The LNER Stadium welcomed the teams onto the pitch for an intriguing looking final as the competition’s dominant team from Saxilby came up against the new Club from Scothern who were appearing in a cup final at the end of their first season as a new team in the League.

For their part, AFC Saxilby have featured in each of the last 5 Kelly Read finals, winning 4 but finding themselves defeated in last year’s final. For completeness, it must be stated that the two finals prior to the Covid era were competed under the Club’s former name of Anglers FC.

James Hollis-Stocks got proceedings underway for Scothern with his team attacking the South Park end of the ground.

After a tentative start from both teams it was Saxilby’s Owen Dobson who registered the first shot in anger after 13 minutes when he was put through down the right. Taking the ball in his stride Dobson cut into the box and unleashed a crisp low shot which caused Ryan Smith, in goal for Scothern, to get down to make a smart save by turning the ball round the post for a corner.

AFC Saxilby then enjoyed a series of possession which resulted in a number of corners as both teams searched for the opening goal of the game. Saxilby’s Archie Moyses came close from such a corner in the 19th minute when he found himself with a free header swung in from the right but Moyses’ header could not hit the target and the chance was gone.

Dobson was in goalward action again in the 21st minute following a clever flick on to him but a last minute tackle by Jake Griffiths neutralised that threat, again at the expense of a corner.

Despite Saxilby’s corner count domination it would be Scothern who took the lead in this context – from a corner of their own. This was in the 25th minute when the ball found its way to Elliott Harvey who made no mistake when he powered the ball home with a clean strike which gave Ford no chance on the AFC Saxilby goal.

Scothern FC 1-0 AFC Saxilby.

Saxilby came very close to finding the equaliser in the 31st minute when a peace of brilliance by Craig Bridge (how many times has that been said over the years) when he wriggled into the box before unleashing a top corner bound thunderbolt of a shot which clipped the crossbar with Ryan Smith in the Scothern goal left admiring the effort which would otherwise have given Smith no chance.

In the 40th minute of the match we witnessed the most poignant of moments when the date and time marked the exact time and date 40 years to the day after the fire was discovered by commentator John Helm, at the Bradford City v Lincoln City at Valley Parade, Bradford. On this occasions all spectators in the LNER Stadium stood and engaged in a one minute applause to remember the 56 spectators who sadly lost their lives in the fire disaster on 11th May 1995, including Lincoln City supporters Jim West and Bill Stacy. This applause was joined by the players and Match Official as the ever alert Referee, Andy Pearson, had his eye on his watch and managed to create a break in play to mark the sad occasion. Well done to all in attendance for this action.

The half-time interval soon arrived with the Scothern new boys taking a slender 1-0 lead into the 15 minute break.

The second half of the match proved to be a somewhat careful approach from both teams in the first 10 minutes but things turned dramatically in the 56th minute when a handball in the Scothern penalty area presented Ewan Dobson with the opportunity to level the scores from the spot. Dobson needed no further invitation, duly despatching the penalty with ease to level the match at 1 a piece.

Scothern FC 1-1 AFC Saxilby.

Dobson nearly doubled the Saxilby score on 66 minutes when he sent a header over the bar.

A moment of quality proved to craft the winner in the 79th minute of the match in favour of Scothern. Aidan Prescott and Max Wright exchanged passes before Prescott finished with a plomb when he gave Oli Ford no chance as he smashed the ball home for what would prove to be the winning goal.

Scothern FC 2-1 AFC Saxilby.

Despite AFC Saxilby showing a much improved performance during the second half of the game the Scothern boys defended stoutly and despite the addition of 7 minutes of added time it was the new boys in the Competition that held out to lift the trophy at the first time of asking, and to condemn the Saxilby team to its second successive defeat in a final that they have dominated for much of the last 8 years.

Final score: Scothern FC 2-1 AFC Saxilby.

League Secretary