There were Halloween horrors for some of Lincolnshire’s non-league clubs, but late winners, derby drama and FA Vase action ensured there were plenty of treats elsewhere, writes David Ward.
Boston United earned local bragging rights against Scunthorpe United, while Spalding United and Louth Town both came through five-goal encounters with all three points. Elsewhere, there were dramatic late equalisers for Skegness Town and Boston Town, contrasting fortunes in the Vase, and afternoons to forget for Stamford and Pinchbeck United.
Boston United 2-1 Scunthorpe United
Boston United made it back-to-back wins with victory over local rivals Scunthorpe United in the televised evening kick-off. Having lost to the Iron in the FA Cup at the Jakemans two weeks earlier, the Pilgrims had an extra incentive to put things right.
They began strongly, forcing a save inside the opening minute before Tom Cursons won a penalty in the 14th minute. The striker picked himself up and converted, and although Scunthorpe began to work their way into the contest, with one effort landing on the roof of the net, Cursons struck again shortly before half-time to double Boston’s advantage.
Ken Aboh thought he had added a third three minutes after the restart, only for an offside flag to cut short the celebrations. James Norwood then pulled one back in the 53rd minute to give Scunthorpe hope, but with the sides largely cancelling each other out thereafter, Boston held firm to secure the points and their revenge.
Spalding United 3-2 Darlington
Spalding United survived another scare after surrendering a two-goal lead, with Dan Barton’s late winner ensuring this time there was a happier ending. The Tulips were looking for a response after letting a similar advantage slip in midweek, and their early approach suggested they were determined to take control.
Returning signing Joe Nyahwema was prominent from the outset, sending over a dangerous first-minute cross and helping Spalding force four corners inside the opening quarter of an hour. The breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute when Nyahwema laid the ball off to Michael Kelly, whose cross was rifled home by Dan Jarvis. Another Nyahwema delivery then brought a second, with Jarvis backheeling the ball into Barton’s path for the finish.
Darlington began to find more space towards the interval and carried that improvement into the second half, pulling one back in the 50th minute. Spalding struggled to regain their earlier control, and although Nyahwema supplied another inviting cross around the hour, nobody could apply the finishing touch. A late equaliser raised the uncomfortable prospect of another two-goal lead going to waste.
However, the Tulips found another gear as substitutions helped change the momentum, and Barton broke clear in the 85th minute before driving into the box and smashing home the winner. He could have completed his hat-trick late on but missed a golden opportunity after doing the hard work. Nevertheless, an important victory extended Spalding’s unbeaten home run in all competitions to seven matches, leaving them in mid-table with hopes of looking upwards as injured players return.
Gainsborough Trinity 1-1 Bamber Bridge
Gainsborough Trinity were left frustrated as a late Bamber Bridge equaliser denied them a return to winning ways. After a disappointing home defeat in midweek, Trinity had been hoping to collect three points and maintain their position towards the top end of the table.
The hosts had chances during a promising opening ten minutes but could not take advantage, before Frank Mulhern was needed to clear off the line in the 21st minute. Connor Brown then saw penalty appeals waved away after appearing to be brought down by the visiting goalkeeper when through one-on-one. Despite further pressure, Trinity reached the interval with the game goalless.
Brown eventually made the breakthrough with little more than a quarter of an hour remaining, sliding the ball beneath the goalkeeper to give Trinity the lead. Bamber Bridge responded, however, and were afforded too much space to equalise late on. Gainsborough pushed for a winner without success, leaving them with just one point from two home games during a disappointing week.
Silsden 3-1 Lincoln United
Lincoln United endured a difficult afternoon at Silsden, who moved above the Whites on goal difference with a 3-1 victory. The hosts dominated much of the opening half, and United could count themselves fortunate to reach the break only one goal behind.
A much-improved start to the second half brought an equaliser through Liam Moran in the 54th minute, briefly offering hope of a turnaround. Instead, the goal prompted another strong spell from Silsden, who regained control and scored twice more to leave United empty-handed.
Clay Cross Town 1-1 Skegness Town
Lucas Dakin struck in stoppage time to rescue a deserved point for Skegness Town at Clay Cross Town. The Lilywhites were looking to build on their cup victory the previous weekend, with the returning Bailey Dilley going straight into the side following his re-signing.
Clay Cross took the lead after just five minutes, but Skegness gradually worked their way into the game without finding an equaliser before the break. Both sides had opportunities during a more even second half, and the hosts appeared to have done enough as the match entered added time. Dakin had other ideas, finding the net two minutes into stoppage time to ensure Skegness had something to show for their efforts.
Grantham Town 2-2 Boston Town
There was more late drama in the Lincolnshire derby at Grantham, where Kyle Watkins rescued a point for Boston Town deep into added time. The Poachers had been forced into a late change after their captain was injured in the warm-up, and Grantham took advantage of a strong start when Dan Dougill opened the scoring in the 17th minute.
Boston grew into a fiercely contested derby, but the Gingerbreads doubled their lead through Lee Shaw following a free-kick in first-half stoppage time. There was still time for another twist before the interval, with Harry Limb pulling one back almost immediately to keep the visitors firmly in the contest.
The Poachers enjoyed more control after the break, and Limb came agonisingly close to an equaliser on the hour when his strike beat the goalkeeper but crashed against the crossbar. Grantham still offered an occasional threat, although much of their work was defensive as they tried to protect their advantage. With six minutes of stoppage time played, Watkins finally found the net to secure Boston a deserved share of the derby spoils.
Stamford 0-4 Halesowen Town
Stamford suffered a Halloween afternoon to forget as Halesowen Town ran out convincing winners. New loan goalkeeper Joe Bailey, who had arrived from Nottingham Forest, endured a difficult debut despite a promising start from the home side.
The Daniels played some decent football and initially looked in control, only for Halesowen to take the lead shortly before half-time. Stamford were unable to find a response before the interval, and things unravelled after the restart as the visitors added three more goals. A 4-0 defeat left the home supporters deflated and gave Stamford a second half they will want to put behind them quickly.
Dronfield Town 2-3 Louth Town
Louth Town twice came from behind before claiming a valuable victory in their efforts to climb away from the lower reaches of the table. It was an afternoon that demanded character from the White Wolves, who fell behind inside the opening few minutes at Dronfield Town.
Louth improved as the half progressed and earned an equaliser around the half-hour when Jack McSpadden tapped in from close range. Their relief was short-lived, with Dronfield restoring their lead just three minutes later, but captain Alex Aldrich headed Louth level again before the interval.
The visitors gained the upper hand during the second half and were rewarded when Brad Coulam reacted to a rebound following a save to put them ahead in the 73rd minute. Dronfield applied strong pressure in the closing stages, but Louth held on to complete an impressive comeback and collect three important points.
Pinchbeck United 0-5 Cotgrave
Pinchbeck United’s difficult spell continued with another heavy defeat, this time at home to Cotgrave. The visitors were ahead inside eight minutes, and two goals in quick succession shortly before half-time left the young home side facing a daunting task at the break.
There was no route back from 3-0 down, with Cotgrave adding another two during the second half to complete a comprehensive victory. Pinchbeck remain in the bottom two and urgently need something to lift them as they search for a way out of a challenging run.
Harrowby United 3-1 Sutton United
Harrowby United booked their place in the next round of the FA Vase with a devastating burst of three goals in the opening ten minutes of the second half. The first half had offered plenty of entertainment, with committed challenges, good football and chances at both ends, but neither side could find the breakthrough.
That changed almost immediately after the restart when Kieran Stanley put Harrowby ahead, before Ethan Milne doubled the advantage four minutes later. Jacob Boyes added a third in the 55th minute to leave Sutton with a mountain to climb. The visitors pulled one back in the 75th minute, but Harrowby held firm to secure their place in the next draw.
North Shields 2-2 Brigg Town (North Shields won 4-3 on penalties)
Brigg Town’s FA Vase run ended in painful fashion as North Shields recovered from two goals down before winning a tense penalty shootout. The hosts had started brightly and threatened early on, but Brigg grew into the contest and reached half-time with the game still goalless.
Captain Josh Jordan headed the Zebras in front early in the second half, and Josh Batty quickly added a second to put the visitors in a strong position. North Shields refused to let the tie slip away, pulling one back with less than 20 minutes remaining before an 89th-minute penalty brought them level and sent the contest to a shootout.
Brigg converted their first three spot-kicks, while their goalkeeper saved North Shields’ second, but the Zebras could not put away either of their final two penalties. The hosts prevailed 4-3, leaving Brigg to reflect on a cup run that ended without defeat in open play. Their attention now returns to maintaining their good league form after a cruel finish to the afternoon.
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