Ruston United 0-2 Jolly Brewer FC
The Ron Eaglen Challenge Cup Final was the second Cup Final in our Calendar when it was played on Sunday 10th May 2026. This was the eagerly awaited match between Ruston United and Jolly Brewer FC which took place at the LNER Stadium, Lincoln.
This really was a mouth-watering contest between the 2 highest placed teams in the Premier Division of the League with just 2 points separating the teams with Ruston United holding the 2-point gap in their favour ahead of the teams coming up against each other again next Sunday in the final League match in the Division this Season.
The Referee for this one was Mr Will Vickers, with Assistant Referees Mr Alex Wilson and Mr Matthew Mantle, with Tim Eagles completing the team of Match Officials as the 4th Official.
The match carried an unusually early kick-off time for this League of 10.00am. This was due to the fact that the League would be hosting the Kelly Read Cup Final during the afternoon and sufficient preparation and cleaning time was required to be allowed in the event that the Ron Eaglen Cup Final went to extra time and penalties.
Jolly Brewer FC got the game under way attacking the Stacey West end of the ground.
Almost before the game had chance to settle, the first golden opportunity fell to Richie Ingham as early as the 2nd minute when Ruston’s broke down the right, the cross evaded Jolly Brewer’s defenders, and found its way to Ingham who, with only the keeper to beat, somewhat inexplicably missed the target when unchallenged and with nobody else near him.
With the early chance gone the same player was at the centre of a penalty appeal in the 7th minute of the match when he went down in the box under a challenge from Jordan Curtis, but Referee Vickers was right on the spot, no pun intended, to immediately signal that there was no foul and the appeal was rightly waved away.
The first 10 minutes saw Ruston’s enjoy the majority of possession, and they carved out another opportunity on 9 minutes when their number 9, Lee Skepper, found himself clean through and bearing down on Macauley Fosdyke in the Brewer goal, but Skepper shot wide and again a good chance went begging.
Ruston’s were made to pay heavily for their early missed chances when Brewer took the lead in the 10th minute of the match with a goal that came against the early run of play. George Asplin skipped away from his marker with a strong run down the Jolly Brewer right flank, and he advanced into the box before putting a peach of a ball across the box to Haydn Havard who had the simplest of tasks in tapping home unmarked just a couple of yards from goal inside the 6-yard box.
Ruston United 0-1 Jolly Brewer FC.
Macauley Fosdyke in the Jolly Brewer goal had to be alert in the 15th minute of the match when Jordan Curtis was played in behind the defence, but Fosdyke had the matter in hand as he raced out to clear the danger before Curtis could bring the ball under control.
It was noticeable during the first quarter of the match that the Jolly Brewer defence were looking strong and well drilled as they shut down space quickly and efficiently every time that Ruston’s got the ball anywhere near the last 30 yards of their forward line. This was evidenced on 16 minutes when Zac Johnson, Jolly Brewer’s right back, put in a superb tackle to snuff out the danger when Curtis tried to beat him as the last line of the Brewer’s defence.
After the first quarter had elapsed the game settled more and both teams looked to play through the lines with some neat, impressive football. Alan Power, for Ruston’s, making a return to the ground where he enjoyed many successful Seasons as Lincoln City Captain between 2011 and 2017, and Elliot Dye, for Jolly Brewer, both caught the eye with early impressive performances whenever they were able to get on the ball for their respective teams.
Having created the first goal of the game, Brewer’s Asplin looked to get on the scoresheet himself in the 24th minute of the match when he broke free down the right again but his powerful on-target shot brought a fine save from Craig Turner who managed to push the ball out around the post for a corner which subsequently was cleared without further alarm.
Macauley Fosdyke, in the Jolly Brewer goal, was not to be outdone by his opposite number, and he showed his ability in the 26th minute when he produced a smart save from a crisp, low shot, from the dangerous looking Skepper.
Jordan Curtis and his Jolly Brewer teammates thought that they had doubled their lead on 29 minutes when he got the last touch to a deflected shot that had resulted from a free kick floated in from the left. The ball went in off the bar, but the Assistant’s flag was raised, and the ‘goal’ was disallowed, to the relief of Ruston’s and the disappointment of Brewer.
Had the first half corner count have been a factor in domination, then Ruston’s would have been ahead but as we all know, it isn’t, and the only score that counts was the half time score which read:
Half-time score: Rustons United 0-1 Jolly Brewer FC.
The second half started in much the same vein as the first half had started with 2 good chances, one to either team, being carved out within the first 2 minutes of the match restarting. Firstly, Richie Ingham of Ruston’s, played a neat pass through to Jack Wilkinson and his excellent cross just evaded the onrushing forwards by only a couple of inches as the danger passed.
Then, less than 30 seconds later, Scott Fenwick had a good chance for Jolly Brewer but his shot was well saved by Turner to keep the score unchanged.
The first 10 minutes of the second half would be accurately summed up as being ‘end to end’ with both teams treating the crowd to some excellent and fast entertaining football. Both teams did look very well matched which is unsurprising when their 3 games against each other in the League’s top Division this Season has seen one win for each team with the other game ending all square.
Jolly Brewer did manage to double their lead in the 52nd minute with the second and final goal of the match. Kane Hutchinson was the man presented with the easiest of finishes as the ball found itself at his feet resulting from a Brewer cross that came in from the right, eluding the Ruston’s defence presenting Hutchinson with the easiest of tap ins.
Ruston United 0-2 Jolly brewer FC.
The same player thought that he had doubled his personal tally and increased his team’s lead further just 6 minutes later as he hammered the ball past Turner only to see the ball strike the post and rebound out to safety with the score remaining untroubled.
Both teams had further chances to alter the scoreline in the last quarter of the match, but both goalkeepers remained largely untroubled, and the match finished with the current Premier Division champions triumphing over their main rivals for the League title again this Season.
The match was very well contested by both teams, and it was the supporters of Jolly Brewer FC who left their seats the happier on this occasion.
A mention too for Referee Will Vickers and his team, all of whom contributed to an enjoyable and very watchable game, played in a good spirit between 2 of the best teams in our League. Well done to all and a special thank you to everyone who attended this event creating a good atmosphere for all the players on the day.
The Trophy was presented to Jolly Brewer FC by IMPS Legend Mr Gavin Gordon, member of the former Players Association at Lincoln City Football Club, and Mr Ian Sackree our League Chair.
League Secretary.
