Today saw the third round matches played in the Lincolnshire County Football Association County Sunday Cup with 10 of the games featuring teams from our League. Generally speaking it proved to be a good day overall for our League teams with 7 of them progressing through to the fourth round of the competition.
Both of our representatives in the semi-finals last season, namely Ivy Tavern and Metheringham FC, successfully booked their passage through. Ivy Tavern returned from Crosby United with a 7-1 win to celebrate whilst Metheringham FC overcame the challenge of FVA Jerusalem with a 3-2 win at the Paddock. Rustons United ran out 4-1 victors at home to Crowle United and when that game finished neighbours Ruston Sports AFC took to the same pitch to defeat Punchbowl Tigers 4-1. Gatehouse FC needed extra time out at East March Mariners but that proved successful as they recorded a 3-2 away win after the 90 minutes had finished all square. Bassingham Bugle Horn FC are having a very good season to date and that continued today when they put Waddington United out of the competition with a solid 3-0 win at Bassingham. Scothern United bounced back from last week’s horror result with a 3-1 home win against AFC Brigg, whilst near neighbours Welton Sports AFC went down 1-4 at home to Chancel FC. AFC Plough were defeated heavily at the Cowpaddle when they were on the wrong end of a 1-9 score line against The Notts FC. Last, and certainly not least, I must give a special mention to Railway Inn United FC who play in Division 4 of our League. They went into their game today as the lowest ranked team left in the competition in relation to their respective division. They were up against the challenge of Grimsby Sunday League’s Premier Division leaders Crows Nest Grimsby. At one point Railway were leading their illustrious visitors 3-0 and then 4-1 however their opponents showed just why they are so highly placed with a strong finish to win the game 6-4, leaving Railway to reflect on what” might have been, and in reality what “ nearly was”. Well done boys on a magnificent effort that nearly produced the shock result of the day.
It was also cup day today in our Kelly Read Trophy. This is the competition for our village teams who play from a village location. There were 3 games scheduled to take place in the Preliminary Round today with the remaining tie being played next week due to the County Cup being played a week earlier than had been anticipated. Newton United made the next round thanks to a 6-0 win at neighbours Saxilby Athletic, and Turks Head overcame the challenge of higher division opposition when they defeated Plough Sturton 5-1 at Heighington. The remaining game between Newtoft Terriers and Old Boys United was called off late on Saturday night when Newtoft informed the League that they were unable to raise a side.
There was just one game played today in the Premier Division of the League, this saw the points shared in a 2-2 draw between Lincoln Moorlands and Travellers Rest. This result sees the side from Moorlands climb to second in the table albeit they have played more games than the teams that sit around them.
In Division ONE leaders Welton FC saw their early season form continue to fade when they lost their second League game on the trot down at Fen Lane North Hykeham. The home side, AFC Lincoln Green, were comfortable winners 6-2 but a special mention must go to the home side’s second goal which was a stunning volley of such quality that I doubt that there was a better goal scored anywhere in the Country this weekend at any level of football. Apologies for not being able to identify the scorer, hopefully this will be reported on later in the week via my match reports section, it certainly deserves to be.
Hykeham Memorial made the long trip out to Horncastle to take on AFC Harpars and they returned home happy after registering a 5-0 win. The final game in this division saw Lincoln Imp FC defeat St Helens FC 3-1 at Skellingthorpe Road to overtake their opponents in the League table and rise up to 5th spot in the League.
In Division TWO Red Lion Dunston finally got their League season kick-started after a difficult start with an impressive looking 6-3 win away at neighbours Woodhall Spa United, a result which sees them climb off the foot of the table. The latter spot is now occupied by Lincoln High Street FC despite them claiming their first point of the season in an amazing 5-5 draw at home to Crows Athletic. Leaders Railway Inn AFC came off the rails with a 3-6 defeat out at South Clifton when they lost to Newton United FC Reserves.
Division THREE saw leaders Wragby FC record their sixth straight League win 4-3 at home to Fox & Hounds FC, whilst Shakespeare Athletic remained as close to them as they could courtesy of a home win against North Lindum Hawks by 4 goals to nil. Queen in the West look menacing again with 3 wins out of 3, today saw them win 4-0 away at Dynamo Varsity. Cherry Willingham FC remain unbeaten in the League thanks to a 6-1 win at Lincoln RNA whilst the final game saw 6 goals shared between Ingleby Arms (Marton) FC and HBW United with the game finishing 3-3.
Division FOUR saw goals aplenty once again with the top two teams playing each other at Yarborough. The game between Broadley FC and visitors Coningsby FC, two teams who had each scored 37 goals in just 4 games, promised goals and perhaps the footballing pundits may have predicted a score draw. I bet few would have predicted a 6-6 draw which is what the two teams produced on the day. AFC West End became the latest team to boost their goals scored credentials with a 16 goal haul at the expense of basement team The Blue Lion, 16-0 being the final score. Blue Lion have the unenviable record of now having conceded 82 League goals in the League after just 6 games but they play the game with a smile on their face and they enjoy themselves. They are a real credit to themselves and they turn up each week and that’s what it is all about. Good luck to them.
AFC golden Eagle completed a 6-0 win away at FVA Jerusalem Reserves to remain third in the table and another team who will look to be challenging at the end of the season are Hykeham Athletic, today they kept their momentum going with a 3-1 home win against Saxilby Sports AFC.
Ian Stephenson.