Wilkin praises players after Saints earn three points

Brackley Town's Richard Batchelor has a shot charged down against Gainsborough Trinity

Saints beat Gainsborough Trinity 3-2 in Saturday’s clash at St James Park where Pablo Mills bagged a brace, including the late winner. Saints had been pegged back to 2-2 after Richard Batchelor was sent off, as they saw their two-goal advantage wiped out, but Mills hit the winner.

Goals in each half from Mills and new boy James Akintunde had put Saints in control but Batchelor got a second caution when handling the ball to gift Trinity an own goal. With Saints down to ten men Mark Newsham equalised but Mills popped up to grab the winner.

Wilkin said: “It’s great to get three points but even more pleasing was the manner in which we got them and the performance. Going down to ten men really rocked us but the players showed plenty of heart and desire, they kept working hard and dug in when they needed to.

“The players knew the importance of getting three points and I thought they were fantastic. It was a needless sending-off but I don’t want to dwell on that incident because we put in a strong team display.

“It was unusual for Pablo Mills to get two goals but I’m delighted he did, he took his second goal very well.”