Lincolnshire County Football Association – County Sunday Cup Semi Final
Congratulations must go to Anglers FC after they were the first team to reach the Final of the prestigious competition today following a fine 3-1 away win at Lincoln Moorlands/Railway FC. Anglers lead 2-0 at the break after first half goals from James Taylor and Jordan Curtis saw them in control. In the second half Callum Murphy netted for the home side to give them hope before Callum Dye extended the visitor’s lead to give them the breathing space to see the game out.
The other Semi Final between Rustons United and Broughton Working Mens Club was postponed due to the condition of the Ruston’s pitch following the recent snow and rain which rendered it waterlogged. The game will be played next weekend on 18th March and should the pitch at Rustons fail again the tie will be transferred to Broughton with Anglers waiting with interest to see who they will be playing in the final at Sincil Bank on a date yet to be fixed by the County Football Association.
Premier Division
There was just one game played in the Premier Division today and that was the Hykeham “Derby” played at the Memorial Hall North Hykeham between Hykeham Town TRFC and Hykeham Memorial. The game went with the recent form guide with TRFC recording a 7-0 success. Ben Russell opened the scoring before Jamie Parnell doubled his side’s advantage. Russell then scored again before completing a first half hat-trick with Grant Foster also netting in a first half which saw the “home side” go into the interval 5 goals to the good. Second half goals from Tom Gibson and James Slater completed the scoring. Hykeham Town TRFC remain 3rd in the table but they have consolidated their position with this win whilst Memorial remain rooted at the bottom of the table for now. The table would suggest that the three teams immediately above them however are catchable, particularly if Memorial can find the form that they displayed in gaining their 4 points to date when they took those points off Lincoln Moorlands/Railway FC earlier in the Season.
Division One
Runaway leaders AFC Golden Eagle extended their lead to 9 points after level games played with second placed Welton Sports AFC who themselves are looking for an immediate return to the Premier Division after dropping out of it at the end of last Season. Today Eagle visited Bassingham Bugle Horn FC and left with a 6-1 win under their belts. Jordan Johnson scored for the home side but the Eagle scorers have not been notified to the League.
Welton FC will be pleased with their 4-0 away win in Washingborough when they visited Old Boys United. This result sees Welton now enter a cluster of teams all on 15 points which will give them the opportunity to consolidate their position in the middle of the table. Matt Atkinson notched a brace and coupled with solo efforts from Conor Caines and Ryan Howarth this will have proved to be just the tonic required for the side from Dunholme.
The remaining game due to be played at North Scarle between Railway Inn AFC and AFC Lincoln Green was postponed due to a number of reasons, the first being that the pitch was impossible to mark out the day before the game due to caravans being parked all over it!
Division Two
St Helens remain well clear at the top of the division and their cause was helped today courtesy of a 4-1 home win over Lincoln High Street FC whilst challengers Cherry Willingham FC went down heavily at Shakespeare Athletic by 5 goals to nil. The St Helens were two goals to the good at half time, their goal scorers on the day being Papworth, Mumford, Welbourn, & Morriss. The goalscorer for Lincoln High Street is not known.
A Crampton hat-trick plus individual efforts from Smith and Marshall did the damage for Shakespeare Athletic against Cherry Willingham with the home side leading by just one goal at the break. This result gave Coningsby FC the opportunity to jump into second spot in the table when they entertained Heighington FC. Dan Nixon broke the deadlock for the home side on 25 minutes with a 25 yard drive before he doubled the lead with his second goal of the game with a curling effort into the top corner from the edge of the area to complete the first half scoring. Andy Wyre extended the lead with a close range header after the break before the visitors pulled a goal back. Home substitute Thomas Sewell got on the scoring list to complete the scoring and propel the boys from Coningsby into second spot.
North Lindum Hawks remain in fourth place with a great chance to challenge for the top spot at the end of the Season as they have the consistency and the games in hand to suggest that they will have a very good go. Their hard earned draw today against difficult to beat Plough Sturton kept them well in the title race. Both goals came during the first half with Stephen Pell scoring for Plough Sturton. AFC Harpars enjoyed a 5-1 home win over Dunston FC thanks to a Cunningham hat-trick plus goals from Butler and Lyddiatt. Jason Caller grabbed what proved only to be a consolation for the visitors early in the second half.
Division Three
Queen in the West have been hopping around at the top of the table this Season, usually changing places with Birchwood United. Their 4-0 away win at Broadley today saw them return to the top with previous leaders Birchwood United without a fixture. Queen’s scorers today were Ip, who netted two, plus Foster and an own goal. The result sees QITW lead the division again but Nettleham FC are now breathing down their necks as they have hauled themselves into second place in the table, just one point behind and with 4 games in hand. Nettleham did so courtesy of a 6-0 home win against fourth placed Ruston Sports FC. Two well taken goals from Tom Parker, plus individual efforts from Bryan Skayman, Simon Gould, Ryan Jenkinson and Dan Taylor kept the score board ticking over for the home team. Jenkinson and Taylor recorded their first goals for the team in what Was described as a fantastic performance by the home management ahead of their Junior Cup Semi Final game next weekend. The remaining game between Railway Inn United and Mareham United was postponed with Marehem unable to raise a side. The points for the game go to Railway Inn United as per League Rule however the plight of Mareham United must now be viewed with utmost seriousness due to the amount of times that they have been able to muster a side in this, their first, Season in the League.
Division Four
Runaway Leaders Morning Star were held by Saxilby Sports today in what proved to be their first draw of the Season in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Bishop Groseteste College. It was the visitors who were two goals up at the break after a spirited first hald performance. Morning Star pulled the game back to 2-2 thanks to goals from Martin Waplington and Joe Walukiewicz. Star then thought they had won the game when Walukiewicz scored his second and his team’s third goal with just 5 minutes remaining but Saxilby fought back and squared the game with a last minute equaliser.
Nosey FC climbed back into second place in the table with a fine 7-1 away win in Skellingthorpe against FVA Jerusalem Reserves. The visitors came out of the traps firing on all cylinders by scoring all of their 7 goals in the first half of the game. Alex Mackinder lead the way with a hat-trick and Charley Hardboard added a couple of goals himself. Sean Carr also got on the scoresheet and an own goal completed the scoring for the visitors.
Shakespeare Imps were held to a 1-1 draw at home to AFC West End, a result which sees them drop to third whilst AFC West End move up to fourth thanks to their goal which was scored by Dan Charles.
Metheringham Reserves enjoyed a comfortable 6-2 home win against HBW United with goals from Kye Pimblett (x2), Aaron Stafford, Cameron Brightley, Jayden Driver, and Matt Robinson with Dean Barber and Jim O’Callagham replying for the visitors.
The final game in this Division between Branston Homeguard and Green Dragon was postponed as Branston Homeguard were unable to raise a side. The points have been awarded to Green Dragon in accordance with rule.
Ian Stephenson