There were a handful of midweek fixtures for Lincolnshire Non-League sides, including a derby between Sleaford Town and Louth Town, writes David Ward.
Gainsborough Trinity played their first away fixture of the season with a trip to Alfreton Town, but they were behind inside the opening minute. It was exactly the start Trinity would have wanted to avoid, giving the hosts confidence and allowing them to take control early on.
Gainsborough gradually grew into the first half and had chances to draw level, although Alfreton retained their 1-0 advantage at the interval. Trinity emerged strongly after the break, moving the ball more quickly and playing with greater purpose, but a combination of missed opportunities and saves from the home goalkeeper kept them out.
They were punished in the 75th minute when Alfreton found the net again to make it 2-0. Trinity responded just three minutes later through Ashton Offler, who scored his second goal in as many games, but despite pushing for an equaliser, they could not find one and suffered their first defeat of the season.
A dominant performance tonight!
🟢#GreenArmy 4-1 #WhiteWolves🔵 pic.twitter.com/OsLuK2S58I
— Sleaford Town F.C. (@SleafordTownFC) August 11, 2026
Sleaford Town welcomed Louth Town for a local non-league derby, with new signing Sam Edgington, who arrived from Grantham Town, named in the home starting XI.
Louth began brightly and had an opportunity after eight minutes which went over the bar, but Sleaford soon began to take control. Their pressure was rewarded in the 22nd minute when Edgington marked his debut with the opening goal, before Riley Wilkinson doubled the advantage 11 minutes later.
Sleaford remained in control for the rest of the half and continued to dominate after the interval against a strong Louth side. Dion Tansey-Potter added a third in the 56th minute, rounding the goalkeeper before finishing into an empty net.
Louth continued to compete and pulled one back in the 78th minute. After winning a free kick, Cole Nelson produced a thunderous strike to reduce the deficit, but Sleaford restored their three-goal advantage just three minutes later when Kyle Onyon reacted to a blocked effort and converted the rebound.
It finished 4-1, completing an impressive Sleaford performance. The management team were pleased with the display, although there was some frustration at defensive lapses during the game. Nine goals from their opening three matches is certainly encouraging, with Sleaford sitting fourth in the table.
Stamford were back on home soil against Bury Town looking to respond to defeat in their previous outing. The first half was an entertaining one, with both teams creating chances, but neither could make the breakthrough before the interval.
Bury began to take greater control during the second half and eventually found the decisive goal in the 82nd minute. Stamford were unable to respond, with the visitors taking all three points from a 1-0 victory.
Lincoln United began their league campaign away at Hallam, having already recorded an FA Cup victory at Grantham Town over the weekend.
The Whites made a flying start and were ahead after just six minutes through Liam Moran. United continued to apply pressure and doubled their lead in the 22nd minute when Rio Molyneaux drove into the penalty area, beat his defender and was brought down. Molyneaux took the resulting penalty himself and converted to make it 2-0, which remained the score at half-time.
The second half became a little more heated, with United forced into a couple of substitutions and a scuffle breaking out around the dugouts. There were opportunities at both ends, while goalkeeper Liam Flitton produced a couple of important saves to preserve the clean sheet.
United saw the game out for a 2-0 victory and their first three league points of the season. After also progressing in the FA Cup at the weekend, it means they have started the campaign with two wins from two.
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