat-trick, heading in from a yard out following a Gardiner corner.  Final score 3-0 to Trinity.

Team:  Field; Jordan, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Gardiner, Mullowney, Higgins, Pearson; Scarsella, Travers 

Subs:  Katoro (for Travers), Rogers (for Mullowney), Maynard (for Pearson)

Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield (final) [Neutral Ground]

Trinity 0 Malet Lambert 1

Malet Lambert scored a winner ten minutes from time to defeat Trinity 1-0 in the final of the Yorkshire Old Boy's Shield.  In a tight game midfielder Chris Hunt's exquisite lob proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Trinity were quick off their blocks against their Hull based opposition.  After ten minutes Denis Katoro, who'd scored in all the previous rounds of the competition, beat the defence on the halfway line and raced though on goal.  A defender's desperate challenge from behind looked to many to be inside the penalty area.  However the Hull based referee, after consultation with his linesman, awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area.  The defender managed to escape with only a booking, despite being the last man with Katoro heading directly towards goal.  The half progressed with chances being few for either side as both defences held firm.  A Malet forward headed over following a free kick and they also had a couple of long range strikes which failed to trouble Yates in the Trinity goal.  Trinity's best chances fell to Tom Priestley.  Following corners he headed over from close range and drove a shot just wide of the post.  

In the second half Trinity began to gain the upper hand, though they still found it difficult to penetrate the Malet defence.  Both sides hit the bar.  Malet hit the woodwork following a corner. Trinity responded with a Chris Gardiner free-kick that struck the bar.  With the game heading into extra-time Malet took a surprise lead.  Midfielder Chris Hunt picked up the ball thirty yards from goal.  Finding himself with time and space he spotted Yates off his line and delivered a perfect lob, out of the keeper's reach and into the goal.  1-0 to Malet Lambert.  Trinity responded with a series of substitutions and Priestley being moved up front.  However despite some late pressure they couldn't make the required breakthrough and the final score ended 1-0 to Malet Lambert.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Jordan, Gardiner, Ryan, Pearson; Katoro, Travers 

Subs:  Fallon (for Clubbs), Scarsella (for Travers), Maynard (for Pearson)

League

St Nicholas 4 Trinity 1

Trinity warmed up for their Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield final by getting thumped at St Nicholas.  Denis Katoro scored a late consolation goal as Trinity slumped to their second 4-1 defeat in three games. 

Trinity started the game well, looking the stronger team for the first twenty-five minutes.  Stevie Travers headed against the bar and Rayon Maynard shot wide, as Trinity looked the most likely team to score.  However it was St Nicholas that opened the scoring.  An innocuous looking forward ball resulted in Trinity defenders Dave Rogers and Martin Clubbs colliding with each other, leaving St Nicholas forward Paul Graham to race through on goal.  Despite scuffing his shot, he found the back of the net to make it 1-0.  The lead was doubled before half-time.  A forward ball went under the foot of Rogers.  Forward Gary O'Driscoll fired the ball past Yates to make it 2-0 to St Nicholas.

In the second half Trinity started well in their bid to claw themselves back into the game.  Substitute Mark Scarsella was brought down in the penalty area and Trinity were awarded a penalty.  Unfortunately for Chris Gardiner the St Nicholas keeper Damian Kane guessed correctly, diving the correct way to save the penalty.  Shortly afterwards Scarsella hit the post with a low shot from outside the area.  St Nicholas scored a third goal midway through the half.  Midfielder David Hames' low shot from ten yards out found the corner of the net, to make it 3-0.  Paul Graham raced through to score his second of the game after Clubbs and Jordan combined to lose possession in their own half.  Graham's shot from the edge of the area made it 4-0.  St Nicholas could have added more to their tally as they created more chances in the closing stages.  Then with a minute to go Katoro scored a consolation for Trinity, shooting home from close range after Kane had dropped a corner.  The score finished 4-1 to St Nicholas.  For Trinity the good news was they got a good work out and didn't sustain any injuries before Wednesday's big game.

Team:  Yates; Rogers, Clubbs, McIntyre; McIntosh, Jordan, Fallon, Gardiner, Maynard; Katoro, Travers 

Subs:  Scarsella (for Travers), Pearson (for Rogers)

League

Trinity 2 Leeds University 2

Mark Scarsella was on the score sheet as Trinity drew with third placed Leeds University.  Despite leading 2-0 at half-time Trinity conceded two second half goals to draw 2-2.

Against a weakened Leeds University side Trinity dominated the first half.  Scarsella should have opened the scoring for Trinity when he headed over from two yards, after an excellent Leroy McIntosh cross. Stevie Travers miscontrolled when he beat the offside trap with only the keeper to beat.  Trinity finally took the lead midway through the first half.  University defender Phil Mason diverted Chris Gardiner’s low free-kick into his own net, to make it 1-0 to Trinity.  Scarsella made up for his earlier miss by scoring Trinity’s second, heading past the keeper from close range following a Mickey Fallon free-kick to make it 2-0.

Trinity looked comfortably in control.  However the second half was a different story.  With the wind behind them the University clawed themselves back into the game.  Switching keepers proved to be a master stroke as Simon Wade’s kicking put pressure on the Trinity defence.  In addition he also managed to pull off a couple of vital saves as the half progressed.  Midfielder Dermot Grumley forced the ball into the net following a goal-mouth scramble to make it 2-1.  Then from five yards out Mark Ryan headed the ball into his own net, while attempting to clear a cross from the right, to make it 2-2.  From then on it was end to end stuff.  Both sides had chances to win it.  Jimmy Yates made an excellent save near the end of the game, acrobatically tipping Bobby Stephenson’s shot over the bar to ensure Trinity shared the points.  The match finished 2-2, which meant that Yorkshire Bank were the real winners on the night as this result handed them the Senior A title.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Ryan, Fallon, Gardiner, Pearson; Scarsella, Travers 

Subs:  Maynard (for McIntosh), Higgins (for Ryan), Rogers (for McIntyre)

League

Modernians 4 Trinity 1

Trinity were brought crashing down to earth as Senior A strugglers Modernians gave them a 4-1 thrashing.  Tom Priestley scored a late consolation for Trinity in a game  where they were second best in all departments.

Rayon Maynard threatened the Modernians’ defence early on with a couple of surging runs down the left.  However it was Modernians who took the lead.  Forward Mo Hanker reacted first to a shot that hit the bar, tucking in the rebound from close range to put Modernians 1-0 up.  Shortly afterwards the lead was doubled.  Midfielder Stef Papa crashed the ball into the roof of the net from twenty-five yards out to make it 2-0.  With their tails up Modernians were on top of the game, defending resolutely and not giving Trinity any time on the ball.  Trinity on the other hand appeared to be defending very deeply, possibly due to the fact they were facing the sun, which gave Modernians a lot more time and space on the ball.  Trinity’s best chance of the half came when Stevie Travers burst through after an interchange of passes but the Modernians’ keeper came out to halt his progress.

A third goal for Modernians arrived early in the second half.  A throw-in near the halfway line was flicked into the path of Buddy Keville.  His first-time shot from long-range looped over Trinity keeper Field and into the net.  3-0.  A fourth goal followed later in the half.  Stef Papa scored his second of the evening, turning in a low cross from the right to make it 4-0.  In the last minute of the game Priestley volleyed home a consolation for Trinity following a Daniel Berry cross, to make it 4-1.  In their attempt to avoid relegation Modernians deserved their victory out battling Trinity in every department. 

Team:  Field; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Ryan, Higgins, Gardiner, Maynard; Scarsella, Travers 

Subs:  Hobbs (for Scarsella), Jordan (for Higgins), Berry (for Maynard )

League

Trinity 5 Western Juniors 1

Stevie Travers scored a hat-trick as Trinity defeated Western Juniors to leapfrog them in the Senior A table.  Chris Gardiner and Denis Katoro both scored penalties in the 5-1 victory.

Trinity opened the scoring early in the first half.  Travers tucked the ball into the corner of the net after some close control in the penalty area, making it 1-0.  His second goal arrived on the half hour mark.  Receiving the ball from Mullowney on the edge of the area Travers fired the ball past the keeper to make it 2-0.  Western Juniors narrowed the deficit before half-time.  Centre-back Ricky Burrow's shot from the edge of the area hit the roof of the net, following a partially cleared free-kick.  2-1 to Trinity.

The next goal was going to decisive and it was Trinity that got it fifteen minutes into the second half.  Katoro headed the ball into the path of Travers, who volleyed the ball home from close range to make it 3-1.  After that Western Juniors appeared to wilt as Trinity turned the screw.  An excellent run by Leroy McIntosh was finally halted as he was scythed down in the penalty area.  Penalty awarded.  Gardiner made no mistake from the spot to make it 4-1.  Travers was next to go down in the box following another illegal challenge.  This time Katoro accepted responsibility for converting the penalty, as he made it 5-1.  The score finished 5-1 to Trinity after another fine performance.  The watching Yorkshire Bank and Old Rovers players were surely impressed.

Team:  Field; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Ryan, Mullowney, Gardiner, Pearson; Hobbs, Travers 

Subs:  Higgins (for Mullowney), Katoro (for Hobbs), Maynard (for Pearson)

League

Trinity 2 Yorkshire Bank 2

John Hobbs and Chris Gardiner were both on target as Trinity fought out a well earned 2-2 draw with Yorkshire Bank, a result that sees Yorkshire Bank take one step closer to clinching the Senior A title.

With the wind behind them in the first half Yorkshire Bank piled on the early pressure.  As a result Trinity found it hard to get out of their own half in the early stages.  Lee Field, in the Trinity goal, was called upon to make some excellent saves early on.  Eventually the Bank's pressure paid off and they scored the opening goal.  Field couldn't keep hold of a cross from the left and Bank midfielder Marc Ware was at hand to slot the ball into the net.  1-0 to the Bank.  Trinity got more into the game as the half progressed, coming close to equalising when Leroy McIntosh hit the post from close range.  Yorkshire Bank escaped punishment when their keeper appeared to handle the ball outside of the penalty area, while thwarting a Trinity attack.  Fortunately for the Bank the referee didn't spot the offence and then to rub salt into the Trinity wounds he booked Stevie Travers for his protests.

Trinity equalised early in the second half.  Trinity forward John Hobbs pressured the Bank's Scottish centre half Steve Tennant into a mistake twenty yards from goal.  Hobbs then raced through and smashed an excellent left foot shot into the net from just inside the area, to make it 1-1.  The Bank fought back and regained their lead.  Phil Beesting's cross from the right was headed in at the far post by the unmarked Gareth Huxhall, to make it 2-1 to the Bank.  Trinity equalised again.  Gardiner's right footed shot from the edge of the area hit the roof of the net to make it 2-2.  From then on it was end to end stuff, with both teams contributing to an excellent game of football.  Leroy McIntosh went down under a challenge but his claim for a penalty was rejected.  Dean Holloway nearly grabbed the winner for Trinity after being played through by Travers, but he sliced his shot and the ball flew wide.  The score finished 2-2 with both teams taking a share of the points.  The Bank's performances against Trinity this season suggest they are the best team in the league and only a major collapse will prevent them claiming this season's Senior A title.

Team:  Field; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Higgins, Mullowney, Gardiner, Maynard; Hobbs, Travers 

Subs:  Ryan (for Mullowney), Holloway (for Higgins)

League

Trinity 3 Abbey Grange Adel 1

Stevie Travers scored in his third consecutive game as Trinity defeated Abbey Grange Adel 3-1.  Chris Gardiner and Denis Katoro were also on target as Trinity came came out on top against the Senior A strugglers.

With a strong wind behind them Trinity applied some early first half pressure and it was no surprise when they took the lead early in the game.  Mickey Fallon's cross from the left set up a goal mouth scramble.  The ball finally found the feet of Travers who from six yards out made no mistake, drilling low into the net to make it 1-0 to Trinity.  Abbey Grange equalised shortly afterwards.  An cross from the left was dropped by Trinity keeper Yates into the path of Abbey Grange forward Dave Mitchell.  Presented with an open goal he made no mistake, 1-1.  Coupled with resilient Abbey Grange play and a lot of ball wastage in the final third of the pitch Trinity's pressure failed to create many clear cut chances.  However they managed to score again before half-time.  A through ball was latched onto Robbie Pearson on the left-hand side of the penalty area.  He was unceremoniously upended by the centre-back from behind, resulting in the award of a penalty.  Despite suggestions by Abbey Grange's Irish centre-back that he was going to blast the ball over the bar, Chris Gardiner stepped up and fired his penalty low and into the net.  2-1 to Trinity.

Against the wind in the second half Trinity performed better.  They nearly scored straight from the restart when Pearson's attempted lob failed to come off.  He is sure to break his goal scoring duck at some point this season.  Trinity grabbed a third goal midway through the second half.  A diagonal ball found Travers in the penalty area.  His shot was stopped on the line.  But Katoro was first to the rebound to make it 3-1, which is how the game finished.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Fallon, Jordan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers 

Subs:  J.Jones (for Katoro), Mullowney (for Fallon)

League

Roundhegians 1 Trinity 4

Daniel Berry came off the bench to score first goal for Trinity, to seal a well deserved 4-1 victory over Roundhegians.  Leroy McIntosh, Stevie Travers and Denis Katoro were also on target as Trinity made it seven consecutive games undefeated in the league.

Leroy McIntosh started and finished the move leading to the first goal, early in the first half.  Collecting the ball on the half way line he dribbled forward and exchanged passes with Travers to reach the penalty area.  In there he turned two defenders before shooting low past the keeper to make it 1-0.  With the wind behind them Trinity were on top in the first half and were playing some excellent attacking football, with wide players McIntosh and Pearson posing a threat to the Roundhegians' defence in particular.  Travers scored a second for Trinity before half-time, rifling the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the area to make it 2-0.

Roundhegians fought back early in the second half.  Aided with a slightly stronger wind behind them they put pressure on the Trinity goal.  A well struck free-kick from just outside the box, near the left touchline, came off the head of Chris Gardiner and beat Yates at the near post to make it 2-1.  Trinity stepped up a gear and came back into the game.  A clean strike from Katoro on the edge of the area zipped past the keeper to make it 3-1.  Shortly afterwards Katoro found himself eight yards from goal with time and space to beat the keeper.  This time his shot hit the post and Berry, who'd just come on as sub, had his shot from the rebound stopped on the line.  However Berry got his first goal for Trinity shortly afterwards.  McIntosh' low cross from the right was met by Berry at the far post, who made no mistake with a low left foot shot to make it 4-1, which is how the game finished.

Team:  Yates; Jordan, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Lambert, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers 

Subs:  Maynard (for Travers), O'Hanrahan (for Lambert), Berry (for Pearson)

League

Trinity 2 Stanningley 2

Two goals from Stevie Travers weren't enough to clinch victory, as Stanningley scored a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw.

It was clear from the start that Stanningley's intentions were to break up the game as much as possible, as they conceded several free-kicks in the opening spell.  This disrupted Trinity's rhythm and as a result few chances were created.  Trinity opened the scoring midway through the first half.  Travers collected the ball in midfield and struck an excellent low shot from outside the box, past the keeper to make it 1-0.  Shortly afterwards Stanningley equalised.  Midfielder Gareth Reynard skipped past Chris Gardiner in midfield and advanced towards goal.  Unchallenged he struck an excellent shot into the top corner of the net from twenty yards out, to make it 1-1. 

The second half saw Trinity take the lead again.  A partially cleared corner fell to Matt Jordan.  His cross found Travers who headed in from close range, to make it 2-1.  Trinity pushed forward in a bid to extend their lead but couldn't create any clear-cut chances against Stanningley's stand-in keeper.  Towards the end it looked as though Trinity would hold onto their lead.  However with four minutes to go Stanningley grabbed an equaliser.  A cross into the area resulted in a shot hitting the bar.  Defender Nicholas Sutcliffe was first to the rebound and he headed past Yates to make it 2-2, which is how the game finished.

Team:  Yates; Jordan, Priestley, Rogers; McIntosh, Fallon, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers 

Subs:  Clubbs (for Rogers), Berry (for Pearson)

Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield (semi-final) [Neutral Ground] 

Trinity 2 Shire Academics 1 (after extra time)

Rayon Maynard scored the winner with his first touch in the first period of extra time, as Trinity beat Shire Academics in the Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield semi-final.  Denis Katoro scored the other goal in the 2-1 victory, which was played at the Altofts ground in Wakefield.

Trinity opened the scoring after ten minutes in strange circumstances.  While attempting to punt the ball up field from the edge of his area the Shire keeper Rob Herd inadvertently blasted the ball against the back of Katoro, who was only a yard away from him.  With Herd half protesting to the referee and half trying to retrieve the situation the ball bounced nicely for Katoro.  He took the ball past the keeper and placed it into the net, to make it 1-0. Chris Gardiner shot over shortly afterwards as Trinity tried to increase their lead.  Shire came back into the game  and created a couple of opportunities.  An attempted McIntosh Owen lob from the edge of the area was saved by Yates in the Trinity goal, as Shire sought to get an equaliser.  They finally levelled the score in the twentieth minute.  A cross from the left found a Shire midfielder six yards from goal.  His mis-hit shot rolled across the face of goal and the prolific Luke Croager was first to it, poking the ball home from close range to make it 1-1.  The rest of the half saw Shire play the better football, as Trinity struggled against the impressive Division Four side who looked well capable of holding their own in Senior A.

Early in the second half a long Shire ball was headed back towards Yates By Martin Clubbs.  However the header was short and Yates was forced to save from the advancing Shire forward.  After that Trinity slowly began to play the better football and put pressure on the Shire goal.  Tom Priestley headed wide following a Gardiner corner and Katoro shot over from just outside the area.  Trinity couldn't score against a tiring Shire team and so the game went into extra-time.

Within five minutes of the restart Trinity made a double substitution, with Mickey Fallon and Rayon Maynard entering the fray.  Within a minute Trinity had scored.  Gardiner's corner reached the far post where Maynard bundled it over from close range, with his first touch of the game.  Maynard's first goal for any Trinity side and more importantly 2-1 to Trinity.  Trinity kept applying the pressure against a Shire side whose players were going down with cramp, in their second extra-time game in five days.  Matt Jordan fired over the bar with his left foot after running onto a through ball, when he could have clinched the game.  The second period again saw Trinity dominate but no additional goal came.  Shire came back into it for the last few minutes but they couldn't force an equaliser.  The final score finished 2-1 to Trinity who advance to the final that will be played on Wednesday 3 May.  

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers 

Subs:  Rogers (for McIntyre), Fallon (for Travers), Maynard (for Pearson)

League

Abbey Grange Adel 0 Trinity 5

Big Tom Priestley and Denis Katoro grabbed two goals apiece as Trinity got over from midweek cup final defeat with a 5-0 victory over Abbey Grange Adel.  Leroy McIntosh scored the other goal as Trinity warmed up for their Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield semi-final with a comfortable win, despite making several changes to their midweek starting eleven.

Trinity opened the scoring in the first half through centre back Tom Priestley.  A deep Mickey Fallon corner was headed back into the danger area by Matt Jordan and Priestley rose above everyone to head past the keeper.  1-0 to Trinity.  A corner from the other wing led to the next goal.  This time Priestley headed in at the far post from Chris Gardiner's corner to make it 2-0.  McIntosh nearly made it 3-0 before half-time when he fired over the bar.  Trinity didn't have it all their own way in the first half.  Abbey Grange competed well in the midfield but their attacks were effectively dealt with by the Trinity defence.

Within a minute of the restart Trinity had extended their lead.  McIntosh rifled the ball past the keeper, after being played through by Jordan, to make it 3-0.  Abbey Grange got more into the game as Trinity rang the changes but they couldn't make a breakthrough.  Katoro his first goal when he rounded the keeper before passing into the goal to make it 4-0.  Then he grabbed his second when he turned and shot low under the keeper from six yards out, to make it 5-0.  Rayon Maynard nearly grabbed his first goal for Trinity when his shot from an acute angle just missed the target.  Final score 5-0.  

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, Rogers; McIntosh, Fallon, Mullowney, Gardiner, Maynard; Jordan, Travers 

Subs:  Katoro (for Travers), Scarsella (for Jordan), McIntyre (for Gardiner)

Leeds & District Senior Cup (final) [Neutral Ground] 

Trinity 0 Leeds Met Carnegie 4

Leeds Met Carnegie were too good for Trinity as they triumphed 4-0 in the Leeds & District Senior Cup Final, at Bracken Edge (home of Yorkshire Amateurs).  The young students' superior fitness and technique proved too much for a Trinity side that competed admirably for all ninety minutes of the game. 

Trinity's intentions were to pressure Leeds Met from the opening whistle in the hope their young opponents would crack.  However their plans took a major jolt as early as the seventh minute when Leeds Met were awarded a highly dubious penalty. A diagonal pass was played into the Trinity penalty area.  Trinity centre-back Tom Priestley sped across the penalty area and made seemingly an excellent sliding challenge on the forward, to send the ball flying for a corner.   Within seconds the Trinity players were surrounding the referee for what the Trinity bench assumed was a dispute on whether it was a goal-kick or a corner.  It soon transpired that the referee had amazingly awarded a penalty.   Despite even the Leeds Met forward stating the ball had been played the referee wasn't going to change his mind.   Yates went the right way but the penalty was placed neatly past him to make it 1-0 to Leeds Met.   Trinity fought back.  Denis Katoro neatly beat the central defender before being challenged by the keeper.  Trinity appealed for a penalty, but the referee wasn't in the mood to right his wrong of earlier.  Leeds Met scored a second shortly afterwards.  Trinity lost the ball in midfield and Leeds Met broke.  A well-struck shot from twenty-five yards out deceived Yates zipping under him and into the back of the net.  2-0.  Lifted by the lead Leeds Met were pressuring Trinity everywhere, not giving the midfield time to play and breaking forward in numbers.  Trinity's best opportunities in the first half were from free-kicks and corners, but they were all well defended and the Leeds Met keeper was never tested.  2-0 at half-time to Leeds Met.

Changes were made at half-time as Trinity sought to get back into the game, knowing the next goal would be crucial.  Unfortunately it was Leeds Met who got it.  A corner from the right was headed in at the near post by an unmarked player, to make it 3-0.  Trinity did eventually test the keeper as they pushed players forward.  Robbie Pearson's low shot was parried by the keeper but a Leeds Met defender was first to the rebound and cleared the danger.  The fourth goal arrived with twenty minutes to go.  Priestley was pressured into playing a short pass to Paul McIntyre just inside the Trinity half.  Unfortunately McIntyre miscontrolled under pressure and the impressive Leeds Met centre-forward raced through to fire the ball low past the advancing Yates.  4-0.  Leroy McIntosh nearly grabbed a consolation when he wriggled through the ball in the Leeds Met area.  However the ball never really got out of his feet and his weak left foot shot was well saved by the Leeds Met keeper's feet.  The final whistle went with Leeds Met coming out 4-0 on top.  A truly impressive team who were probably Trinity's toughest opponents for the last fifteen years, they were deserved winners.  However even though they were outclassed on the night Trinity can be proud of their performance, with Mark Ryan in particular being outstanding.  Trinity can look at the awful penalty decision and think what might of been.  Though rather than dwell on the past they need to bounce back from their disappointment fast, with the Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield semi-final less than a week away.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; Travers, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Scarsella, Katoro

Subs:  McIntosh (for Scarsella), Maynard (for Travers), Rogers (for Clubbs)

League

Collegians 1 Trinity 2

Denis Katoro and Matt Jordan grabbed the goals as Trinity warmed up for the Leeds & District Senior Cup Final with a 2-1 victory over Collegians.

Straight from the kick off Trinity were pressuring their opponents and a number of chances were created.  However the finishing was of poor quality as Collegians survived the Trinity onslaught.  Aussie Mark Scarsella was the main culprit, missing two very good chances in the first half.  Following a Chris Gardiner corner he headed over from close range.  Then following excellent build up play he sliced a shot over the bar from six yards out.  Katoro was thwarted by the Collegians' keeper after racing through on a one-on-one, but it was he who opened the scoring.  Midfielder Mark Ryan played him through on the left hand side of the penalty area.  With the Collegians' defenders appealing for offside Katoro cut inside and placed a shot beyond the keeper into the net.  1-0 to Trinity at half-time.

The second half was disrupted when a Collegians' defender was unfortunately badly injured in the tackle.  As he wasn't able to be taken off the pitch until an ambulance arrived the game was delayed for twenty minutes.  It then resumed on the adjacent pitch which was vacated by the teams who'd just completed their game.  Trinity continued to dominate and they scored their second shortly after the restart.  A short corner resulted in a cross from Mickey Fallon, which was volleyed in at the far post by Jordan.  2-0.  Other chances went begging as Trinity failed to add to the scoreline.  Then in the last minute of the game Collegians grabbed a consolation.  A cross come shot was palmed out by Yates into the path of an onrushing Collegians' midfielder who drove the ball home from close range.  Final score 2-1.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Maynard; Scarsella, Katoro

Subs:  Travers (for McIntosh), Fallon (for Priestley), Pearson (for Maynard)

League

Trinity 6 Modernians 0

Mark Scarsella grabbed four goals as Trinity thrashed bottom of the table Modernians 6-0.  Mark Ryan and Leroy McIntosh scored the other two goals as Trinity won for the third consecutive game, under the watchful eyes of a Leeds Met Carnegie representative.

After creating a couple of early chances Trinity opened the scoring through Scarsella in the opening minutes.  His close range finish following a goal mouth scramble made it 1-0.  A Robbie Pearson long throw set up the next goal shortly afterwards.  His throw was flicked on by Denis Katoro at the near post onto Scarsella, who headed it past the keeper at the second attempt to make it 2-0.  Pearson was again involved with the next goal.  His through ball found Ryan, who rounded the keeper before placing the ball home from the edge of the area to make it 3-0.  Scarsella completed his hat-trick midway through the half.  A long punt from Trinity keeper Jimmy Yates bounced invitingly for him, before he smashed it past the keeper from the edge of the area to make it 4-0.  Trinity scored a fifth before half-time.  Scarsella found himself with time, space and the ball in the Modernians penalty area.  His low shot could have been going wide but it was diverted into the net by a Modernians' defender.  Goal awarded to Scarsella, 5-0 to Trinity.  Other chances to Trinity in the first half fell to Katoro who blasted wide from close range and also had an excellent free-kick that struck the bar.  Scarsella blasted over the bar from close range in a first half that finished 5-0 to Trinity.

With Trinity against the wind in the second half they only managed one more goal.  New signing Mickey Fallon, who last played for Trinity in  2002, played an excellent ball through to Matt Jordan on the right.  Jordan's cross was met by Leroy McIntosh, who had the simple task of passing the ball into the goal to make it 6-0.  Modernians kept on going to the end and created numerous chances through good play and casual Trinity defending.  Yates was called upon on a number of occasions to make point blank saves to preserve the clean sheet.  However overall it was a convincing Trinity victory, 6-0 being the final scoreline.

Team:  Yates; Rogers, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Scarsella, Katoro

Subs:  Clubbs (for McIntyre), Travers (for Katoro), Fallon (for Pearson)

Leeds & District Senior Cup (semi-final) [Neutral Ground] 

Trinity 2 Beeston St Anthony's 1

Mark Scarsella and Stevie Travers scored the goals as Trinity progressed to the final of the Leeds & District Senior Cup with a 2-1 win over  Beeston St. Anthony's.  The victory over the cup holders and current second placed team in the West Yorkshire League was Trinity's best result for years.

At Bracken Edge, home of Yorkshire Amateurs, Trinity started off brightly.  With Robbie Pearson looking an immediate threat down the left wing Trinity took the game to their opposition.  Within the first fifteen minutes Trinity had bagged two goals.  Firstly Scarsella headed over the Beeston keeper from close range, following a Denis Katoro flick on from a free kick.  1-0 to Trinity.  Then Travers hit a sweet volley from the right hand edge of the penalty area, that whizzed low past the keeper and into the net to make it 2-0.  Beeston then demonstrated why they are second in the West Yorkshire League by piling on the pressure, but they were met by the brick wall of the Trinity defence.  After half an hour Beeston reduced the deficit.  Midfielder John Ward headed in from eight yards following a cross from the right, to make it 2-1 which was the half-time score.

Beeston continued to apply the pressure in the second half.  But Trinity's defence continually thwarted them on a progressively harder surface, due to the frost.  In the first ten minutes of the half Beeston came close to equalising when firstly a shot and secondly a free kick just went wide of the post. Big Tom Priestley nearly scored when his free-kick bounced over the Beeston keeper and just cleared the bar.  Beeston forward Sean Jeavons was sent off with thirty minutes to go after a second bookable offence, throwing the ball at a player in a bout of frustration.  However Beeston's introduction of ex-Stanningley forward Eamonn O'Hanlan from the subs bench gave Beeston extra attacking strength.  His direct running with the ball caused Trinity plenty of problems.  Jimmy Yates in the Trinity goal was called upon to make some vital saves and he made an excellent one from point blank range to deny Beeston an equaliser with ten minutes left.  Beeston had another player sent off in the closing stages as they became increasingly frustrated.  Then with a couple of minutes left Trinity nearly scored another goal.  Rayon Maynard's cross was met in the six-yard box by the on-rushing Mark Ryan but excellent last-ditch defending prevented the ball from crossing the line. However shortly after the final whistle blew to signal a 2-1 victory for an elated Trinity.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; Travers, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Scarsella, Katoro

Subs:  McIntosh (for Travers), Maynard (for Katoro)

League

Trinity 4 St Nicholas 3

Stevie Travers grabbed two goals as Trinity defeated St Nicholas 4-3.  Aussie Mark Scarsella, with his first goal for Trinity, and Leroy McIntosh scored the other goals as Trinity recorded their first win in the league since November.

With places up for grabs for the cup semi-final against Beeston St. Anthony's, Trinity started off in a determined mood.  They opened the scoring in the first couple of minutes.  Big Australian centre forward Mark Scarsella hit the post then netted from the rebound, to score his first goal for Trinity. 1-0.  Five minutes later they doubled their lead.  Scarsella drove the ball towards the  goal from the edge of the area and Travers turned it in from six yards out, to make it 2-0. Another five minutes passed then Trinity scored again.  Gardiner's near post corner was driven across goal by McIntosh.  Travers was at the far post to tuck it away, making it 3-0.  St Nicholas rearranged their personnel, pushing their centre back Phil Crampton up front.  He headed in from close range after a cross from the left, to make it 3-1.  Then Gardiner was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area.  Penalty awarded.  Penalty converted by David Hames.  3-2 after only twenty-six minutes.  Before half-time Trinity scored a fourth.  McIntosh poked the ball in from close range following an attempt at goal by Scarsella.  Half-time score 4-2 to Trinity.

Early in the second half Travers appeared to be brought down in the penalty area.  However the referee, under the watchful eye of his assessor, saw no infringement.  Maynard came off the bench halfway through the second half.  His impact was immediate as he took on the opposition defence before setting up a great chance for Gardiner on the edge of the six-yard box.  Unfortunately his shot sliced off his right foot and went wide.  With eight minutes to go St Nicholas grabbed a third goal through Phil Crampton, making it 4-3, to set up a frantic finish.  Unlike the Old Rovers match of a few weeks ago, Trinity managed to hold out and preserve their lead.  Final score 4-3 to Trinity.

Team:  Yates; Rogers, Clubbs, McIntyre; McIntosh, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Scarsella, Travers

Subs:  Maynard (for McIntosh), Birchenall (for Travers)

Terry Marflitt Trophy

Leeds University 1 Trinity 0

An early Chris Ross goal was the difference between the sides as Leeds University ended Trinity's involvement in this season's Terrry Marflitt Trophy, with a 1-0 victory.  

Leeds University took the lead early in the game.  Forward Chris Ross hit a speculative shot from thirty yards out, which flew over Yates' head and into the Trinity goal.  1-0 to University.  Katoro was presented with a chance to equalise after a poor clearance from the University keeper.  However an unfortunate bobble forced him to fluff his shot, which went tamely wide.  Katoro then burst through on the right, but he shot wide with Travers' screaming for a cross in the six-yard box.  Dermot Grumley burst through for the University, but both his first shot and the rebound was saved by Yates.  Other than that both defences were on top, in a first half where the University had the edge.

The second half was similar in terms of chances being at a premium.  Both defences coped comfortably with the opposition's attacks to the extent that both goalkeepers were barely tested.  Stewart Walker sliced a shot wide for the University when he was played through.  Birchenall's shot from just outside the area was never in danger of being on target as it drifted wide.  Half chances fell to Jordan and Priestley in the area but an equaliser never came, as Trinity were defeated for the first time in a cup competition this season.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Jordan, Rogers, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers

Subs:  Scarsella (for Travers), Birchenall (for McIntyre)

Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield

Wortley 0 Trinity 3

Second half goals from Denis Katoro, Chris Gardiner and Mark Ryan secured Trinity's passage to the semi-finals of the Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield, as they overcame Division One side Wortley 3-0. 

Playing downhill in the first half, Wortley quickly demonstrated why they were near the top of their division.  Their defence looked solid and organised, hardly giving Katoro and Travers a sniff of a chance.  In addition they were competitive in all areas of the pitch as well as well as being capable of playing good football.  However very few chances were created by both teams in the first forty-five minutes.  Katoro's shot from outside the area was comfortably saved, despite bouncing awkwardly in front of the keeper.  Wortley nearly took the lead just before half-time, when a header thundered off the bar following a corner. 

The second half was equally as competitive, but with Trinity playing downhill they started to create a few more chances.  Travers fired the ball over the bar from inside the area. Pearson rushed a shot, which eventually went out for a throw-in, when he should have done better.  Then recent Australian signing Mark Scarsella headed over following a Gardiner corner.  Extra-time was looking a distinct possibility, but then Trinity made the breakthrough.  With twenty minutes remaining Gardiner's near-post free-kick was headed in by Katoro, to make it 1-0.  Ten minutes later Trinity added a second.  After breaking away quickly Scarsella laid the ball back to Gardiner on the edge of the area.  His left foot shot found the roof of the net to make it 2-0.  With five minutes to go Wortley were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty.  The penalty-taker sent Yates the wrong way, but his penalty hit the post  and went wide.  With a minute to go Trinity wrapped up their victory.  Katoro teed up Ryan inside the area, who crashed the ball home to make it 3-0.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers

Subs:  Scarsella (for Travers), Rogers (for McIntosh)

League

Old Rovers 3 Trinity 3

A Stevie Travers brace and a Denis Katoro goal wasn't enough to secure victory for Trinity, as they surrendered a three goal lead in drawing 3-3 with Old Rovers. 

With Katoro in lively form Trinity looked a threat from the kick off.  They took the lead through Katoro.  His well driven shot from twenty yards found the bottom corner to make it 1-0.  Trinity doubled their lead when Katoro robbed a defender in the penalty area, before laying the ball across the area to Travers who made no mistake from close range.  2-0.  Mullowney nearly found himself on the scoresheet when his low left foot shot from twenty yards beat the keeper but went wide.  Old Rovers also had chances in a first half that was full of good football from both sides.

Chris Gardiner nearly scored soon after the break with a fantastic strike, from just outside the area.  Sabberton in the Old Rovers goal spectacularly tipped the shot onto the post before Rovers cleared.  Fifteen minutes into the second half Trinity did extend their lead.  Gardiner's through ball was met by Pearson, whose lob over the keeper found Travers.  Again he made no mistake from close range, to make the score 3-0.  Trinity were looking comfortable at this stage but Old Rovers were in no mood to throw in the towel.  A partially cleared corner found Rovers midfielder Nick Humble on the edge of the area.  His superb volley flew into the net to make it 3-1.  Then they scored a second.  A free-kick floated into the Trinity penalty area dropped to Paul Dodd on the right.  His inch perfect cross was headed in at the far post by Jamie Stewart to make it 3-2.  Rovers appeared to be full of running against a tiring Trinity who were struggling to hold on.  An equaliser finally came in the last ten minutes.  Dodd's shot evaded the grasp of Yates and Ben Smith was first to the ball to bang it into the unguarded goal.  3-3.  Travers' shot from outside the area just before full-time was Trinity's last attempt at goal, but Sabberton saved it comfortably.  A frustrating scoreline for Trinity after starting the game so well, but probably a fair scoreline bearing in mind Old Rovers' contribution to an exciting encounter.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; Pearson, Jordan, Mullowney, Gardiner, Maynard; Katoro, Travers

Subs:  Scarsella (for Katoro), Rogers (for Pearson)

Terry Marflitt Trophy

Bramley Juniors 1 Trinity 3

Two late goals by Matt Jordan and Stevie Travers ensured that Trinity kept up their excellent record in cup games this season as they defeated Division One side Bramley Juniors.   Tom Priestley scored the other goal as a 3-1 victory saw them progress to the next round of the Terry Marflitt Trophy. 

Bramley started the game brightly with midfielder Denis Metcalf influential in the opening phase of play.  The ball was mainly in the Trinity half with the young Bramley side proving more than a match for their Senior A opponents.  However it was Trinity who created the bulk of chances in the first half.  Pearson twice raced through, only to toe poke weak shots in the goalkeeper's direction.  Katoro drove a shot wide from twenty yards out, when perhaps he could moved closer to goal with the ball. Travers headed over following a Gardiner free-kick.  Bramley themselves had a couple of good chances.  Trinity keeper Jimmy Yates made a spectacular save from a Jonathan Borras shot, acrobatically turning the ball over the bar.  Then Borras sent a header from two yards out over the bar following a swirling Metcalf corner.  Trinity took the lead before half-time.  Priestley headed in at the far post following a Gardiner corner, to score his second goal in two games and more importantly to make it 1-0 to Trinity.

Bramley equalised shortly into the second half.  A deep cross from the right was headed in by Borras to make it 1-1.  From then on it was an open game, very much end-to-end stuff.  Gardiner fired wide of the goal from close range and Travers had a shot saved, as Trinity went in search of the winner.  It looked as though the game was heading towards extra-time.  Then with five minutes to go Trinity grabbed a second.  A corner arrived at the far post, where the unmarked Jordan controlled the ball before blasting it into the net from close range.  2-1.  Stevie Travers made sure of the victory a few minutes later, neatly placing the ball past the keeper from ten yards out to make it 3-1.  The game was marred by a serious injury to Leroy McIntosh.  He sustained an ankle ligament injury following an off-the-ball 'challenge' from the Bramley centre-back, which could sideline him for up to eight weeks.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Jordan, Birchenall, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers

Subs:  Maynard (for McIntosh), Rogers (for Birchenall)

League

Leeds University 4 Trinity 1

Stewart Walker scored a hat-trick for Leeds University as the league leaders welcomed Trinity into the new year with a 4-1 thumping.  Tom Priestley grabbed Trinity's consolation.

A bright start from Trinity suggested Leeds University were going to be in for a tough afternoon.  Midfielders Jim 'Mullers' Mullowney and Chris Gardiner both had shots from the edge of the area that narrowly missed the target.  Katoro and Travers were also proving to be a handful up front.  However the University gradually got to grips with the game and could have been awarded a penalty when lively forward Chris Ross collapsed in the area following a Martin Clubbs challenge.  Katoro was then felled when University keeper Laverty lunged for the ball.  Again no penalty was awarded.  University took the lead midway through the half.  Ross found the unmarked Walker eight yards from goal who smacked the ball home to make it 1-0.  Not long afterwards the lead was doubled.  Midfielder Bobby Stephenson, last season's Trinity FC Online Opposition Player of the Year, played a one two on the edge of the area before firing for goal.  Diving to his left Yates got both hands to the ball but couldn't prevent it going in to the net.  2-0 to the University.  Travers and Katoro both had chances to reduce the deficit for Trinity.  Travers had a shot well saved by Laverty, and Katoro burst through on the right only to shoot just wide of the near post.  Walker got his second of the game before half-time.  A through ball  resulted in Ross beating Yates to the ball on the edge of the area.  His accurate cross from the left was headed in at the far post by Walker, to make it 3-0.

Trinity picked up the pace in the second half but breaching the well organised University defence was proving to be a difficult task.  University scored again with twenty minutes to go.  After making a good challenge Rogers then gave the ball away on the edge of the area.  The ball was played through to the unmarked Walker who gave Yates no chance from ten yards out to complete his hat-trick, making the score 4-0.  Tom Priestley scored in the last ten minutes, heading in from a Gardiner free-kick to score his first of the season to make it 4-1.  However this proved to be little more than a consolation as Trinity started 2006 with a painful defeat.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, Rogers; McIntosh, Mullowney, Birchenall, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers

Subs:  Maynard (for Mullowney), Curran (for McIntosh),  McIntyre (for Rogers)

Leeds & District Senior Cup (Quarter Final)

East End Park 4 Trinity 6

Skipper Matt Jordan scored the first of six as Trinity marched through to the semi-finals of the Leeds & District Senior Cup.  Denis Katoro and Leroy McIntosh scored two apiece and Ian Birchenall grabbed the other as Trinity defeated West Yorkshire League side East End Park 6-4.

After dominating the early exchanges Trinity took the lead in the tenth minute.  Jordan's left foot half volley from just inside the area gave McGuire in the East End Park goal no chance, to put Trinity 1-0 up.  Shortly afterwards Trinity scored again.  Katoro made space for himself in the area, before firing low past McGuire to make it 2-0.  Midway through the half Trinity got a third.  Big Tom Priestley nodded down a Gardiner cross into the path of the unmarked McIntosh, who made no mistake from a yard out to make it 3-0.  Stevie Travers came close to scoring a fourth when he headed over from close range.  Just after that East End Park narrowed the deficit.  Michael Walpole guided the ball past Yates, after a free kick had been flicked on into his path, to make it 3-1.

Both teams came out for the second half, knowing that the next goal would be crucial.  East End Park nearly got it when their tricky left winger beat a couple of Trinity defenders but his shot flew over the bar.  McIntosh grabbed the next goal for Trinity.  Following a little bit of trickery on the right he fired a long range shot past the despairing dive of McGuire to make it 4-1.  East End Park bounced back straight away.  A shot was spilled into the path of Jon Drinkall whose close range shot made it 4-2.  The next goal was scored by Trinity.  A long Priestley clearance bounced over McGuire in the East End Park goal.  The onrushing Katoro was first to the ball to place it into the empty goal, making it 5-2.  Then came arguably Trinity's goal of the game. Gardiner's cross was headed into the path of Birchenall by Mark Ryan.  Birchenall's excellent half volley from twelve yards out gave McGuire no chance, to make it 6-2.  Trinity seemed home and dry, though East End Park scored two goals in the last ten minutes to make the score more respectable.  Centre Forward Kyle Wilkinson was allowed to turn and shoot from outside the area.  His shot crashed into the roof of the net to make it 6-3.  Wilkinson scored again five minutes from time blasting home six yards from goal following a goalmouth scramble, to make it 6-4.  The final whistle which followed signified that Trinity had reached their first semi-final since 1999, and were one game away from an Elland Road final.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, Rogers; McIntosh, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers

Subs:  Maynard (for Pearson), Birchenall (for Katoro),  McIntyre (for Travers)

League

Stanningley 3 Trinity 2

Chris Gardiner got on the scoresheet but Trinity's faltering league form continued as they were defeated 3-2 by Stanningley.

Trinity started brightly enough, playing some good football but without really testing the Stanningley keeper.  However Stanningley are never a pushover and they competed well, particularly in the middle of the park.  Stanningley took the lead when an inswinging Kieran Blair corner flew straight in the net, to make it 1-0.  It didn't take Trinity long to equalise.  Robbie Pearson strolled past the Stanningley right back before cutting the ball back for midfielder Gardiner.  His first time left foot shot from eight yards out hit the back of the net, to make it 1-1.  Leroy McIntosh was presented with a chance to put Trinity in front following a Jim Mullowney cross.  However he mis-timed his header from five yards out to give Stanningley a let off.  Stanningley then took the lead.  Jimmy Yates was forced to handle the ball in the area following a back pass, giving away an indirect free kick eight yards from goal.  While the Trinity players were debating who was going to charge the ball Gareth Reynard fired the ball into the net, to make it 2-1 to Stanningley.  Near the end of the half Denis Katoro flashed a first time shot just wide of the post, but Trinity went into the half-time break 2-1 behind.

Early in the second half Trinity equalised.  Again Pearson beat the full back on the outside.  This time his cross was diverted into the net by a Stanningley defender, to make it 2-2.  Trinity looked to be the more likely winners but it was Stanningley who took the lead for the third time.  A Damien Francis shot from outside the area crept under Yates' body, to make it 3-2.  Trinity couldn't force an equaliser for a third time though Matt Jordan's last minute header nearly earned a point.  The final score ended 3-2 to Stanningley.

Team:  Yates; McIntyre, Priestley, Rogers; Mullowney, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, McIntosh

Subs:  Travers (for Mullowney), Maynard (for Rogers), Birchenall (for McIntyre) 

Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield

Trinity 2 Collegians 1

Denis Katoro scored both goals as Trinity reached the quarter finals of the Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield, with a 2-1 victory over fellow Senior A side Collegians.  A visit to Wortley awaits Trinity in the next round.

Two weeks after recording their record result, 12-1, Trinity lined up against the same opposition in Collegians.  This was never going to be the same result as renowned cup fighters Collegians had a much stronger line up.  Katoro scored his first goal with fifteen minutes on the clock.  A Chris Gardiner through ball should have been cleared by the Collegians' defenders.  However they failed to defend it properly leaving Katoro free in the penalty area, where he placed the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0 to Trinity.  Katoro scored his second ten minuted later.  A neat Robbie Pearson found Katoro twelve yards from goal.  With Collegians claiming offside Katoro was left with time to stroke the ball past the keeper to make it 2-0.  Collegians cut the deficit not long afterwards.  Forward Ricky Lodge's cross from the left was met by his brother Jonny Lodge, whose low first time shot found the back of the net to make it 2-1.  Trinity did have other chances in the half mainly from set pieces which they failed to convert.

Chances were at a premium for both sides in the second half.  Collegians nearly squeezed in an equaliser following a goal mouth scramble, but Jimmy Yates managed to pounce on the ball just before it crossed over the line.  Stevie Travers forced the Collegians' keeper to make a dramatic save after a right foot drive from the edge of the area.  No further goals were scored and Trinity progressed to the quarter finals of the Old Boys' Shield

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; Mullowney, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, McIntosh

Subs:  Travers (for McIntosh), Maynard (for Katoro), Birchenall (for Mullowney) 

Formation: 3-5-2

Leeds & District Senior Cup

Trinity 3 Rothwell Athletic 1

Trinity provided a cup-shock in reaching the quarter finals of the Leeds & District Senior Cup, by beating last season's finalists Rothwell Athletic from the West Yorkshire League Premier Division.  Denis Katoro, Chris Gardiner and Leroy McIntosh grabbed the goals in a memorable 3-1 victory.

Within ten minutes of the kick off Trinity took the lead.  Racing onto a Gardiner though ball Denis Katoro outpaced the Rothwell defence and placed the ball past the keeper to give Trinity a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later Rothwell missed a great chance to equalise after a corner, as a Rothwell player headed wide from a couple of yards out. Leroy McIntosh nearly made it 2-0 stretching to send a diving header just wide of the post following a Gardiner cross.  Trinity continued to play good football for the rest of the half.  Rothwell's main threat came from set pieces.  

Not long into the second half Trinity were awarded a penalty when Katoro was brought down in the area by the Rothwell left back.  Gardiner coolly converted the spot kick to make it 2-0.  Five minutes Trinity scored again.  Rothwell failed to clear a corner and McIntosh was at hand to place the ball past the keeper from eight yards out, to make it 3-0.   Matt Jordan had a chance to score another goal for Trinity when he found himself with a one-on-one with the keeper.  However his shot was well saved.  Rothwell were awarded a penalty fifteen minutes from time after Dave Rogers was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area.  This was converted to make the score 3-1.  However Rothwell couldn't add any further goals as Trinity held on to record an excellent victory.  The support from the sidelines from the second team players, after their game had been postponed, was well appreciated.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, Rogers; Mullowney, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, McIntosh

Subs:  Maynard (for McIntosh), McIntyre (for Mullowney) 

League

Trinity 12 Collegians 1

Denis Katoro scored four goals as Trinity broke the record for their highest ever victory, with a comprehensive 12-1 destruction of bottom of the table Collegians.

It took Trinity only a minute to open the scoring.  A Robbie Pearson cross was dropped by the keeper, leaving Leroy McIntosh with the simple task of tapping the ball into the empty goal to make it 1-0.  Katoro scored the next goal following an excellent move.  Tom Priestley's long pass found Pearson who turned it inside to McIntosh.  His inch perfect cross with the outside of his foot found Katoro at the back post.  He let the ball bounce once before  smashing it past the keeper to make it 2-0.  A long range Ian Birchenall shot made it 3-0.  Then Katoro latched onto a through ball before passing it past the keeper to make it 4-0.  Katoro completed his hat-trick when he rounded the keeper before scoring to make it 5-0.  McIntosh scored his second of the game, crashing the ball past the keeper from the edge of the area to make it 6-0.

The second half saw Trinity continue to bombard the Collegians' goal in the same manner as they had in the first half.  Skipper Matt Jordan headed in from close range to make it 7-0.  Then Chris Gardiner scored from the penalty spot to make it 8-0, though he was fortunate to be allowed to retake it after firing his first effort above the bar before the referee had blown his whistle to allow him to take it.  Katoro scored his fourth of the game, side footing past the keeper to make it 9-0.  Then long standing crowd favourite Jim 'Mullers' Mullowney got in on the act by scoring the next goal.  An excellent move involving Gardiner, Ryan and Katoro was completed when Katoro laid the ball onto Mullowney.  His close range shot beat the keeper to make it 10-0. Collegians scored a goal to narrow the deficit slightly.  While trying to head the ball clear, Paul McIntyre could only manage to divert it into his own net to make it 10-1.  He nearly made amends with a long-range shot that went narrowly wide. Stevie Travers scored from the penalty spot to regain the ten goal lead, making it 11-0.  Travers scored his second of the game to complete the scoring.  His shot from inside the area beat the keeper to make it 12-1.  

Collegians revisit Trinity in two weeks time in the Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield.  No doubt they'll arrive much better prepared than this time, when a few players arrived just before the kick off.  However that can't take away from a historic Trinity performance.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, Rogers; Birchenall, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, McIntosh

Subs:  McIntyre (for Pearson), Travers (for McIntosh), Mullowney (for Jordan) 

League

Trinity 1 Roundhegians 2 

Despite dominating possession and taking the lead Trinity were beaten 2-1 by Roundhegians, a result that leaves them struggling at the wrong end of the table.

Like the previous Saturday Trinity came out of the blocks quickly and and produced some quality football from the opening whistle.  However Roundhegians showed great resilience, particularly their defence who thwarted the Trinity attacks repeatedly.  Although they dominated possession Trinity failed to create any clear cut chances.  Steve Wales, deputising in the Roundhegians' goal, didn't have any difficult shots to save in the first half.

Trinity finally took the lead in the second half.  Mark Ryan's low shot from twelve yards found the corner of net, to make it 1-0 to Trinity.  Trinity had an excellent chance to increase the lead when a Mullowney cross found Katoro four yards from goal.  However he was overstretching for the ball and his weak header fell straight into the arms of Wales.  Roundhegians made them pay for this miss shortly afterwards.  Imran Mughal beat two defenders before firing low past Yates from the edge of the area, to make it 1-1.  Trinity continued to dominate possession and were virtually camped in the Roundhegians half, yet they failed to create any clear cut chances.  Big Tom Priestley was sent up front in a bid to make the breakthrough.  However it was Roundhegians who scored the final goal of the game to take the points on one of their breakaways.  Jimmy Pirie's drive from just inside the area was too strong for Yates to hold and flew into the net, to make it 2-1 to Roundhegians.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, Rogers; Mullowney, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, McIntosh

Subs:  Birchenall (for Mullowney), McIntyre (for Rogers), Travers (for Katoro)

League

Trinity 5 Leeds Medics 2 

Denis Katoro scored two goals as Trinity beat last season's champions Leeds Medics 5-2, to record their first league win of the season.  Leroy McIntosh, John Hobbs and Ian Birchenall added the other goals in a determined Trinity performance. 

Unlike previous games Trinity were quickly out of their starting blocks with Katoro and McIntosh harrying the Medics' defence at every opportunity.  Katoro opened the scoring early in the first half with a controversial goal.  The Medics' defence momentarily stopped thinking the ball had gone out of play.  Pearson carried on and crossed the ball into Katoro who bundled the ball into the back of the net, to make it 1-0.  McIntosh scored the second not long afterwards.  Running onto a Gardiner through ball he took the ball round the keeper before passing it into the net, to make it 2-0.  McIntosh scored again when his first time shot was turned around the post by the keeper.  However Trinity didn't have to wait too long for their third.  A corner broke to Katoro in the area, who smashed the ball in from close range courtesy of a deflection to make it 3-0.  Medics aren't the champions for nothing and they fought back, forcing a number of corners which Trinity defended well.  They managed to get a goal before half-time through Richard Robinson, who has a fine scoring record against Trinity.  After bringing down a deep cross from the left he fired a shot into the net from twelve yards, to make it 3-1.

Medics put on two substitutes at half-time in a bid to change the game.  However not many chances were created by either team for around twenty minutes.  Then Trinity conceded a penalty when Pearson brought down a Medics' midfielder in the penalty area.  Robinson tucked the penalty neatly away to make it 3-2.  He could have equalised shortly afterwards but his close range shot went straight into the arms of Yates in the Trinity goal.  Medics were unfortunate when one of their centre backs got injured and couldn't carry on playing.  As they had made all three of their subs they were down to ten men.  Trinity took advantage of this to score two goals in the last five minutes to win the game.  Firstly John Hobbs turned the ball in from close range after a pass from Gardiner, to make it 4-2.  Then Ian Birchenall stroked the ball into the back of the net from eight yards out after some quick Trinity build-up play, to make it 5-2.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, Rogers; Mullowney, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, McIntosh

Subs:  Hobbs (for Mullowney), Birchenall (for Pearson), McIntyre (for Clubbs)

League

Yorkshire Bank 4 Trinity 1 

Trinity suffered their biggest league defeat since November 2003 as Yorkshire Bank stormed to a 4-1 victory, leaving Trinity with just one point from three league games.

The Bank opened the scoring in the very first minute.  After dribbling across the pitch midfielder Richard McGough unchallenged shot from the edge of the area went past the despairing dive of Jimmy Yates to make it 1-0.  Ten minutes later the Bank added a second.  Centre forward Andy Clarke turned his marker in the penalty area before firing low past Yates to make it 2-0.  Despite Trinity's efforts the Bank appeared stronger in the challenge and were dominating the play.  One of the Bank midfielders beat four players with an excellent dribble in the penalty area, but was prevented from shooting by a tremendous last ditch challenge from Martin Clubbs.  Trinity came close to scoring before half-time.  Mark Ryan's header looked to be going in but the Bank keeper made a finger tip save to stop it entering the goal.

Stevie Travers burst through early in the second half to find himself with just the keeper to beat.  However his shot came off the keeper's feet and went agonisingly past the post.  Shortly afterwards the Bank scored again.  McGough headed past Yates from close range to make it 3-0.  Travers came close again before Katoro finally scored for Trinity.  His well drilled shot from eight yards out made it 3-1 and gave Trinity hope.  However the Bank grabbed a fourth when right back Richard Anderson ventured forward and smashed the ball home as it broke loose in the area, to make it 4-1.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Jordan, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers

Subs:  Birchenall (for Pearson), Rogers (for McIntyre)

Leeds & District Senior Cup

FC Headingley 2 Trinity 2 (after extra time, 4-3 to Trinity on penalties) 

Jimmy Yates was the Trinity hero as he saved two penalties, as Trinity beat FC Headingley 4-3  in a tense penalty shootout to progress to the next round of the Leeds & District Senior Cup.  Denis Katoro and Leroy McIntosh had scored the goals in normal time as Trinity came back from 2-0 down to force extra time. 

Senior B side FC Headingley took the lead in the first half.  Trinity lost possession in their own half allowing FC Headingley to break.  Jimmy Yates couldn't keep hold of a shot from the edge of the area and FC Headingley forward Charlie Allard was first to the rebound, putting the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0.  Trinity who had played good football before the goal, continued to play well but struggled to create any clear cut chances against a resolute FC Headingley defence.  Robbie Pearson's long range shot that flashed wide was Trinity's closest effort of the first half.

The second half saw Trinity continue to probe for an equaliser.  It looked as though they had got one when Leroy McIntosh broke through and lobbed the keeper, but his effort went narrowly over.  On the hour FC Headingley scored their second against the run of play.  Breaking through on the left FC Headingley forward Matthew Zweck attempted to lob Yates.  His first effort was saved but he followed it up to bundle the ball into the net to make it 2-0.  Denis Katoro's introduction immediately brightened up the Trinity attack.  His forceful running caused the FC Headingley defence problems straight away.  It was Katoro who narrowed the deficit for Trinity, shooting past the keeper from close range following a goalmouth scramble.   Then in the last ten minutes of the game Leroy McIntosh forced an equaliser, guiding the ball past the keeper with the outside of his right foot following a Tom Priestley flick on to make it 2-2.

Extra time saw Trinity on top for most of it, but no further goals were scored.  McIntosh had a long range shot that some observers thought had bounced over the line after striking the underside of the bar.  However the referee wasn't in a good enough position to be able to give a goal.

So to penalties with first strike to FC Headingley.  Their first penalty was well placed to Yates' right, 1-0.  Katoro coolly converted his for Trinity, 1-1.  Yates guessed correctly to save the next.  Then Gardiner scored, had to retake it for shooting before the referee's whistle and then scored again to make it 2-1 to Trinity.  Yates saved the next one, before Adam Williams converted his to give Trinity a 3-1 lead.  FC Headingley converted their next to make it 3-2.  Priestley could have won the game for Trinity with the next penalty but he blasted it high and wide.  With FC Headingley's next penalty finding the back of the net to make it 3-3 it was left to Trinity's skipper Matt Jordan to try to win the game for Trinity.  He kept a cool head to score to give Trinity a 4-3 penalty shootout victory.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; Mullowney, Ryan, Jordan, Gardiner, Pearson; McIntosh, Travers

Subs:  Williams (for Mullowney), Katoro (for Travers), Rogers (for Clubbs), 

League

Western Juniors 1 Trinity 0 

A deflected first half goal was enough to consign Trinity to their first defeat since February, as newly promoted Western Juniors held on to win 1-0.

A tight first half saw Trinity have the most of the chances.  Martin Clubbs header was cleared off the line and Leroy McIntosh had a close range effort blocked.  Robbie Pearson burst through on the left but his shot went wide of the post.  However it was Western Juniors who took the lead with their first chance midway through the first half.  Breaking through on the right after Trinity cheaply lost possession near the half-way line Steve Palfrey cut the ball back for his team-mate, midfielder Kennan Ross, who was running through.  His first-time shot took a deflection off Martin Clubbs and went past Jimmy Yates in the Trinity goal to make it 1-0.  Denis Katoro nearly equalised.  After playing a one-two with Stevie Travers his shot went just went wide of the post.  Then Travers went close himself with a diving header from close range.

Half-time saw a change in Trinity tactics with Adam Williams coming on.  However a resolute Western Juniors defence prevented Trinity from making a break through.  Despite further changes in tactics and personnel Trinity couldn't grab an equaliser.  In fact Western Juniors nearly increased their lead near the end when Yates made an excellent save to turn the ball over the bar.  1-0 is how the score remained, to leave Trinity with just one point from two league games played.

Team:  Yates; Clubbs, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Mullowney, Ryan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers

Subs:  Williams (for Mullowney), Rogers (for Clubbs), Maynard (for Katoro)

Terry Marflitt Trophy (Preliminary Round)

Sandal Wanderers 0 Trinity 3 

Stevie Travers scored for the third consecutive game as Trinity progressed to the next round of the Terry Marflitt Trophy, with a 3-0 victory over Division One side Sandal Wanderers.  Matt Jordan and Chris Gardiner completed the scoring with their first goals of the season.

With the wind behind in the first half Trinity had the majority of the play.  However a lot of moves broke down due to over hit forward balls that carried in the wind.  Travers had a volley that was well saved by the keeper and Clubbs headed over following a Gardiner corner.  Trinity finally took the lead five minutes before half time.  Travers controlled a Leroy McIntosh pass on his chest, before firing the ball past the keeper from ten yards out to make it 1-0.

Matt Jordan doubled Trinity's lead early in the second half.  After robbing the ball from a Sandal defender he chipped the keeper to make it 2-0.  Chris Gardiner scored Trinity's third.  Receiving the ball from Travers he sidestepped the centre half before placing the ball past the keeper to make it 3-0.  Travers, McIntosh and Rayon Maynard all had chances to extend Trinity's lead which they failed to convert.  To their credit Sandal continued to put in 100% effort for the rest of the game, but they never really looked like scoring.  3-0 was the final score as Trinity progressed to the next round.

Team:  Yates; Williams, Clubbs, McIntyre; McIntosh, Mullowney, Jordan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers

Subs:  Maynard (for Katoro)

Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield (1st Round)

Trinity 4 Pinefleet Wolfreton 3 

Denis Katoro scored a hat-trick as Trinity beat Pinefleet Wolfreton 4-3 to advance to the next round of the Yorkshire Old Boys' Shield.  Stevie Travers scored the other goal in the victory.

Against a rugged Pinefleet team, Trinity found themselves a goal down within the first couple of minutes.  A speculative shot from forty yards out beat the despairing reach of Jimmy Yates to put the Hull side 1-0 up.  Trinity's attempts to equalise were thwarted by some tremendous saves from the impressive Pinefleet keeper.  Having had his first shot saved Leroy McIntosh then had his follow up from the rebound also saved.  Tom Priestley headed over following a corner.  Katoro beat the offside trap but his shot to the keeper's left was well saved.  Then the keeper made a fantastic Gordon Banks type save following a Katoro header.  Katoro finally grabbed an equalise midway through the half, firing past the keeper from ten yards after receiving a pass from strike partner Stevie Travers.   Pinefleet regained the lead not long after.  Breaking through on the left a shot was saved by Yates.  However Pinefleet managed to squeeze the ball into the net in the goalmouth scramble that followed, to put them 2-1 up.  Just before half-time Trinity equalised again.  A Chris Gardiner free-kick was headed down by Priestley into the path of Travers.  He made no mistake from two yards out to make the score 2-2.

The second half was equally as competitive as the first with few clear cut chances created.  Gardiner hit the bar from close range.  Priestley had a long range shot that narrowly went over the bar.  Midway through the half Katoro scored his second of the game to put Trinity in the lead.  Receiving the ball from the industrious Mark Ryan he advanced on goal, before smashing the ball through the keeper's legs to make it 3-2.  With fifteen minutes to go Katoro completed his hat-trick.  After robbing a defender he beat another, before placing the ball past the keeper to make it 4-2.  Trinity had to endure an anxious last ten minutes after they conceding another goal.  An unmarked Pinefleet player headed in following a corner.  However Trinity managed to hold on and advance into the next round.

Team:  Yates; Williams, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Ryan, Jordan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers

Subs:  Jones (for Travers), Clubbs (for Williams)

League

Trinity 2 Old Rovers 2 

Stevie Travers and Matt Jordan scored the goals as Trinity came back from behind twice, to draw 2-2 with Old Rovers in their first league game of the season.

Old Rovers opened the scoring early in the first half.  After beating the lunge of Tom Priestley, Rovers forward Paul Dodd cut in from the right and crossed to the far post where the lively Jamel Mankouri headed in from close range to make the score 1-0.  Travers came close to equalising for Trinity but the first half finished 1-0.   

The second half saw Trinity increase the tempo in a bid to get an equaliser.  They finally got it midway through the second half.  Sabberton in the Rovers goal saved a close range Mark Ryan but the ball fell invitingly to Travers who made no mistake to make it 1-1.  Shortly afterwards Rovers regained their lead.  The unmarked Mankouri scored his second, lobbing Jimmy Yates from the edge of the area to make it 2-1.  Trinity bounced back again.  Skipper Matt Jordan drilled the ball home from the edge of the area after the ball fell invitingly for him to make the score 2-2.  At that point Trinity looked the more likely winners.  But it was Rovers who had the best chance to win the game near the end.  Mankouri had a good chance to claim his hat-trick but he failed to hit the target from close range.  Overall a final score of 2-2 was fair for both sides.

Team:  Yates; Williams, Priestley, McIntyre; McIntosh, Ryan, Jordan, Gardiner, Pearson; Katoro, Travers

Subs:  Jones (for Pearson), Rogers (for McIntyre)

Pre-season Friendlies

Wortley 1 Trinity 3
Centralians 0 Trinity 0
Trinity 5 Cross Flatts 2
Headingley Fusion 2 Trinity 1
Golcar II 3 Trinity 7
Griffordians 2 Trinity 3
Trinity 3 Trinity II 2

Trinity started off their pre-season campaign by beating up and coming Division One side Wortley 3-1.  Denis Katoro, with two, and Stevie Travers were the scorers.

Cross Flatts from the Sunday Combination were the next side to get defeated.  Chris Gardiner, Dave Rogers, Richard Lambert, Denis Katoro and Dean Holloway grabbed the goals in a 5-2 victory.

Headingley Fusion, last season's  Work.com league champions, then defeated Trinity 2-1 in a close midweek game.  Dean Holloway scored an excellently executed free-kick.  However that wasn't enough to prevent what turned out to be Trinity's only loss in the pre-season campaign.

Huddersfield side Golcar, from the West Riding County Amateur League were Trinity's next opposition.  Golcar, with Trinity's biggest critic Rob Morris in their midfield couldn't contain a rampant Trinity side who went back to Leeds with a 7-3 victory under their belts.  John Hobbs and Jermaine Jones both scored two goals apiece.  Leroy McIntosh, Matt Jordan and Tom Priestley grabbed the other goals in an excellent display.

Senior B side Griffordians came back from two goals down to equalise in Trinity's next game. However Jermaine Jones scored his second of the game to clinch a 3-2 victory.  Denis Katoro was the other scorer.

Trinity finished off their pre-season campaign against their own second team.  Jim 'Mullers' Mullowney's two goals in the last ten minutes of the game helped to clinch victory.  John Hobbs scored the other goal in a 3-2 victory