Lincolnshire Non-League Round-Up: Cup Progress, Historic Wins And Opening-Day Drama

August 9, 2026 Gary Boston Town, 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 1

All of our local non-league sides were in action across the weekend, with some beginning their FA Cup campaigns while others got their league seasons underway. There was plenty to celebrate, including a historic victory for Spalding United, while Boston Town and Lincoln United both progressed in the cup.

Wakefield 0 Brigg Town 1

Brigg were the first of our sides in action, travelling to a strong Wakefield side on Friday night after recording a 1-0 victory in midweek. The hosts started brightly and thought they had taken the lead after nine minutes, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside, before they were handed another excellent opportunity when a handball decision resulted in a penalty in the 28th minute.

Liam Higton produced a superb save from the spot, and that appeared to give Brigg a lift as they grew into the contest before the interval. Wakefield again pushed forward after half-time and Higton remained in excellent form, but the decisive moment came in the 56th minute when substitute Dayle Hutson scored with his first touch to give Brigg the lead. The game opened up after that, with chances at both ends, but Brigg defended resolutely to secure an excellent away victory and another three points.

Boston United 0 Aldershot Town 1

Boston United began their National League campaign at home to Aldershot Town, with five debutants included in the side following a busy summer in the transfer market. The Pilgrims started the game strongly and forced Aldershot onto the back foot, although the visitors gradually began to impose themselves as the first half wore on and a goalless scoreline at the interval was probably a fair reflection of proceedings.

Boston again started positively after the break, but it was Aldershot who broke the deadlock around the hour mark following some neat attacking play. They almost doubled their advantage shortly afterwards, only for Chadwick to make an excellent save in the United goal, while Boston responded by creating a couple of good chances of their own without finding an equaliser. Their afternoon became even more difficult late on when Jake Rooney was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card, bringing a disappointing end to the opening fixture of the season.

Radcliffe 0 Spalding United 2

Spalding United made history by playing their first ever fixture at National League North level, travelling to Radcliffe for a landmark afternoon in the club’s history. They had continued strengthening their squad in the build-up to the game, including the addition of 19-year-old Tate Xavier-Jones on loan from Luton Town, and there was understandable tension during a competitive opening half in which both sides created opportunities.

The Tulips began to take greater control after the interval and were rewarded ten minutes into the second half when Ceesay created the chance for Bart Cybulski to put them ahead. Radcliffe attempted to respond, but Spalding increasingly looked the side in control and continued to threaten before Cybulski struck again one minute into added time. His second goal completed a 2-0 victory and gave Spalding three points in their first ever match at this level, making it a particularly memorable afternoon for the hundred or so supporters who had travelled to witness it.

Gainsborough Trinity 2 Workington 0

Gainsborough Trinity opened their season at the KAL Group Stadium against Workington, with the majority of last season’s squad retained and six new faces added as they look to make further progress. Some of those additions bring Football League experience, and Trinity showed plenty of promise during a first half in which they controlled much of the game and created several chances without managing to find the breakthrough.

Workington did offer a warning shortly before the interval, but the pattern continued after half-time as Gainsborough pressed forward in search of the opening goal. Their patience was finally rewarded in the 73rd minute when Ashton Offler powered home a tremendous header, before Fraser Preston added a second seven minutes later to put the result beyond doubt. It was an impressive opening-day performance and one that gave the management team plenty to be pleased about.

Daventry Town 1 Boston Town 2

Boston Town began their season with an FA Cup trip to Daventry Town, having retained 12 members of last season’s promotion-winning squad and added further new faces during the summer. They made an excellent start to the tie as Matt Cotton put them ahead inside the opening ten minutes, although Daventry responded before half-time to send the sides into the break level.

The second half was a closely contested affair, but Boston were given an opportunity to take control when Daventry were reduced to ten men after a player received a second yellow card following complaints to the referee over a throw-in decision. Cotton then struck again to score his and Boston’s second goal of the afternoon, securing victory and a place in the next round of the competition. Their reward is a home tie against Sherwood Colliery.

Grantham Town 0 Lincoln United 2

There was a local derby in the FA Cup as Grantham Town hosted Lincoln United, with both clubs having strengthened their squads over the summer and hoping to extend their run in the competition. United looked the stronger of the two sides during the opening half and created several opportunities, although they were unable to make their pressure count and the sides went into the interval still level.

Lincoln continued to control the contest after the restart and finally took the lead in the 49th minute through Sam Swinn. He then struck again in the 76th minute to secure a 2-0 victory and ensure United’s place in the next round, continuing the positive momentum they carried into the summer. Grantham, meanwhile, can now turn their full attention towards their league campaign.

Stourbridge 2 Stamford 0

Stamford began a particularly significant season as they celebrate their 130th year as a club, with changes having taken place behind the scenes after both the previous chairman and manager stepped down at the end of last season. New manager Ant Fenton has assembled a young and energetic squad, and their first competitive assignment came with a difficult trip to Stourbridge.

The Daniels gave a good account of themselves in an entertaining contest and showed plenty of fight despite the result. Stourbridge scored once in each half to claim a 2-0 victory, but Stamford’s performance offered encouragement as a young side begins to settle under new management.

Skegness Town 0 Retford 2

Skegness Town were also involved in FA Cup action as they welcomed Retford, with both sides creating opportunities during an even opening half that ended without a goal. The contest remained finely balanced until Skegness were unfortunate to fall behind through an own goal after the break, leaving them needing to chase the game.

As they pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Retford were able to exploit the additional space and scored their second goal in the final minute to secure progression. Skegness are now out of the competition and can turn their attention fully towards their league campaign.

Maltby Main 1 Harrowby United 2

Harrowby United travelled to Maltby Main looking to build on a reasonable start to their Division One campaign, and they began the game with plenty of confidence. Their positive approach was rewarded after just six minutes when Jacob Boyes opened the scoring, before Jack Robb doubled the advantage only 13 minutes later.

That 2-0 lead remained intact until half-time, although Maltby mounted a response after the break and managed to reduce the deficit. Harrowby held firm despite the pressure and saw out the contest to claim all three points, a result that leaves them fourth in the table at this early stage of the season.

Radford 1 Sleaford Town 1

Sleaford Town went into their difficult away fixture at Radford on the back of a strong midweek victory, but it was the home side who started more brightly and took the lead. The Greens responded well, however, and were handed the chance to draw level when they were awarded a penalty in the 29th minute.

Lewis Smith converted from the spot to make it 1-1, which remained the score at half-time. Neither side was able to find a winner during the second period despite a determined performance from Sleaford, meaning the points were shared after a competitive contest.

Louth Town 2 Clifton All Whites 2

Louth Town went into their home fixture against Clifton All Whites with confidence after recording a 4-0 victory in midweek, and that momentum was evident almost immediately. A superb move ended with Cal Martindale opening the scoring after only two minutes, before he turned provider later in the half with a cross that Cole Nelson volleyed into the net to make it 2-0.

Clifton pulled one back shortly before half-time, giving themselves renewed encouragement ahead of the second period, and they continued to push after the restart. Their persistence was rewarded in the 73rd minute when they found an equaliser, leaving the game to finish 2-2 and Louth sitting in mid-table.

Pinchbeck United 1 Selston 3

Pinchbeck United went into their home game against Selston still searching for a first victory of the season, but they found themselves with an immediate uphill task after falling 2-0 behind inside the opening 20 minutes. Louie Gardner gave them hope by pulling a goal back in the 31st minute, ensuring they remained in the contest going into the interval.

Any hopes of completing the comeback were ended after the break when Selston added a third goal to secure the points. The defeat leaves Pinchbeck at the foot of the table without a win, and they will be keen to find some momentum quickly rather than allow the difficult opening weeks of the season to become an extended struggle.

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