It was another frustrating night for Lincolnshire’s non-league sides, with defeat for Harrowby United and an abandoned fixture involving Lincoln United.
Only two local teams were scheduled to play following Tuesday’s mixed set of results across the county, but even that reduced programme failed to reach a straightforward conclusion.
Harrowby slip deeper into trouble
Harrowby United travelled to Hucknall Town knowing points are becoming increasingly important as the season edges towards its conclusion. With relegation worries growing, the visitors needed a result, and their performance early on suggested they might be capable of getting one.
Harrowby began brightly and were able to put together several promising attacking moves during the opening stages. However, as the half wore on, Hucknall gradually worked their way into the contest and began to exert more control.
The decisive moment of the first half came from a set piece. A corner was poorly dealt with by Harrowby’s defence, allowing the home side to take advantage and edge in front. That goal proved to be the only one before the interval, leaving Harrowby with work to do after the break.
In the second half the visitors pushed forward in search of an equaliser, committing players forward and attempting to force their way back into the match. Despite their effort and determination, the breakthrough never came.
Instead, with Harrowby chasing the game deep into stoppage time, Hucknall struck again with what was effectively the last kick of the contest. The late goal sealed a 2-0 victory for the hosts and left Harrowby empty-handed after a battling display.
The result deepens their problems near the bottom of the table. The commitment is clearly there, but the inability to turn promising passages of play into goals continues to hurt them.
Lincoln United game abandoned after floodlight failure
Elsewhere, Lincoln United’s trip to Brighouse Town ended in unusual circumstances after a floodlight failure forced the match to be abandoned midway through the second half.
The game had started positively for United, who began with purpose and looked comfortable during the early exchanges. However, Brighouse soon settled and enjoyed a strong spell of their own.
It was during that period of pressure that the hosts took the lead, scoring in the 14th minute to put United on the back foot.
The setback sparked a response from the visitors. Determined to get themselves back into the contest, United pushed forward and began to create chances. Alan Power came close when a powerful effort struck the post, before Connor Brown brought the sides level in the 25th minute.
From that point on United were largely in control, dominating the closing stages of the first half, although they were unable to find a second goal before the break.
They did not have to wait long after the restart to take the lead. Just four minutes into the second half Brown struck again, netting his second of the evening to put United ahead.
However, as Brown turned to celebrate, the entire ground was suddenly plunged into darkness when the floodlights failed.
The referee allowed a 20-minute delay while attempts were made to restore the lighting, but with no solution found the match was ultimately abandoned.
The fixture will now have to be replayed later in the season, leaving United frustrated after appearing to have seized control of the contest.