12th February – Results round-up

In a week that saw Lincoln Moorlands apply to withdraw from the League and Scothern United having insufficient players today to fulfil their game at Newton United today the Premier Division’s scheduled games were hit hard as only one game out of the original three games were played.

Premier Division

Ivy Tavern maintained their 100% League record today with a 4-1 win at home to second placed Ruston Sports FC. This result sees the Ivy move up to 3^rd spot, just 2 points behind today’s opponents and with 4 games in hand. Perhaps the bigger picture is the fact that Ivy Tavern are now just 3 points behind leaders New Swan having played 2 games less.

That is how things are today however the League table will change again when the playing record is expunged for Lincoln Moorlands following their application to withdraw from the League. It is always a shame when this happens, as points hard earned are lost, and the effect that withdrawing from the League by any team in any division has on that division cannot be under estimated. It is to be hoped that going forward teams try to see out the season for the good of the game when they are struggling for players for the benefit of all who play and are involved in it.

Today I watched half a game, in appalling weather conditions, involving a team who had only been able to muster 10 players on the day. I am also aware that a number of teams have recently played League and cup games with less than 11 players due to players letting them down. To all of those teams, both today and previously, I congratulate you on turning up and playing the game. You are all what the League stands for as it is all too easy to just not bother and if everyone took the latter approach it would be a waste of time having a League. Strong words I know but I believe that I speak for all the genuine people who work so hard for the League by running their clubs, and of course all the players who turn up, particularly on awful days like today, to play the game that we are all about.

Division One

With the day’s leaders, Gatehouse FC, without a game today second placed Saxilby Athletic cemented their League position with an excellent 3-2 win away at third placed Welton FC. Fourth placed Lincoln Imp were humbled by a 1-6 defeat at home to bottom of the table AFC Harpars however Imp played the entire game with only 10 men due to players letting them down, so well done to them for getting a team out on the day. For Harpars their recent improvement continued and they now climb off the foot of the table, leaving St Helens FC to occupy bottom spot after they did not have a fixture today. AFC Lincoln Green now occupy fifth spot after their 5-2 home win today against Hykeham Memorial FC, a result that sees the two sides exchange places in the table after today’s result. Another side registering a 5-2 win in this division today were AFC Plough who saw off the challenge of Old Boys United at the Cowpaddle. The remaining game between Trent Valley FC and Horncastle Town was postponed.

Division Two

Railway Inn AFC started the day in top spot but their 2-3 defeat at home to FVA Jerusalem cost them that place at the end of the day and saw FVA edge into the third place in the table. The new leaders in this division now are Bassingham Bugle Horn FC after they romped to a 6-1 win away at Red Lion Dunston. Greenbank’s poor run of form just lately continued when they lost 1-2 at home to Plough Sturton, whilst Crows Athletic enjoyed a 3-2 win at home to lowly Bardney FC. Newton United Reserves edged further away from the danger places with a 3-2 win at bottom of the table Lincoln High Street who, themselves, remain winless in the League after 8 starts.

Division Three

Leaders Wragby FC continue to march on with their impressive League form and today they made it 13 League wins on the bounce courtesy of a 5-2 win at North Lindum Hawks. Second placed Shakespeare Athletic had perhaps the division’s most impressive result of the day as they defeated third placed Cherry Willingham 4-1 to see the top two teams pull further away from the chasing pack that is headed by Cherry Willingham. This result saw Cherry lose for the first time in the League this season. Turks Head are another team finding good form right now and their 6-1 demolition of Ingleby Arms (Marton) FC underlines that fact. Queen in the West have had some disappointing results of late by their own standards but they will have been pleased to bounce back today by taking maximum points from their game at Fox & Hounds FC, winning by a 2-1 margin. That result sees Fox remain second from bottom after the bottom team Lincoln RNA went down 4-1 against Newtoft Terriers.

Division Four

I will start this divisional round up from the bottom of the League and offer congratulations to The Shed FC who recorded only their second win of the season today when they defeated the team who sit just above them in the table, AFC West End, by 3-0. They will enjoy this rare win as their wins column has been sparse so fair play to them today. At the head of the division the top 3 sides all won today. Leaders AFC Golden Eagle won 6-2 away at Nosey FC whilst second placed Coningsby FC thumped  9 goals past Railway Inn United without reply. Third placed Broadley kept in touch at the top with a 3-1 win when they visited FVA Jerusalem Reserves at Skellingthorpe. Fourth placed Birchwood FC are still in the mix at the right end of the table after their 6-1 away success at bottom of the table and still pointless The Blue Lion.

Ian Stephenson