Starting from this week I intend to post a more detailed round-up of the days games in a way that hopefully is more informative for the reader. This format replaces the old style results only round up previously posted on a Sunday evening. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts, good or bad, on how you feel this type of post appeals. It certainly takes some time to prepare with the research and collation of information required but if it is of value I will attempt to develop it, if it isn’t then I can review its worthiness going forward. Please send any comments on your thoughts to: ianstephenson637@btinternet.com
Ron Eaglen Cup Round – Quarter Final
The final tie of the quarter finals was resolved when Hykeham Town TRFC played host to The Sports Bar in a game that had been previously postponed due to the home side’s involvement in the County Cup. Mehta scored a brace for the home side and individual goals from Dickinson and Chapman saw them book their place in the semi final with a 4-1 win after they lead 2-1 at the interval. Hykeham Town TRFC now visit fellow Premier Division opponents New Swan FC in the semi final of the competition on 11th February for a place in the final in May. The cup will see a new name on it this year as last Season’s winners left the League at the end of last Season.
Jock Mitchell Memorial Trophy
The quarter finals of the Jock Mitchell Memorial Trophy were played as the excitement at the prospect of a Sincil Bank cup final appearance got ever closer for those involved. Last Season’s defeated finalists Birchwood United went down 3-4 away at the much improved HBW United to exit the competition. Two goals from Chris Reid and one from Kye Collins weren’t enough to see the visitors over the line as the home side had Jim O’Callaghan, Dean Barber, Dan Monaghan and Anthony Read to thank for their goals which saw them safely into the next round.
Division Four leaders Morning Star kept their impressive band wagon rolling this Season with a 3-1 win at home to The Shed FC. First half goals from Martin Waplington and Joe Walukiewicz saw them leading 2-1 at the break with Waplington adding his second, and his team’s third, in the second half to complete the scoring.
Nettleham FC, another team enjoying a fine first Season in the League, kept their Cup calendar full following an excellent 3-1 win at home to Division Four high flyers Nosey FC at Mulsanne Park. Simon Gould, Bryan Skayman, and Tom Parker all netted for the home side whilst Alex Mackieder replied for the visitors.
Ruston Sports and Queen Athletic were unable to be separated after 90 minutes or indeed extra time when they ended up all square at 1-1 at Ruston Marconi. Both goals came during the first half with Paul Norris hitting the target for Ruston’s and Chris Moulds notching for the visitors. Successful penalty kicks from Chris Moulds, James Parkinson, Joel Sturgess, and Paul Marklew saw the visitors through to the Semi Finals and also see their hosts lose out in the most cruellest of ways of deciding a football match.
The draw for the Semi Finals will be made by the League Management Committee when they next meet on Monday 5th February. It will not be live on Sky Sports but will appear on the website late on next Monday evening following the meeting!
Premier Division
There were 3 games in the League’s top division which saw three of the top four teams all in action. With the top two teams wining it was very much “as you were” at the end of the day at the top with both extending their respective goal differences. Leaders Anglers FC maintained their 100% League record with 8 wins out of 8 when they defeated local neighbours Newton United at Mill Lane. Craig Bridge and Stewart Aisthorpe each bagged two goals apiece with Michael Ward and Michael Kelman also finding the net for the league leaders in what proved to be a comfortable 6-1 win. Paul Leedle hit the goal for Newton which proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal for the side currently sitting at the bottom of the division.
Rustons United remain unbeaten in the league in second place after going one goal better than Anglers with a comprehensive 7-1 win at home to New Swan FC, a team who promised so much after last Season’s excellent campaign, but who have suffered this Season with player changes resulting in a difficult Season for them. The half time whistle saw the home side leading 2-1 but a powerful second half saw the title challengers rattle in 5 more goals. Lee Skepper lead the way on the day with 4 whilst Sam Triffit, Josh Raby, and Joe Foster extended the score line for Rustons. Dane Sayce got the solitary goal for New Swan.
Lincoln Moorlands/Railway FC climbed a place to third to maintain their challenge with a 3-1 home win against Metheringham, a team that they exchanged places with in the table as a consequence of this result. First half goals from Cal Murphy and Ricky Smith set the home side on their way before Meg reduced the arrears in the 65th minute when Miles Lynch took a quick free kick to Andy Anderson who found the bottom corner of the net after turning his marker. Joe Butler had the last say with the scoring however when he netted for the Moors in the 88th minute after a swift counter attack.
Division One
Leaders AFC Golden Eagle travelled to Wragby FC with just a bare 11 players. The 11 were able to knock 7 goals in however despite the best efforts of Scott Lowman who scored all 4 of Wragby’s goals in a 7-4 win for the Lincoln based side. Higginson scored 4 himself for the visitors with Davis adding 2 and Baker also getting on the score sheet in a game which appears closer than the result suggests according to the information received.
Welton Sports AFC remain second in the division after a hard working performance out at North Scarle against Railway Inn AFC. Connor Smith got Welton’s all important goal in the 40th minute following a goal mouth scramble.
Bassingham Bugle Horn’s good run of form continued with a 5-3 success at Old Boys United. A Matthew Dale hat-trick plus 2 goals from Chris Lewis did the trick for Bass with Jack Hobson’s brace and an own goal for the home side not being enough for the Branston based side.
Wishing Well Cherry have put together a decent run of form of late and this was extended with their win by the odd goal in 5 when they visted Welton FC at Dunholme. Lee Lynch gave the visitors the lead in the first half of a windswept game. Conor Caines and Matt Atkinson both scored for the home side to turn the game round by the half time break. Myron Szostok equalised for the visitors before scoring again near the death to secure all 3 points for the visitors with a 3-2 victory.
Division Two
Leaders St Helens FC were without a game which gave their challengers the opportunity to close the gap that they had opened up at the top of the table. Coningsby grabbed their opportunity by recording a 2-1 home win against fifth placed Waddington United in blustery game. The first half was goal less before Charlie Stapleton and Daniel Nixon gave the home side a useful advantage. Waddington grabbed a goal back around the 80 minute mark when Ryan Pell received the ball some 20 yards out before unleashing an unstoppable shot but despite a frantic last 10 minutes the side promoted at the end of last Season saw the game out which meant that they climbed to second place in the table at the end of the day.
Plough Sturton visited Lincoln High Street FC in a mid-table clash and returned home with all three points thanks to a 2-1 win. All of the goals were scored in the first half of the game with Tom Everington and Joshua Chambers being the marksmen for the visitors. This results saw the two sides exchange League placings with each other in the table.
The remaining two games both saw the points shared as both finished as score draws. Shakespeare Athletic and AFC Harpars shared 4 goals when the game finished 2-2. Crampton hit two first half goals for Shakespeare as they lead 2-1 at the interval. Chalk and Lyddiatt replied for the Horncastle based team to go home with a share of the spoils.
The final game in the division ended 1-1 between Newton United Reserves and Dunston FC. George Shores opened the scoring for Dunston on the 15 minute mark after a dominant period in the game for them. Despite having the lion’s share of possession they were unable to convert any other chances and they went into the interval a goal to the good. Davis Kalkerts scored a second half equaliser for the Newton boys in a game that was very well officiated by referee Mr Jake Brophy.
Division Three
There was just one game played in this division which saw the bottom team Railway Inn United trounced Newtoft Terriers 7-0 to record their biggest win of the Season. A hat-trick from Chris Boulter plus solo efforts from Leo Bosher, Tom Float, Kyle Paul, and Kyle Hughes made it a day to remember for all the right reasons for the Railway boys after a difficult first half of the Season for them.
Division Four
With the division’s leaders engaged in Cup action Shakespeare Imps grabbed the opportunity to move up into third place on goal difference from FVA Jerusalem Reserves after their 4-1 away success at Green Dragon. With neither side submitting any further information that is as much as I can report upon. Saxilby Sports and Metheringham Reserves served up a 7 goal thriller at Saxilby with the home side shading the game with a 4-3 win. The visitors took the lead in windy conditions through Brandon Pearson before conceding two goals before Aaron Stafford equalised to send the teams in at the interval all square. This ws Stafford’s 18th goal of the campaign and he has now scored in each of his last 9 matches. In the second half the home side went 4-2 ahead before Liam Kidd gave Meg hope with his side’s third goal of the game but it wasn’t to be for the vistors and so it was that the home side took the points from the game.
FVA Jerusalem dropped down one place in the remaining game in the Division when their game at home to AFC was unfortunately abandoned at 11.10am after a visiting player received a head injury resulting in him suffering concussion. An ambulance was called for and due to the delay that was to be experienced the game was called off as the injury, quite rightly, meant that the player should not be moved from the pitch. Thankfully I am pleased to report that after medical examination the injury was not diagnosed as being serious or long lasting and that is all that matters when events such as this happen in the game.
Ian Stephenson