This was the final that everyone was talking about in the build up to the finals.
Premier Division outfit Pals FC North entertained the Division Two Champions, Peacock Inn FC, in a match that many thought “could go either way depending on which team turned up” as the saying goes.
Peacock Inn FC came into the game in fine League form having drawn only one League game this season, all of their other League games had resulted in wins, albeit there had been a high number of matches where their opponents had been unable to raise a team.
Imps fans were no doubt pleased to see former Lincoln City skipper Alan Power return to the LNER Stadium, the ground where Alan plied his trade during the 222 occasions in the red and white of Lincoln City ,where he scored 27 goals for the Imps between 2011 and 2017.
Pals North FC, for their part, were taking their place in a Ron Eaglen Challenge Cup final for the second time in three years and this time they were hoping to go one better than their 2023 appearance when they missed out to Hykeham Town TRFC.
It took 40 minutes for the first goal to arrive and when it did it came from the penalty spot after a rash challenge had seen referee Andy Park point to the spot for the first of what would prove to be two occasions in favour of the Premier Division team. Josh Swinburn had no problem in sending Peacock Inn keeper Craig Rhodes the wrong way much to the delight of the large following for the Moorlands based team.
Pals North FC 1-0 Peacock Inn FC
Whilst Rhodes could do nothing to stop Swinburn’s penalty he certainly could do something about a goal bound header in the 44th minute when he produced a wonder save as most players on the pitch, and the spectators in the ground, all thought that a second goal had been scored. This proved to be the last action of note in a first half that had promised much but had actually not produced too much goal mouth action.
Half time: Pals North FC 1-0 Peacock Inn FC.
Peacock Inn wasted no time in addressing the balance as the second half began. I’m sure some would have missed the equaliser as they finished their half time drinks in the bar. The game was but 3 minutes old in the second half when Richard Kamkan Jnr calmly side footed the ball home following an untidy passage of play in the Pals penalty box where a succession of defenders had failed to clear the ball.
Pals North FC 1-1 Peacock Inn FC
Some 9 minutes later, with the game entering the 57th minute Pals, and once again Josh Swinburn, were handed the opportunity to double their score when a rash defensive challenge saw referee once again point to the spot for the second time in the match. Swinburn, as he did on the first penalty, held his nerve before delivering an identical penalty as he did the first time, and once again the outcome was the same. Keeper sent the wrong way and Pals lead again for the second time in the match.
Pals North FC 2-1 Peacock Inn FC.
The remainder of the match was played out with Pals North FC controlling much of the play. Pals added the icing on the cake from their perspective when they added a third goal in the 81st minute when their attacking midfield player was slipped through before he coolly placed the ball past a defenseless Rhodes in the Peacock goal.
With no further goals to trouble the score board operator the game finished with what was overall a comfortable win for the team from the Premier Division.
Peacock were understandably disappointed that they were unable to get closer to their opponents on the day but it was Pals North FC who took the trophy on what was a good final to watch for the excellent crowd that had turned out to watch the League’s most prestigious of Competitions, that being because it is the Competition in which every Club is required to enter a team.
League Secretary
