Kelly Read Cup Final – Match Report

Metheringham FC 5-2 Nettleham FC Sunday

The Kelly Read Cup Final was the third of our 4 domestic Cup Finals to be played within a 7-day period at the LNER Stadium, Lincoln during the afternoon of Sunday 10^th May 2026. This match had the interesting aspect in that it was a Division One team coming up against a Premier Division team for the bragging rights of the Cup specifically created for our village-based teams.

Metheringham FC were the team representing Division One of our League. Their League Season has seen a Season of transition with a Management change and a restructure of the playing side of things involving last Seasons 3 Metheringham teams, slimming down to 2 teams this time out following the resignation of the Club’s Reserve team from the League during last Season’s Summer recess.

This Season Metheringham FC have had a mixed bag of results and form. Their Cup experiences have generally outshone their League form despite finishing 5^th in the table, they managed only 4 League wins in a Season where they attained 17 points from their 16 League matches despite reaching this final with some impressive wins.

Nettleham FC Sunday arrived at this final in mixed form too. They have struggled of late to put out consistent teams and have even struggled to put out a side at all in 3 games during the month of April. That said, they did record a significant victory over today’s Ron Eaglen Challenge Cup winners and current Premier Division Champions.

The Match Official, Referee Mr Andy Pearson, led the teams out supported by Assistant Referees Mr Callum Logan, and Mr Tom Day, with Mr Danny Mason completing the Match Official’s team as the fourth Official.

Nettleham got the match under way attacking the Stacy West end of the ground.

There was an early chance for Metheringham’s Ethan Thompson as early as the second minute when the Nettleham defence was caught flat footed, but Nettleham Keeper Joe Gilbert spared his side’s blushes with a good save.

Metheringham thought that they had a strong shout for a penalty in the 8^th minute when Thompson went to ground under an ariel challenge, but Referee Pearson was on hand and well placed to deem that the challenge was fair as he waved away the penalty claims.

The very early exchanges saw Metheringham somewhat dominating affairs, but Nettleham came really close to taking the lead in the 9^th minute with a ball played over the top of the Metheringham defence. Scott Morrison latched onto this, and he astutely lobbed the ball over the advancing Josh Wilson in the Metheringham goal only to see the ball drop agonisingly on the roof of the net for Nettleham with the goal wide open.

The first goal of the contest arrived in the 22nd minute of the match and it was a moment of pure quality from Metheringham’s Tobias Liversidge.  Firstly, he dispossessed a Nettleham defender of the ball on the left hand side of the box and then he cut inside and forcefully drilled a low shot into the corner of the net giving keeper Gilbert no chance at all.

Metheringham FC 1-0 Nettleham FC Sunday.

5 minutes later it was Thompson again who caused trouble for the Nettleham defence when he got round their defence down the Metheringham left before putting a fine cross along the ground only to see the ball hastily cleared off the line before any Metheringham forward could get on the end of it. At this stage of the game, it must be said that Metheringham were the dominant team by some distance.

Metheringham’s Bruno Pires tried his luck from fully 35 yards out in the 40^th minute with a fierce shot that certainly warmed the gloves of Gilbert who was able to parry the shot away to safety.

A minute before half time Thompson advanced down the right wing for Metheringham and with others well placed and unmarked in the middle, wasted the chance as he blazed wildly wide as he went for glory himself.

Metheringham’s dominance was clear for all to see and the second goal that their dominance threatened arrived on the stroke of half time when Will Jackson received the ball in his stride before skipping past the last defender and coolly slotting home from 10 yds, giving keeper Gilbert no chance.

This proved to be the last action of a first half that Metheringham would enjoy and not want to end, in contrast to Nettleham who put in a performance that they would probably wish to forget.

Half-time: Metheringham FC 2-0 Nettleham FC Sunday.

The right boot of Tobias Liversidge got the second half under way with a customary pass backwards as Metheringham now attacked the Stacy West end of the ground in the second period.

One can only imagine what may have been said in the Nettleham dressing room at half time because the second half started with them now in the ascendancy.

Ross Morrison got round the back of the Nettleham fullback in the 49^th minute and his cross was kept out only by the outstretched leg of keeper Josh Wilson as Nettleham came very close to reducing the deficit.

A minute later and the deficit was reduced as Nettleham came back into the game with a fine header from Jack Higginson, on as a substitute, who rose majestically to glance home a peach of a cross from a free kick taken from the Nettleham left.

Metheringham FC 2-1 Nettleham FC Sunday.

At this point it must be pointed out that the numbers on the backs of the Nettleham shirts were very difficult, if not impossible, to identify from distance when observing from the stands. The shirt numbers may be clear from a short distance away so identifying players was, on occasions, only possible by asking spectators who knew the players which makes reporting extremely difficult.

It would be fair to say that the game had a much more open feel now with both teams attacking with purpose, it certainly looked now as though this was a game that could now go either way.

The match had a minute of drama in the 61^st minute when Liversidge was tripped in the penalty area and Referee Pearson pointed to the spot. Liversidge dusted himself down to take the penalty which, if successful, would have taken Metheringham into a healthy 3-1 lead BUT his well struck shot was superbly parried by Gilbert but as the ball rebounded into play Metheringham’s skipper, Josh Booth, followed up with a goal bound strike that was cleared off the line and out for a corner.

There is a saying in football that you are often vulnerable just after missing a penalty and that saying was correct in this match. The corner came to nothing and was cleared away with the ball finding its way down Nettleham’s right to Jack Higginson. He danced past his defender before putting a low cross on a plate for Scott Morrison to have the easiest of tap ins as he was unmarked with an open goal. It certainly looked now to be ‘game on’.

Metheringham FC 2-2 Nettleham FC Sunday.

From all perspectives the 61^st minute looked to potentially be defining because one argument would be that as Metheringham were leading 2-1, had they scored their penalty it would have been 3-1 but the facts are that the score was now 2-2. ‘Funny old game’ as another cliché is recited!

To their credit Metheringham did not let developments affect them and their football, often playing in neat triangles, was pleasing to watch. Their control and hunger were impressive. As a result, they would re-take the lead in the 70^th minute with a brilliant individual goal scored once again by Liversidge. He thundered the ball past a hapless Gilbert with a shot from 20 yards of high quality.

Metheringham FC 3-2 Nettleham FC Sunday.

Not content with scoring a brace, Liversidge completed his hat-trick in the 84^th minute when he received the ball on the edge of the box before advancing into the area. As Gilbert came to challenge, Liversidge rounded the keeper and guided the ball into the empty net to essentially seal the contest as there would be no way back for Nettleham from here.

To add the icing on the cake for Metheringham, Josh Buchan came on as a substitute, and he added a fifth goal for Metheringham in the 91^st minute of the match with his very first touch of the ball. He received the ball inside the area, and he remained calm and composed as he stroked the ball home to complete the scoring in what was virtually the last kick of the match.

Final Score: Metheringham FC 5-2 Nettleham FC Sunday.

This was a very entertaining game and was an enjoyable watch.

The League were honoured and proud to have His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire Mr Toby Dennis as their guest, and Mr Dennis, who enjoyed the game himself, kindly presented the mementos to the players and Match Officials before presenting the trophy to the excited Captain and players of Metheringham FC. Mr Dennis was assisted by Mr Gavin Gordon, Imps Legend and from the Lincoln City former Players Association.

Congratulations to Metheringham FC for a fine performance and triumph in this final.

League Secretary.