Bassingham Bugle Horn FC 0-4 Hykeham Town TRFC.
This afternoon saw the League’s Senior Cup Final played between two of the teams in its Premier Division in the form of the Ron Eaglen Challenge Cup Final.
The Competition is so named in honour of the late Mr Ron Eaglen, the founder member of our League back in 1962. The Competition criteria is that every Club must enter its senior team in this Competition, hence the prestige in which this Competition is regarded by all who compete in it.
The match itself saw the current Premier Division Champions, Hykeham Town TRFC coming up against the challenge of fellow Premier Division opponents in the form of Bassingham Bugle Horn FC.
The Bassingham team have enjoyed a successful Season, particularly after their concerns at being put into the division this Season after a good Season in Division 1 last time around.
Referee Mr Andy Pearson led the teams out onto a sun-drenched LNER pitch which is the envy of many professionals to play on, let alone players from the non-professional scene. Mr Pearson was supported by Assistant Referees: Mr Will Vickers and Mr Finn Ford, with Mr Steve Fisher completing the team of Officials in the role of 4th Official.
Captain James Taylor got the game under way for Hykeham Town who were kicking towards the South Park end of the ground. Hykeham
In 2nd Minute Hykeham took the lead with a somewhat bizarre goal. A relatively harmless ball was floated in from the right, it seemed to elude everyone and hit the far post before rebounding to the prolific poacher, otherwise known as Andy Anderson, and he had the simplest of tasks of tapping home from no more than a yard.
Bassingham Bugle Horn 0-1 Hykeham Town TRFC. 1-0 to Hykeham.
On 5 minutes Bradley Hueso spurned a good opportunity when he elected to shoot from an angle of about 12 yards out with others better placed and unmarked in the box.
A minute later and Callum Pugh headed wide of the Hykeham goal when a tempting cross was swung in from Bassingham’s right hand side. He could not hit the target and the chance was lost.
On 20 minutes Callum Murphy, looking suspiciously offside, lobbed the ball over keeper Sam Greenwood and into the back of the Bassingham net but Assistant Referee Mr Ford was on hand to correctly rule that the phase was offside and the “goal” was chalked off.
In the 21st minute Bassinghams Bradley Hueso created a decent chance for himself but as he was hurried into shooting by a well marshalled Hykeham defence, Hueso dragged his shot wide of the left hand upright.
Next came the turn of Hykeham who looked to have increased their lead when Callum Murphy played an inviting low cross across goal and the ball was met at the far post by Andy Anderson who crashed the ball against the post and out for a goal kick.
Referee Pearson took both teams off on 25 minutes for a well earned drinks break with the baking sun doubtless taking its toll on all concerned. It’s ridiculous to think that only 7 days earlier the League was still experiencing postponements from grounds that were waterlogged!
Hykeham Town doubled their lead in the 30th minute after some bizarre defending once again in the Bassingham box. The ball was played from keeper to defender and back to the keeper which caused keeper Greenwood to clear hurriedly. His misplaced clearance fell to the feet of Bradley Meachen and he unleashed a classic strike from the edge of the box into the top corner of the net unchallenged from 20 yards.
Bassingham Bugle Horn FC 0-2 Hykeham Town TRFC.
In the 32nd minute Hykeham came close to extending their lead further when Jayden Driver swung in a peach of a cross that met the head of Andy Anderson but despite his firm header, perhaps too firm, he cleared the bar and the chance went begging.
Bassingham’s Captain, Matt Dale, thumped the ball against the crossbar in the 38th minute with a superb free kick from fully 35 yards out with James Cooper in the Hykeham goal unable to get anywhere near the strike. With the ball bouncing back into play the danger was immediately cleared.
Referee Mr Pearson indicated that he would be adding 3 additional minutes in the half. In the first of these added minutes Hykeham’s Callum Murphy dragged a low shot just wide of the far post when he was allowed time and space to line up his shot down the right-hand side of the box.
Half-time: Bassingham Bugle Horn FC 0-2 Hykeham Town TRFC.
Charlie Pugh got proceedings under way for the second half of the match for Bassingham Bugle Horn who were wearing a most impressive looking all mint green kit.
Hykeham were the first to threaten when a neat interchange of passes between Driver and Anderson saw the latter hammer a shot against the post with a fabulous strike, this coming within the first minute of the restart of the match.
Hykeham were quing up to score after 51 minutes with a succession of strikes that saw the ball pinball around the box before a deflection sent the ball out for a corner. Driver, and Anderson were the beneficiaries of the teams shooting opportunities without either able to find a way past the last minute blocks that Bassingham were putting in.
The first 10 minutes of the second half seemed to exclusively belong to Hykeham as they controlled the game and looked very comfortable on the ball going forward.
In the 55th minute Hykeham scored their third goal of the contest. Jayden Driver received the ball down the right hand side and advanced unchallenged into the box. He then sent a shot into the top corner of the net with his right foot, yes right foot. He always said he had two scoring feet and today he proved it.
Bassingham Bugle Horn FC 0-3 Hykeham Town TRFC.
2 minutes later and it was Driver again who ghosted through on goal but on this occasion with only keeper Greenwood to beat he used the more familiar left foot which drew a superb save from Greenwood with the ball going out for a corner. The corner came to nothing with Anderson heading downwards firmly which sent the ball bouncing over the bar.
In the 59th minute another shot cannot into the Bassingham woodwork following another thunderous shot from you know who – yes, Driver!
I can assure everyone that other names were available, but Driver and Anderson were by now running riot with time and space to line up their shots. With the heat clearly taking its toll on the players it really did look like it was only a matter of time before Hykeham extended their lead.
Anderson was replaced in 61st minute, much, I am sure to the relief of the Bassingham defenders.
Bassingham skipper Matt Dale had an excellent effort from distance on 64 minutes with his shot going just wide of keeper Cooper’s right sided post.
A minute later Callum Murphy was put clean through and with no challenge he had all the time in the world to put the ball past keeper Greenwood who was left with no chance as Hykeham raced into an unassailable 4-0 lead.
Bassingham Bugle Horn FC 0-4 Hykeham Town TRFC
Referee Pearson called the second half drinks break on 68 minutes to freshen up some tired looking players on both teams.
Bassingham Bugle Horn FC were offered a chance to get on the score sheet when Hykeham keeper Cooper picked up what looked to the crowd to be a clear back pass but the resulting freekick was fired into the defensive wall by Matt Dale and a corner was all that came of the chance.
As the game entered the last 15 minutes and with a scoreline of 4-0 in their favour it was perhaps understandable that Hykeham knocked the ball around with simplicity and ease, inviting their opponents to come and get the ball rather than risking giving the ball away. This saw a passage of play which created little at either end in relation to goal scoring opportunities.
Rob Burley, on as a second half substitute for Hykeham Town TRFC, was put clean through with only Bassingham keeper Greenwood to beat in the 80th minute but he was unable to control the ball and the keeper came off best in that contest.
In the last 5 minutes of the contest both teams tried some speculative long range shots but neither keeper was troubled and the game petered out with nothing significant to report.
A further 3 minutes of additional time was played before referee Pearson brought to an end what proved to be a comfortable win for the outgoing Premier Division Champions who will take delight in adding this trophy to their CV and history.
Final score: Bassingham Bugle Horn FC 0-4 Hykeham Town TRFC.
The Trophy and mementos were presented by Imps Legend Mr Gavin Gordon, assisted by League Committee Member Mr Ady Jones.
The League would like to thank all in attendance for supporting the event and we wish all the players and their families an enjoyable and relaxing Summer before we meet to do it all again in September!
Ian R. Stephenson
Lincoln & District Sunday Football League – League Secretary.