Ron Eaglen Challenge Cup – Quarter Final
I should have been reporting on one of the stand-out games of the day today between Anglers FC and Hykeham Town TRFC but sadly the facts are that Anglers reported that they were unable to raise enough players to play the game and as a result the game could not be played.
Cup Rule 11(C) applies which means that Anglers FC will be struck out of the competition with immediate effect and a fine will be imposed by the League when the League Management Committee next meets in January. Hykeham Town TRFC now join AFC Golden Eagle, Rustons United, and Plough Sturton in the draw for the Semi Finals of the competition, the draw will be made on 6th January 2019.
Premier Division
Goals were in plenty of supply at Ruston Marconi where Rustons United entertained near neighbours Lincoln Moorlands/Railway in a game between two sides who both hold genuine hopes of challenging for the title at the end of the Season. Lincoln Moorlands/Railway raced into a 3-1 half-time lead thanks to two goals from Wapplington and a goal from Asplin. After the break Drabble scored a hat-trick, all from the penalty spot, for United but Wapplington notched his third of the game and two penalties from Woodhall and a goal from Butler gave the visitors an impressive 8-3 victory. Referee Dan Woolley had a busy morning for making penalty decisions with 5 awarded in total. The Moors remain in second place, just behind leaders Hykeham Town TRFC, whilst Rustons lost ground, remaining in fourth place.
At the other end of the table Metheringham FC hosted 10 man New Swan FC, who deserve credit for playing with a reduced compliment of players due to a lack of availability. Garrick claimed a hat-trick for the hosts whilst Atkinson hit a brace, with Greenfield completing their scoring of 6 goals. Chamberlain scored a brace for New Swan and further goals from Schofield and Halton ensured that they remained in the contest throughout despite the numerical advantage that the home side possessed. The 6-4 victory for Meg maintained their improvement in results of late whilst Swan’s defeat leaves them perilously close to danger just one place off the bottom of the table.
Division One
The Trent Valley goal scoring machine was in effective working order today with 11 goals scored, with 3 conceded, from their visit to South Clifton where they took on a Newton United side who are still struggling to adjust to life after their relegation from the Premier Division last Season. The Trent marksmen were Ekins, who lead the way with 4, Hewitt, who hit a hat-trick, and Munro and Gibson, both of whom scored 2 goals apiece. Trent remain on top spot with a very impressive record of 9 wins from their opening 10 games with just one defeat in the League to date this Season.
Second placed FVA Jerusalem are doing everything they can to keep the leaders within their grasp and they recorded a 5-2 home win over mid-table Welton FC. The goals were spread around their side with Russell, Frecklington, Forbes, Wilson, and Prendergast all getting on their score sheet whilst Spencer and Caines each scored for the visitors.
St Helens sit in third spot after their impressive 4-1 win at Wishing Well Cherry FC. A hat-trick for Papworth and a goal for Reburn keeping the Saints firmly involved at the right end of the table. After an impressive start to the campaign Wishing Well have slipped into a mid-table position after a string of inconsistent results over the past few weeks.
Fox & Hounds FC have crept up to fourth place in the table after a run of 4 wins in their last 5 League games and with games in hand look to be in a strong position to challenge those above them in the second half of the Season. A solitary goal from Fletcher gave them a 1-0 win from their trip to Bassingham Bugle Horn FC
Division Two
The game of the day in this division was at William Street Saxilby where the hosts, Saxilby Athletic, entertained current leaders AFC Rustons. Beaumont hit 4 goals for the home side and an own goal took their tally to 5 but 2 goals for the visitors from Miller, plus goals from Dugan, Simons, and Reid ensured a share of the points with the game finishing 5-5. AFC Rustons remain unbeaten in the League and still occupy top spot but goals from Brown, Nixon, and Stapleton, for Coningsby FC, lifted them into second place after their 3-1 home win against Old Boys United. Hudson scored the consolation goal for the Old Boys who themselves have slipped down the table of late. Coningsby are now level on points with the League leaders but have played 3 games more as they have now reached the half-way stage of their Season.
Plough Sturton moved up to fourth place in the table following their 5-0 win at Witham St Hughs. A first half goal from Barratt saw Plough leading at the break but two second half goals, each from Patching and Blanchard, gave the visitors a comfortable 5-0 win. Plough are just 2 points behind the leaders with the same games played so are well placed to be involved in a title chase come the end of the Season as things currently stand.
Waddington United have been somewhat inconsistent of late, seemingly unable to consolidate back to back wins, which has seen them slip a little down the League table. Today’s 0-3 defeat at improving Cherry Willingham doing little to cement them amongst the top teams as they have now dropped to fifth spot, as well as having played more games than the teams around them. Ormsby, Ip, and McCarthy were the Cherry men who inflicted this defeat on the team from Mere Road.
Division Three
There appears to be no stopping leaders Morning Star as their impressive form continued out at Horncastle today. Reynolds, Drury, Crampton, and Waite, hit the goals for Star as they ran out 4-1 winners against a Horncastle Town team who were the early leaders of the division. Despite a goal from Harness for the home side the Star win condemned Town to their third defeat of the Season and a fall down to fifth spot in the table.
All you can do is win your own games is a saying often used in football and a Ranyard goal for The Sports Bar ensured that they did just that when they visited Broadley FC, recording a slender 1-0 win. This result sees The Sports Bar remaining second and keeping on the heels of the leaders despite a points gap which currently stands at five.
Two goals from Baker, and goals from Norris and Van Donink, elevated Ruston Sports FC up to fourth place in the table following their 4-1 away win at Lincoln RNA. The home side saw Russell net for them – direct from a corner.
Mid-table Queen Athletic took the points courtesy of a 2-1 win away at Stacey West FC. Moulds and Parkinson were their scorers.
A goal from Cornwall was not enough to stop Nosey FC going down 1-3 at home to Shakespeare Imps.
Division Four
Leaders Bottle & Glass FC suffered the disappointment of a postponement to their game on the day with Metheringham Reserves so second placed Crown & Arrows had the opportunity to return to the top spot when they visited in-form Swanpool FC. The home side had other ideas of course and a brace each from Bentley and Stokes plus a goal from Horry dashed the hopes of their high flying visitors as Swanpool won 5-2. Hewson was on target twice for the Crown, both times from the penalty spot. This result propels the Swans up to third place, just a point behind the front two teams, in a division that looks as though it may go right to the wire.
AFC West End ended their game with just 9 players as 2 succumbed to injury and they went down 0-2 at home to FVA Jerusalem Reserves.
The remaining two games both finished in scoring draws.The Ferryboat FC and HBW United shared 6 goals in an entertaining 3-3 draw. Lig scored 2 and Turner added a third for the home side whilst O’Callaghan, Good, and an own goal for the visitors leveled things up and both teams had to settle for a point each.
Slater and Galvin each scored for The Shed in their game at home to Green Dragon but replies from Stephenson and Wright again meant that both teams went home with a point apiece.
The League continues to operate throughout the next 2 weeks but with a reduced programme, as many teams have decided to close down over the Christmas period. I will run a round-up of the results and scorers for the games played over the festive period but will take this early opportunity to wish all the readers of my weekly round-up a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Ian Stephenson