Lincolnshire Non-League Roundup: Boston United Collapse, Lincoln United Win Again

March 23, 2026 Gary Boston United, Brigg Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Grantham Town, Harrowby United, Lincoln United, Local Non-League Clubs, Louth Town, Pinchbeck United, Skegness Town, Spalding United, Stamford AFC 0

It was another hugely active weekend across the local non-league scene, with promotion races, relegation scraps and derby drama all adding to the sense that the season is reaching its most decisive point.

There were mixed fortunes for Lincolnshire’s sides, from Boston United’s collapse at Carlisle and Stamford’s setback at Real Bedford, to important results for Lincoln United, Boston Town, Grantham Town and Brigg Town as the pressure continues to build at both ends of the table.

Boston punished after bright spell, Trinity held on the road

Boston United suffered a bruising 6-2 defeat at Carlisle United, although the scoreline did not tell the full story of a game in which they briefly looked capable of taking something. Carlisle were the stronger side early on and went in front after 26 minutes through Armstrong, having controlled most of the opening half hour. However, Boston responded well, first levelling through Jordy Hiwula and then moving ahead just three minutes later thanks to Frankie Maguire, turning the game on its head before the break.

For a while, the Pilgrims looked as though they might build on that turnaround. Early in the second half they had chances, including an effort cleared off the line in the 58th minute, but the contest swung dramatically just after the hour. Maguire was sent off for handball on the line in the 61st minute, Carlisle converted the resulting penalty, and from there the hosts took complete control. Four more goals followed in the next half hour as Boston’s resistance collapsed. Despite being 2-1 up at half time, Paul Hurst admitted afterwards that he had been disappointed with the first-half display and warned there is still plenty of work ahead.

Gainsborough Trinity picked up a point from their trip to Rushall Olympic, drawing 1-1 after a tight contest. Rushall began the stronger and Trinity had to wait until the 16th minute for their first real opening, but that chance seemed to settle them and the game remained goalless at the interval. The second half followed a similar pattern, only with a little more urgency from both teams, and Trinity eventually edged in front in the 67th minute through Fraser Preston.

Preston thought he had scored again soon afterwards when he followed up a missed penalty from Clayton Donaldson? No, from the text it was Margetts, so we keep it accurate: after a missed penalty by Margetts, Preston found the net in the 70th minute, only for the effort to be ruled out for encroachment. That gave Rushall renewed belief and they equalised four minutes later. Trinity pushed for a winner, but in the end had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Lincoln United continue run as title race tightens lower down

Lincoln United extended their unbeaten run to seven league matches with a 2-1 home victory against Newton Aycliffe, although they had to come from behind to do it. United started brightly and created enough chances to feel they should have been in front, but they were punished in the 40th minute when the visitors scored during a rare attack. It left the Whites with work to do after the break.

The response was immediate. Three half-time changes helped alter the momentum, and within three minutes of the restart United were level from the spot, Alan Power converting calmly. Five minutes later they had turned the game around, Connor Brown battling his way through the box to score what proved to be the winner. Lincoln continued to push for a third without finding it, but the main job was done and their strong run rolls on at just the right time.

Credit Graham Burrell

In the United Counties Premier Division North, Boston Town kept themselves firmly in the title picture with a 2-0 win away at Clay Cross Town. After a scrappy opening, the Poachers gradually took charge and went ahead after 20 minutes through Cotton. The second half was more open, but a Harry Limb penalty secured an important three points and kept the pressure on leaders Sherwood Colliery.

Sherwood, though, slipped up against local side Skegness Town. The league leaders dominated much of the game and took the lead in the 31st minute through Jamie Yorke, but Skegness hung in there and nicked a crucial equaliser in the 89th minute when Nick Jackson scored from a corner. That result was significant for Boston Town, who are now level at the top on both points and goal difference.

Spalding United were unable to make up ground in their own title chase, drawing 1-1 away at St Ives. They fell behind to a 38th-minute penalty after an underwhelming first-half display, but responded well after the interval and levelled through Roberts in the 58th minute. From that point it was largely one-way traffic, but they could not find a second goal. The result leaves them five points off the leaders having played a game more.

Grantham Town also remain in the conversation after a 2-0 home win over Ashby Ivanhoe. Chances came at both ends early on, but the Gingerbreads gradually asserted themselves and took the lead in the 14th minute through Terry Atem. They continued to create openings in the second half and eventually made the game safe in the 84th minute when William Langford found the net. The victory keeps Grantham in third, five points behind the joint leaders, and rounded off a very positive day for local sides in that division.

Mixed fortunes in the relegation battles

Stamford could not build on last week’s progress away at Real Bedford, losing 3-0 in a result that dragged them back into the relegation places. There had been a boost before kick-off with their captain returning after a year out through injury, but the afternoon slipped away from them. Bedford struck just before half time and then added two more in the closing five minutes to leave Stamford fourth from bottom and very much back in the thick of the fight.

Pinchbeck United are in even more serious trouble after a 3-1 home defeat against Swallownest. The visitors scored in the 45th minute and doubled their lead before the interval, leaving Pinchbeck chasing the game. When Swallownest had a player sent off in the 56th minute and Cullie pulled one back, there was hope of a recovery, but that disappeared when the visitors added a third in the 74th minute. Time is running short now and Pinchbeck’s situation is becoming increasingly desperate.

Sleaford Town also endured a miserable afternoon, losing 3-1 at Dronfield. They were behind inside 20 seconds, conceded a penalty in the 20th minute and were staring at a 2-0 deficit before Dion Tansey-Potter reduced the arrears in the 35th minute. Any hopes of a comeback were dented when the home side scored a third in the 54th minute, and Sleaford’s task became harder still when James Twigg was sent off in the 70th minute. It is beginning to look ominous for them.

There was better news for Brigg Town, who boosted their own play-off hopes with a 4-1 win over Louth Town in a local derby. Louth had taken the lead in the 42nd minute despite Brigg controlling much of the first half, but four half-time changes transformed the contest. Donovan Day equalised in the 51st minute, Josh Batty converted a penalty three minutes later, and Day struck again soon after to put Brigg firmly in command. Chaz Fisher completed the scoring in the 70th minute. The win lifts Brigg into fifth, occupying the final play-off place, although having played more games than some of the teams around them means there is little margin for error from here.