Ron Eaglen Cup Round One
AFC Harpars 1
Old Boys United 6
The visitors opened the scoring out at Horncastle when Josh Gannon found himself on the end of a Bradley Hueso to give his side the lead. The same two players combined again from another corner to double the score, Josh Gannon couldn’t believe his luck as he struggles to get 2 goals a season let alone 2 in the same game! Old Boys continued to press but the Harpars, keeper was keeping Old Boys at bay but he couldn’t do anything when Josh Cheetham found himself unmarked before he slotted the ball into the bottom corner to make it 3-0. Just before the break Jack Thompson got himself on the score sheet to take the visitors into the break with a commanding lead.
Old Boys could have been 5-0 up not long into the second half and would have been but for a brilliant reflex save from the Harpars keeper. The fifth goal came when Shaun “the tap in” Hudson finally managed to score, AFC Harpars made sure that Old Boys keeper, Neil Griffiths, wouldn’t leave Horncastle with a clean sheet, before Shaun Hudson made it 6 not long after.
Bassingham Bugle Horn FC 1
Metheringham FC 6
Metheringham visited Division Two side Bassingham in their Ron Eaglen cup tie with the prize for the winners a home tie against cup holders Ivy Tavern. Metheringham had the better of the early exchanges but found the home defence, especially keeper Jordan Dixon, more than resilient. Very early on Dixon pulled off a good save to turn a Joe Smith effort around the post. Then on 13 minutes a speculative effort from a Bassingham player on the halfway line rattled the Meg bar. Meg had the better of the half but could not find the net and then on 36 minutes, totally against the run of play, Bassingham broke down the right with Nathan Holland playing a ball in to Ash Stephenson and he fired it home into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. This shuck Meg and on the stroke of half time a long thrown by Kyle Thompson finished up in the home net with Liam Hargrave claiming the final touch but his colleagues were adamant it came off a home defender.
The tie was to be very much decided on goals either side of the break with Meg making it 2-1 inside the opening minute of the restart. This time a cross from the left by Jayden Driver was met by Andy Anderson and when his effort was charged down Aaron Harrison tucked away the loose ball. 2-1 became 3-1 seven minutes later with Driver’s corner on the right going deep to the back of the area from where Joe Smith retrieved it and knocked it back towards goal for Liam Hargrave to head home. Having battled gamely this goal knocked the heart out of the home side and 5 minutes later Meg added a fourth with swift inter-passing on the edge of the home box before Jake Thorpe put Harrison in to shoot home his second goal of the game. With ten minutes left Meg made it 5-1 with Andy Anderson rifling home from close range at the far post from another corner from Driver. The scoring was completed a minute later with Driver then getting on the score sheet himself after a mazy run and shot which totally caught keeper Dixon out. This said, this was possibly Dixon’s only mistake of the day despite the score-line as he pulled off three superb saves in the second half. Aaron Harrison was named as the Metheringham Man of the Match.
Ivy Tavern FC 6
Plough Sturton 0
Cup holders Ivy Tavern commenced their defence of thee trophy with a comfortable passage through to round 2 with all their goals coming in the first half of the game.
They started the game superbly and were 2-0 up inside 10 minutes thanks to a quick fire brace from Sean Cann. Ivy then appeared to take their foot off the gas, although they dominated possession and still created chances but the score remained 2-0 until the half hour mark until Jordan Taylor curled a quality shot in from the edge of box. Taylor then got his second of the game after a delicious cross from the lively Jack Wilkinson, he was on hand to glide home a close range header. Just before the half time whistle Taylor completed his hat-trick after typical endeavour. He closed the full backs down and burst through the keeper’s advances to run the ball home into the empty net. There was still time for another goal as skipper Matty Chenko got on the end of a delightful Danny Wells corner to nod home from just inside the 6 yard box to register his first goal of the season. Perhaps the only surprise of the day was that the Ivy were unable to add to their tally in second period despite controlling the game. A large amount of credit must go to Plough Sturton for this as they stuck to their game plan and battled hard throughout the second period, defending valiantly to keep the score to 6.
Another positive for the home side was that this was the third consecutive clean sheet which will delight their management. Kevin Smith stepped in at right back and it has to be said that he nearly scored the goal of the season after a long range effort cannoned off the crossbar. Scott Birdsall, at left back, looks a great signing and mainstay Matty Chenko was joined by the experienced James Stokes. Jordan Curtis again occupied the right midfield and the impressive Jack Wilkinson, playing on the left, made some driving runs as well as delivering some quality crosses, resulting in him picking up the Ivy’s Man of the Match award.
Joe Mackie made a welcome return to the Ivy midfield and carried on where he left off last season, competing for every ball which allowed Danny Wells to play around the park. Neither of the front men really got in the game but scored 5 of the 6 goals which was pleasing for the home side. McGovern came on for his second appearance and showed his combative approach, Joe Ayres replaced Wilkinson and always looked to create, and Matt Waite completed the game assured at right back. Chester rarely had a save to make but will be happy with the clean sheet. After successive weeks in cup action the League title holders now look forward to returning to League action next weekend.
Lincoln Moorlands 8
AFC West End 1
With Lincoln Moorlands’ Manager Keiran Fox giving a few first team players a rest on the day it was a good game to give their squad players a chance to show what they could do. In truth they never looked to be in any trouble against their opponents who play in Division Four of the League.
Goals from George Asplin, Michael Coyle and Ryan Beasley gave moorlands a 3-0 lead at half time. Credit must go to AFC West End as the pushed throughout the second half to try to get a goal and their persistence paid off when they got their goal which proved to be no more than a consolation in the end. Unfortunately for the visitors they then got hit time after time by the Moorlands and Ryan Beasley, who came off the bench in the first half, got 4 goals, George Asplin registered a hat-trick and Michael Coyle finished off the scoring. Lincoln Moorlands, players would like to give a mention of praise to referee Darren Wallhead the Match Referee who did a great job throughout the game.
Welton FC 2
Hykeham Athletic 3
After a sloppy start Welton quickly found themselves 2-0 down after impressive finishes from the visitors.
Matt Atkinson showed good play down the wing to find Daryl Spencer, who made a good run, and got his toe to the ball to beat the keeper and reduce the deficit to 2-1 before half time.
Hykeham restored their 2 goal advantage after a good overhead volley following a long free kick which the Welton defence struggled to deal with.
Matt Atkinson made the score 3-2 with a calm finish to give the home team some hope and he came close on a couple of occasions to levelling the game but it wasn’t to be and the visitors produced the giant killing act of the day in the competition, particularly taking into account the home side’s impressive start in the League.
Division Three
Wragby FC 3
Dynamo Varsity 1
Sunday was a bit of a day to forget for Varsity and unfortunately for them they didn’t really get going. A very slack first half meant they went into the half-time break 2-0 down with a scuffed shot opening the scoring before they added a second when the home striker powered home a header mid way through the half.
The visitors started the second half much brighter but Wragby managed to catch them on the break to register their third goal of the contest and effectively put the game out of Dynamo’s reach. Dynamo did manage to snatch a consolation goal however when Derek Wyld headed home. Paul Norris picked up the Man of the Match accolade for Dynamo Varsity but it was Wragby who bossed the affair on the whole from start to finish.
Ian Stephenson