Bury defeated Gainsborough Trinity 4:3 in the FA Trophy final on 26 September 2026. The match ended with the visitors falling short despite a spirited performance. It was a final that delivered drama without the comfort of a comfortable margin.
By then, this was the kind of contest where every goal carried weight. The hosts came in with momentum from recent outings, having scored 18 goals in three matches before the final. Gainsborough showed resilience too, particularly in their 3:0 win over Lemin-gton on 22 September.
And here's the thing about finals — they rarely look like league games. Both sides created chances, though the statistics tell only part of the story. Bury registered 86 attacks to their opponents' 83, while corners stood at 7 for the hosts against 5 for the visitors.
The possession split was nearly even at 49 per cent to 51, which suggests control was shared rather than dominated. There were 25 throw-ins each side, 14 and 12 free kicks respectively, and both teams received two yellow cards. No red cards were issued.
Bury's recent form included heavy victories over Workington and Whi-tenshow Amateurs, but also a 0:1 defeat to Accrington Stanley. Gainsborough's run featured a 4:2 win over Sherwood Colliery alongside two scoreless draws. This final did not follow any predictable pattern.
The result means Bury lift the FA Trophy. For Gainsborough, it was a final appearance that showcased their ability to compete at this level. The scoreline alone does not capture how closely contested the match was.
