It has been a busy Bank Holiday weekend across the Lincolnshire non-league scene, with fixtures spread from Thursday night through to the weekend and plenty of drama along the way, writes David Ward.
Boston United got the action underway on Thursday night with a difficult trip to Boreham Wood, looking to build on the improved form they had shown over their previous couple of matches. The Pilgrims started well against one of the stronger sides in the division and looked comfortable with the way they approached the contest.
Their encouraging start was rewarded after 26 minutes when Tom Cursons put United ahead, and they were able to take that advantage into half-time. The complexion of the game changed after the break, however, with Boreham Wood increasingly dominant and Boston forced deeper as the half progressed.
For a long time it appeared as though the Pilgrims might hold on, but two goals in the closing stages turned the game completely. Boreham Wood struck twice in three minutes to snatch all three points and, after the game, move to the top of the division.
Despite the late disappointment, manager Paul Hurst was pleased with the overall performance from his side against opposition he regarded as a very good team.
This article is brought to you in conjunction with Wingers Lincoln.
Trinity Back To Winning Ways
Friday night saw Gainsborough Trinity on their travels at Ashton United, hoping to rediscover their winning touch. Trinity made the stronger start, creating a couple of openings inside the first five minutes before Lewis Butroid gave them the lead with an excellent volley.
That goal appeared to lift Gainsborough further, and they continued to look the more threatening side, forcing the home goalkeeper into a number of good saves. Butroid then doubled both his and Trinity’s tally from the penalty spot after 34 minutes, giving the visitors a deserved 2-0 advantage at the interval.
Ashton responded strongly at the start of the second half, but Trinity defended well and gradually began to create chances of their own again. The hosts did finally pull one back in the 89th minute, but Gainsborough held firm to secure a determined 2-1 victory and move into the top half of the table.
Spalding United were also looking to get back to collecting points as they hosted Worksop in National League North. It was a competitive opening, with plenty of strong challenges from both sides before the Tulips gradually began to impose themselves.
Bart Cybulski opened the scoring after 26 minutes with a tap-in before adding his second ten minutes later in very different fashion, making a strong connection to beat the goalkeeper and send Spalding into the break with a 2-0 lead. Worksop started the second half strongly, but the hosts weathered that pressure before Cybulski completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute.
That third goal effectively put the game beyond Worksop, although they did pull one back ten minutes later. It proved no more than a consolation, with Spalding seeing out a deserved 3-1 victory and collecting a much-needed three points.
Mixed Fortunes Elsewhere
Stamford were looking for a home victory against Rushall Olympic and could consider themselves unfortunate not to be ahead at half-time. They started strongly and created two or three good opportunities, but none were converted and the game remained goalless at the interval.
Unfortunately, the second half was a completely different story. Rushall scored three times inside the opening 25 minutes after the restart, leaving Stamford with too much to do, and despite attempts to respond they were unable to find the net as the visitors ran out 3-0 winners.
Pinchbeck United went into their away fixture at Clifton All Whites desperately looking for a change in fortunes, but instead suffered another difficult afternoon. They were beaten 7-1, a result which summed up what has been a hugely challenging start to their campaign.
There was much better news for Brigg Town, who travelled to Club Thorne Colliery looking to extend their impressive run. The Zebras came under sustained pressure during the opening half-hour and finally conceded after 27 minutes, bringing an end to a run of six consecutive clean sheets.
Their response was immediate, with Dayle Southwell heading home an equaliser just four minutes later. Thorne restored their lead two minutes before the interval, but once again Brigg responded, Southwell scoring his second in added time to ensure the sides went into the break level at 2-2.
The second half belonged to Brigg. Reece Yorke put them ahead on the hour, Josh Batty added another after 74 minutes and Archie Davidson completed the scoring in the final minute as the Zebras ran out convincing 5-2 winners.
The management team were particularly pleased with the speed at which the group recovered from falling behind twice, before executing their plans after the break to secure another three points.
FA Trophy Heartbreak
The remainder of our non-league sides were involved in cup action and, generally speaking, it proved to be a difficult day in the FA Trophy. Lincoln United, Boston Town and Grantham Town were all involved, but none were able to progress.
Lincoln United hosted Nuneaton Town and enjoyed the perfect start when Rio Molyneaux put them ahead after only four minutes. That remained the score at half-time and, despite growing pressure from Nuneaton after the restart, United appeared to be closing in on a place in the next round.
Unfortunately, they conceded with just a minute remaining to send the tie to penalties. Lincoln were eventually beaten 4-2 in the shootout, bringing an end to what had nevertheless been an excellent effort.
Boston Town also exited the competition following a 2-1 home defeat against Nantwich Town. The visitors took the lead after 22 minutes and carried that advantage into half-time, but Boston fought back and Harry Limb equalised on the hour.
Their hopes of completing the turnaround lasted only seven minutes before Nantwich went back in front. Boston were unable to find another response and their FA Trophy campaign came to an end.
Grantham Town suffered a similar fate at home to Mickleover. The Gingerbreads found themselves 2-0 down inside the opening half-hour, leaving them with a sizeable task after the break.
Things became even more difficult when Grantham were reduced to ten men in the 80th minute, before Mickleover added a third six minutes later. Wright did pull one back from the penalty spot, but it was only a consolation as another Lincolnshire side bowed out of the competition.
UCL Cup Success For Three
There were four Lincolnshire sides involved in the UCL Cup, with Louth Town, Skegness Town, Sleaford Town and Harrowby United all looking to make progress.
Louth were at home to Swallownest and made an excellent start, with one-time Wragby striker Brendon Parker opening the scoring after 20 minutes. Parker doubled both his own tally and Louth’s lead five minutes later, giving the hosts a 2-0 advantage which they maintained until the interval.
Swallownest came back into the contest after the break, but Louth defended their advantage well and secured a 2-0 victory to book their place in the next round.
Skegness Town also progressed, beating Maltby Main 1-0 at home thanks to a second-half goal from Kyle Radford. The opening 45 minutes had been an end-to-end affair without a breakthrough, but Skegness grew stronger as the match progressed and ultimately deserved their victory.
There was disappointment for Sleaford Town, despite them taking the lead against Stapleford Town through Josh Parker in the 22nd minute. Stapleford responded emphatically, scoring four times before Lewis Smith grabbed a late consolation for Sleaford in a 4-2 defeat.
It was a particularly frustrating result following some encouraging recent performances, while Harrowby United’s tie against Clay Cross Town provided considerably more drama.
Clay Cross opened the scoring after 14 minutes before Jacob Boyes equalised in the 31st. Sam Wright then put Harrowby ahead in the 44th minute, allowing them to take a 2-1 lead into half-time.
Clay Cross levelled again after 52 minutes and, with chances coming at both ends, the tie looked to be heading towards penalties. Instead, the final few minutes produced a remarkable conclusion.
Kieran Stanley struck twice for Harrowby in the 90th and 92nd minutes to suddenly put them 4-2 ahead. There was still time for Clay Cross to score again and give Harrowby one final scare, but they held on for a thrilling 4-3 victory and a place in the next round.
It has therefore been a real mixed bag across the Lincolnshire non-league scene so far this Bank Holiday weekend. There have been important league wins for Gainsborough, Spalding and Brigg, cup progress for Louth, Skegness and Harrowby, but also plenty of disappointment elsewhere, with more football still to come before the long weekend is complete.
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