Ron Eaglen Cup Round Two
Ruston Sports FC 1-2 Old Boys United
Looking to end their winless run Old Boys travelled to Ruston’s in the League’s Premier Cup competition. Both these sides met in the Lincolnshire Football Association County Sunday Cup earlier on in the season when Old Boys ran out winners and they were looking for a repeat result on this occasion.
Josh Gannon set the visitors on their way when he put them 1-0 up after Jack Thompson’s free kick was parried by the keeper Chris Melton only to find the man mountain heading it home. Both teams continued to press and Ruston’s were left scratching their heads after seeing 3 chances cleared off the line by the boys in yellow.
Ruston’s came out in the second half with a bit more endeavour and nearly levelled when Jack Willans’ bullet header was headed clear off the line. Ruston’s began to push and a good strike from 30 yards from Jack Hobson put the game out of the home sides grasp with ten minutes to go. Ruston’s did get a consolation goal on the final whistle when James Spriggs turned home Jack WIllans’ effort for the big man’s first goal of the season but it proved to be too little too late for the home side as the visitors took the tie and now look forward to welcoming Premier side New Swan FC to Fen Road Washingborough in the third round.
Ruston’s man of the match was Simon Cotton who excelled in the centre midfield.
Division Four
Metheringham Reserves 2-3 Branston Homeguard
Playing their first home game in six matches Metheringham Reserves hosted neighbours Branston Homeguard. The last time that these two sides met Branston knocked Metheringham 1st XI out of the Kelly Read Cup. With a chilling wind blowing down the pitch it was Branston who took an early lead from the penalty spot inside ten minutes with Louis Edwards converting the kick. Meg levelled on the half hour when Kye Pimblett released Ben Mearns and he ran on to slot home his eighth goal of the season. On the stroke of half-time Branston regained the lead with what looked a cross come centre from the left by Bradley West which floated over the keeper into the net.
The second half was end to end and on 55 minutes Meg again levelled when Kye Pimblett fed the ball inside to Aaron Stafford who drilled home into the top corner from outside the box for his eleventh goal of the campaign with 9 of them being scored in the League. Meg were then in the ascendancy and Pimblett was to see another effort cleared off the Branston line with their keeper beaten. But Branston took the lead for a third time with their second penalty of the game on 75 minutes. Meg refused to capitulate and in one of a number of attacks Stafford rattled the Branston post but on the day it was the visitors who took the points in a game which both sides possibly deserved to share the points.
Ian Stephenson