Louth Town caused a cup upset, Brigg Town claimed derby bragging rights and Gainsborough Trinity suffered shootout heartbreak after a remarkable comeback in this weekend’s Lincolnshire non-league action, writes David Ward.
Boston United 0 AFC Fylde 1
Boston United were hoping to claim another impressive result against one of the National League’s leading sides when AFC Fylde visited the Jakemans Community Stadium, following their victory at Forest Green the previous weekend. Both teams created chances in a first half punctuated by corners, but good saves from the two goalkeepers ensured it remained goalless at the break.
Fylde took the lead six minutes into the second half, with Chadwick then producing an excellent save to prevent the visitors from doubling their advantage. Boston gradually grew into the contest, but a combination of missed opportunities and good goalkeeping kept them off the scoresheet.
Their task became harder in the 84th minute when Jake Rooney received his second yellow card, leaving United to chase an equaliser with ten men. Despite their efforts, they could not find a way through and slipped to a narrow defeat.
Chorley 2 Spalding United 1
Spalding United suffered late heartbreak at Chorley after fighting back to put themselves within touching distance of an away point. A scrappy first half offered little rhythm, with the ball spending plenty of time in the air, although the Tulips had the better of the opportunities.
Chorley emerged stronger after the interval and took the lead in the 56th minute. Spalding responded with changes from the bench and began to push their hosts back, eventually drawing level through Mani Sani in the 81st minute.
Rather than the Tulips finding a winner, however, Chorley struck in the 89th minute to leave the visitors empty-handed. Despite the disappointment, Spalding’s manager was pleased with the effort shown by an injury-hit side, reflecting that a defensive mistake had proved decisive in a closely contested game.
Boston Town 2 Coleshill Town 2
Boston Town twice came from behind to earn a point against Coleshill Town, although their first-half performance suggested they might have been in front before the visitors struck. The Poachers dominated the opening 25 minutes but could not convert their chances, and while Coleshill subsequently came into the game, Boston continued to create the better openings.
The match burst into life shortly after the restart, with three goals arriving in a frantic four-minute spell. Coleshill went ahead within three minutes of the second half beginning, Boston responded through a penalty converted by Limb, and the visitors immediately restored their advantage.
Boston gradually regained control and drew level again when Zak Munton scored in the 67th minute. Further chances followed, but the Poachers could not find a winner and had to settle for a share of the points.
Grantham Town 1 Shepshed Dynamo 0
Grantham Town responded to their previous disappointment with a home victory over Shepshed Dynamo, courtesy of a goal inside the opening minute. Will Langford provided the decisive finish as the Gingerbreads made the strongest possible start.
There was an unusual interruption towards the end of the first half when play was delayed while a replacement assistant referee was sought. Grantham remained the dominant side but could not add to their early advantage, although one goal proved enough to secure all three points.
Sandiacre Town 0 Sleaford Town 1
Sleaford Town followed up their previous victory with another three points, overcoming a testing trip to Sandiacre Town. Both sides had opportunities before the break, but a goalless first half left manager Jamie McGee wanting more from his team’s approach.
The Greens settled into their preferred style after the interval and made the breakthrough in the 55th minute through Lewis Smith. That proved sufficient, with Sleaford keeping a clean sheet to secure the win.
McGee was pleased with the defensive return but remained puzzled by his side’s tendency to take until the second half to reproduce the football they had worked on in training. Improving those starts will be a focus during the coming week.
Lincoln United 1 Morpeth Town 1
Lincoln United recorded a second successive draw as Morpeth Town left with a point. Following a hard-fought away draw in midweek, the Whites faced another difficult assignment and struggled to find a route through the visiting defence during a goalless first half.
United began the second half more positively and took the lead on the hour through Mylo Baker. Their advantage lasted barely a minute, however, with Morpeth responding almost immediately.
Both sides pushed for a winning goal, but neither could find one. The Whites now turn their attention to Tuesday night’s trip to Bridlington as they look to return to winning ways.
Brigg Town 4 Winterton Rangers 2
Brigg Town maintained their impressive form with an entertaining derby victory over Winterton Rangers. The league leaders went into the contest as the only side in their division to have scored in every game, and it did not take them long to extend that record.
After two early chances, Reece Yorke opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Josh Batty added a second in the 24th minute, with Dayle Southwell making it three just three minutes later.
Winterton pulled a goal back in the 31st minute to give themselves something to build on, and they enjoyed more possession during a quieter second half. However, Batty scored his second and Brigg’s fourth in the 75th minute to put the Zebras firmly in control.
There was still time for Winterton to add a late consolation, but the points remained with Brigg. It was another strong result for the Zebras and one which left their management team pleased afterwards.
Bury 3 Gainsborough Trinity 3 (Bury won 6-5 on penalties)
Gainsborough Trinity produced a remarkable late comeback at Bury in the FA Trophy, only to suffer the frustration of a penalty shootout defeat. Having already contested two FA Cup matches, Trinity found themselves involved in another dramatic cup encounter.
Bury started strongly and forced Gainsborough to defend resolutely during the opening exchanges. Trinity appeared to have weathered that early pressure when the hosts broke through in the 24th minute, taking a one-goal advantage into the interval.
The second half began in similar fashion, with Bury doubling their lead in the 54th minute. That sparked a response from Trinity, who began to put together better passing moves and create opportunities.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 70th minute when Lewis Butroid converted a penalty to bring them back into contention. However, after Gainsborough missed a good opportunity to equalise, Bury struck again with two minutes of normal time remaining.
Aaron Simpson’s goal in the third minute of added time appeared likely to be a consolation, but debutant Ronnie Kokkinos had other ideas. Two minutes later, he unleashed a superb strike to make it 3-3 and send the tie to penalties.
Unfortunately, Trinity could not complete the job, losing the shootout 6-5. It was a painful conclusion after such an impressive recovery, with Gainsborough having hauled themselves back from two goals down in the closing moments.
Stamford 1 Loughborough Students 2
Stamford exited the FA Trophy after Loughborough Students overturned a first-half deficit. It followed a busy week for the Daniels, with five new signings arriving, Tyler Young going straight into the starting line-up and Ronnie Walker taking a place on the bench.
The hosts began positively and were ahead by the 18th minute through Kobe Sinclair-Linton. They retained that advantage until half-time, although Loughborough were beginning to show signs of the threat they would pose.
Despite another encouraging start from Stamford after the break, the visitors grew stronger as the half progressed. Two goals turned the tie around and brought the Daniels’ Trophy campaign to an end.
West Bridgford Colts 1 Skegness Town 4
Skegness Town made light work of their opening UCL Cup assignment, scoring four times inside the first 20 minutes at West Bridgford Colts. Lucas Dakin struck twice in the opening five minutes, with Kyle Radford and Theo Kit-Bushell also finding the net during a dominant start.
That early burst effectively settled the contest, allowing Skegness to manage the remainder of the game with a comfortable advantage. The Colts pulled one back in the second half, but the visitors were safely through to the next round.
AFC Mansfield 0 Louth Town 2
Louth Town claimed an excellent cup victory away at AFC Mansfield, overcoming opponents from a step above them. The White Wolves competed well throughout the opening half and reached the interval with the game goalless.
The breakthrough came five minutes into the second half when Harvey Lidgard put Louth ahead. Ethan Scott then doubled the advantage in the 75th minute to leave the visitors within reach of an impressive upset.
Louth held firm through to the final whistle, securing both a clean sheet and a place in the next round. It was an outstanding team performance against higher-level opposition.
Harrowby United 1 Lutterworth Town 1 (Harrowby won 4-3 on penalties)
Harrowby United joined Skegness and Louth in the second round of the UCL Cup after edging past Lutterworth Town on penalties. Luke Cullen gave the Arrows the lead in the 18th minute, but Lutterworth responded with increasing pressure and equalised 20 minutes later.
A tense second half saw both sides push for a winner, but neither could break the deadlock. With the match finishing 1-1, the tie was decided from the spot, where Harrowby held their nerve to win 4-3.
Pinchbeck United 0 Sileby Rangers 2
Pinchbeck United were unable to join the other local sides in the next round, suffering a home defeat against Sileby Rangers. The visitors took the lead in the 14th minute and doubled their advantage in the 29th, leaving Pinchbeck with a difficult task at the interval.
The hosts continued to battle throughout the second half, with no shortage of effort across the team. However, they could not find the goal needed to launch a comeback and bowed out with a 2-0 defeat.
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