Greenbank FC 1-3 Anchor AFC
The Jock Mitchell Memorial Trophy Final brought the curtain down on the League’s fourth and final domestic Cup Competitions of the 2025/2026 Season when Greenbank FC and Anchor AFC competed for the trophy.
The LNER Stadium, home to the EFL current Division 1 Champions, welcomed everyone on Wednesday 13th May 2025 for a match which had attracted much interest locally.
Referee Mr Mark Burbridge, supported by Assistant Referees Mr Gareth Carter and Mr David Tutty, and 4th Official Mr Tony Sharrock, led the teams out onto a somewhat damp pitch as it suffered a torrential downpour just minutes before the teams came out.
As 7pm arrived Referee Mark Burbridge blasted on his whistle and Richard Ekins of Anchor AFC got the game under way with Anchor attacking the Stacey West end of the ground. As all teams now do, it was a customary backwards pass that started the proceedings.
Anchor settled quickly and were playing the ball round nicely and with purpose establishing early territorial advantage, however it was Greenbank in the 4th minute and on the counterattack, that actually threatened first. Rory Wilde received the ball on the halfway line and he sprinted away down the left. After getting past the Anchor fullback at the edge of the box he skewed a left footed shot wide of the post without troubling Craig Overton in the Anchor goal.
Anchor put that scare behind them as they regained their composure and continued to build pressure against a Greenbank defence that looked composed and well drilled.
The 10-minute mark saw Greenbank settling well and they started imposing pressure themselves on the Anchor backline. Wilde and Adam Leeder for Greenbank both looked dangerous with Wilde raiding down the left and Leeder attacking down the right.
The first goal of this match arrived in the 12th minute, and it was Greenbank that got their noses in front. A free kick from about 35 yards out on the Greenbank right flank was taken by Joe Williamson. Williamson floated in a peach of a cross that was headed home powerfully from 12 yards by Chris Barnes who was afforded a free header.
Greenbank FC 1-0 Anchor AFC
3 minutes later it could, and perhaps should, have seen Greenbank double their lead but it wasn’t to be. Another cross came over from the right flank which this time was glanced on across goal by Max Hobson and the ball found Wilde at the far post, but he fired over the bar when unchallenged.
At the other end Anchor looked as though they would have a great chance as a superb ball was played through to Ekins by the evergreen Aaron Bee but just as Ekins looked to collect the ball the ball hit him on the back of his foot enabling the last defender to make a last ditch tackle and to get the ball away to safety.
With a quarter of the match played it became a much more even contest between 2 sides that were looking to play the ball around with both sides using the width on offer that such a fantastic pitch allowed them to do. The 2 standout players in that first quarter were Wilde for Greenbank and James Gordon for Anchor as both players looked dangerous on the ball.
As half time approached Anchor were in the ascendancy despite trailing to that early goal from Williamson. Ekins (twice) and Daniel Mollis, on as a first half substitute, both went close before Anchor levelled the tie right on the stroke of half time.
It was announced that there would be one added minute of time to be played in addition to the regulation 45 minutes and at the point of announcing Ekins played the ball across to James Gordon and Gordon flighted a delightful cross from the left enabling Bjorn Whitelam to glance a header home from 10 yards out.
Greenbank FC 1-1 Anchor AFC.
The goal had looked like coming during the last 10 minutes of an entertaining half and when it did it literally proved to be the last piece of action in the half ensuring that both teams went into the half-time break all square.
Half-Time: Greenbank FC 1-1 Anchor AFC.
Chris Barnes of Greenbank got the second period under way as his team attacked the Stacey West end of the ground.
The second half could not have got off to a more dramatic start as Anchor scored their second goal within 30 seconds of the restart. Despite Greenbank taking the kick-off the ball was immediately won by the Anchor midfield down the right and when the cross came in Billy Munro, on as a substitute, was there to do what he has done for many years, and that is to head home giving Greenbank keeper Jack Turner no chance with a powerful header into the top corner from 12 yards out.
Greenbank FC 1-2 Anchor AFC.
Just a minute later Munro went close again when he let fly from 20 yards which produced a fine save from Turner who flung himself managing to tip the ball over the bar and out for a corner with a quite brilliant save.
3 minutes later and it could have been all level again as Greenbank’s Max Hobson sent a superb ball across the box which beat everybody by inches with nobody from Greenbank able to get on the end of it despite multiple players rushing in to do so.
Anchor could consider themselves very unlucky in the 53rd minute when James Gordon produced a fantastic cross which found Munro again, this time Munro’s header crashed against the angle of crossbar and post with keeper Turner well beaten on this occasion.
As the game entered its final stages it was one of those games that always looked to have another goal in it and that is the way it turned out to be. Would it be a winner for Anchor or would Greenbank be able to level things up? That was the question.
We found the answer in the 87th minute when Anchor’s James Gordon floated in a tempting cross and another evergreen, Ash Woodhall, planted a powerful header past keeper Turner to add to his impressive list of goals scored over the years. This goal proved to be the last goal of this game to ensure that the silverware would be going to the Anchor Public House this time round.
Greenbank FC 1-3 Anchor AFC.
There was still time for Greenbank to fashion a couple more chances to reduce the deficit during the last 5 minutes of this match and both Ethan Corcoran and Joe Bouttell went close but not close enough to alter the final score line.
Final Score: Greenbank FC 1-3 Anchor AFC.
The presentation of the trophy and the mementoes to the teams and Match Officials was carried out by Mr Ian Mitchell, Mr John Mitchell, and Mrs Judith Deeley, assisted by Imps Legend Mr Gavin Gordon, and Councillor and former Mayor of Lincoln Mr Bif Bean.
We look forward to the summer break which includes the World Cup of course and then we shall return to do it all again commencing at the beginning of September 2025.
League Secretary.
