Ron Eaglen Challenge Cup – Semi Final
Rustons United 0-2 Hykeham Town TRFC
Goals from Chapman and Murphy fired the visitors into the final of the League’s Senior Cup competition where they will compete for the trophy against AFC Golden Eagle.
A cracker of a game is in prospect for the final as these teams head the table in terms of goal scoring, both sides having each scored 38 League goals in their respective campaigns this Season.
Fred Quibell Junior Cup – Semi Final
Morning Star FC 2-2 HBW United (after extra time -Morning Star win 8-7 on pens)
This game had all the drama expected of a Cup Semi Final with such a prize at stake for the winners. HBW took a first half lead through Williamson in what proved to be the only goal in a tight first half affair. After the break they added a second from Brown but goals from Marshall and Crampton saw the game end with the scores locked on 2 goals apiece. There were no further goals during the extra time period which saw the drama extend to the penalty spot. Morning Star successfully converted 8 of theirs with HBW failing from their 8th which saw Morning Star reach the final after a tremendously contested Semi Final.
Plough Sturton 2-0 Hykeham Social FC
Plough Sturton appeared in their second Cup Semi Final in consecutive weeks as they attempted to put their disappointment at missing out on reaching the Final of the Ron Eaglen Challenge Cup last week behind them. This week proved to be their week as second half goals from Patching and Blanchard overcame a spirited performance from Hykeham Social FC after both sides drew a blank in the first half. Hykeham, for their part, put up a great show and had a chance cleared off the line when the score was 1-0 to the home side, however it was the home side who secured the victory from a game that was a great credit to both sides.
Plough Sturton and Morning Star FC will now compete for the trophy when the teams meet in the final on a date yet to be fixed.
Premier Division
Metheringham FC 1-3 Lincoln Moorlands/Railway FC
Lincoln Moorlands/Railway returned to the top of the table after their visit to Metheringham. 2 first half goals from Waplington set them on their way and a second half goal from Asplin completed the job for the visitors. Metheringham started the game with just a bare 11 players and finished it with 10. Garrick was the scorer of their consolation goal.
Welton Sports & Social FC 4-8 AFC Golden Eagle
It was raining goals at Ryland Road with some stunning strikes bowled in for good measure. The home side struck first early on before the visitors levelled. Welton took the lead for the second time before they were pegged back again soon after. Once Eagle got their noses in front they were not for catching as they rattled in some quality goals almost at will. Both sides went into the game with a bare 11 players which is somewhat concerning at this stage of the Season in the League’s top Division. Welton reportedly had 6 players missing either through unavailability or injury whilst Eagle themselves had 3 first team players absent. The men to hit the mark for their respective side were: Stocks, Ealam, Sharp, and Ballard for the home side with Higginson and Davies each scoring a hat-trick for Eagle. Brader and Jenkinson also got in the scoring act for the visitors although the latter is somewhat in debate. It has been reported to me that Jenkinson’s goal was a 40 yard screamer. As this was the game that I was watching I recall it as being a 40 mm tap-in into an empty net but would I want to be a kill-joy? For good measure I, along with all of the other Eagle players, thought that the ball was already over the line and I was well placed to judge as I was stood at the other end of the pitch at the time! Both sides played some good football which was enjoyable to watch despite the fact that both had encountered difficulties in producing sides on the day.
Division One
Trent Valley 3-1 Lincoln High Street
Congratulations must go to Trent Valley who became the first team in the Sunday League to guarantee promotion from any Division this Season. Goals from Holmes, Hewitt, and Keracher secured the magic points for Trent which now sees them into an unassailable position at the top of the table as far as finishing in the top two places is concerned. High Street’s goal came from Fathulla but on the day proved only to be a consolation for the visitors. Trent currently head the table with 43 points from 16 League games. The third placed team can only accrue a total of 41 points by winning their remaining 5 games. The second placed team can match the 43 points already gained by Trent but they would need to win their remaining 5 games but to do that and would need Trent to lose their remaining 4 games in order to match their current points tally. For good measure Trent would have to lose a current goal difference of plus 32 goals in order to miss out on being the Division’s Division 1 Champions at the end of the Season. In simple terms Trent need one point to be crowned Champions in their own right, assuming that second placed FVA Jerusalem win their remaining 5 League games. Well done to all at Trent Valley who now reach the Premier Division for the first time in their 16 year history.
North Lindum Hawks 1-3 FVA Jerusalem
After a goal-less first half a second half brace from Stanney and a goal from Russell kept Jerusalem firmly in the hunt for promotion following their visit to North Lindum Hawks.
Welton FC 3-1 Wragby FC
Caines, Morris, and a penalty from Atkinson secured the points for the home side to keep them firmly on the heels of the second placed team when they defeated Wragby 3-1 at Welton Golf Club. Wragby got a goal back courtesy of Smith but that could not derail the home side’s impressive Season which sees them currently sitting in third place in the League table.
Bassingham Bugle Horn FC 3-1 St Helens FC
St Helens began the day in third place but slipped a place following a 1-3 reverse out at Bassingham. 2 goals from Walker and a goal from Macdonald turned round a 0-1 deficit after Mason put the visitors ahead. Bassingham’s excellent run of late continued and they now climb another place after this, their 3rd win on the bounce in the League.
Wishing Well Cherry 3-0 Newton United
A brace from Pinnington and a goal from D’Rosario earned the Cherry based side their first League win in their last 4 starts when they entertained Newton United. The win sees Wishing Well climbing the table again after slipping down it of late. They now sit in 5th place whilst Newton remain second from bottom.
Division Two
Coningsby FC 1-3 Nettleham FC
Nettleham extended their lead at the top of the table after coming through a difficult looking fixture away at third placed Coningsby FC. A hat-trick from Park did the trick for the visitors with Stapleton scoring the goal for the hosts. Coningsby remain in third place despite the loss.
Old Boys United 2-2 AFC Rustons
Surely the fastest goal of the day was scored by Miller for the visitors as it was timed at just 14 seconds by the Match Official. Dougan also scored for the title challengers whilst Gardiner and Hudson scored the goals for the home side. Rustons have everything to play for in their quest to win this Division as they have 2 games in hand on the leaders whom they now trail by 4 points. For good measure Rustons also hold a superior goal difference which would only improve if they could turn their games in hand into the the 4 points required but there will still be twists and turns at the top of this Division as the Season plays out, that is for sure.
Saxilby Athletic 2-4 Waddington United
Heath hit a hat-trick for Waddington and Pell added their 4th goal when they claimed maximum points from their visit to Saxilby. Beaumont and Hicks responded with goals for the home side but that couldn’t prevent the side from Mere Road climbing up to 5th place in the table.
Dunston FC 4-1 Cherry Willingham
Ormsby gave the visitors a first half lead which they took into the interval. Second half goals for Dunston from Bates, Hill, Drummond, and an own goal, saw them move off the bottom of the table and now sit level on points with the team that they defeated on the day but they have played a couple of games more. A special mention must go to Drummond for his goal after he received the ball in his own half and seeing the keeper off his line sent in a shot with his weaker foot from the half way line which sailed over the head of the stranded keeper.
Division Three
Horncastle Town 3-1 The Sports Bar
With Leaders Morning Star in Cup action this gave Sports Bar the opportunity to close the gap at the top of the Division. A hat-trick by Harness for the home side, 2 of which were from the penalty spot, put paid to that opportunity as the games are now beginning to run out for the team from Heighington in their quest for top spot
Ruston Sports FC 5-4 Queen Athletic
Ruston Sports moved up to third place in the table following an entertaining and exciting game against Queen Athletic. Stephenson netted 4 goals for the hosts with their other goal coming from Baker. The Match Official, Mr Lewis Morgan, has informed the League that both teams played the game in a great spirit with no cautions necessary in a game played in the right way. Well done to all who participated in this game.
Shakespeare Imps 2-1 Ruskington Lions
The visitors lost ground following defeat from their visit to Shakespeare Imps. Despite a goal from Fixter the visitors went down to goals by Binnington and Issott for the home side. The Lions drop a place to 4th place following this result whilst Imps remain just under mid-table safety.
Lincoln RNA 0-2 Broadley FC
2 goals from Paulson secured the points for Broadley following their visit to Lincoln RNA.
Division Four
The Shed 0-6 Railway Inn United
This Division now has new leaders after Railway Inn United climbed to top spot after a comprehensive win at The Shed. Lilley and Smith each scored 2 goals each and further efforts from Paul and Float lifted them to the top of the tree as their defence remained unbreached.
Swanpool FC 5-1 FVA Jerusalem Reserves
Bentley registered a hat-trick and Bellamy notched 2 goals as Swanpool lifted themselves into second place following a comprehensive home win over FVA.
Bottle & Glass 3-0 The Ferryboat
2 goals from Stocks and a strike from Gray secured the points for the Scothern based side who now sit in 3rd place in a Division which seems to change more times a month at the top end than any of the others with just 2 points dividing the top 4 places.
AFC West End 3-0 Green Dragon
Jewitt, Totton, and Green scored the goals for West End to record a victory which sees them climb a place to 5th place in the table after this result.
Ian Stephenson