WJ Harrison Printers Lincoln Football League – week 33 - 28 April

As another season came to a close the final week was as busy as it could have been with no less than four cup finals contested. Tuesday saw Washingborough lift the Richardson Trophy when beating Metheringham. Then on Thursday Gainsborough Town Canute were out to make it a league and cup double when contesting the final of the Amateur Cup against Ivy Tavern. Saturday was even busier down at Sincil Bank (courtesy of Lincoln City FC) with two games played on the day. First it was a local derby in the David Cooper Cup with the prospect of a new name going on the trophy as Clayton Sports took on RM Imp. The day closed with the final of the Village Trophy with holders Washingborough seeking to lift the trophy in back to back seasons’ when taking on Nettleham who had only ever won the Village Trophy once in their history and that was back in 1982 when they beat Billinghay Athletic.

It was not all cup action though as the final games of the season were played out with Gainsborough Town Canutes needing only one more win to be assured of lifting the title in their first season. Taking on Fulbeck United they secured this in emphatic fashion, completing yet another league double (their 8^th) and retaining their unbeaten home record. Also securing the runners-up spot were Waddington United who beat Horncastle Town for their sixth double. Also taking place, Ivy Tavern completed just their second double of the season, when beating Middle Rasen and Metheringham, likewise, secured a second double as they beat AFC Ruston Sports.

In midweek Washingborough played the first of their two finals when taking on Metheringham in the Richardson Trophy. Neither side had appeared in this final before but Washingborough went into the game as favourites having beaten their opponents convincingly a matter of weeks earlier. Washingborough took the lead with a screamer from Tom Butcher but Ben Machin levelled from the penalty spot before the break. Washingborugh then took control in the second half with a perfect header from Stuart Ward before Joe Smith rounded off the scoring with ten minutes left.

Also in midweek the final of the David Cooper Cup brought together champions in waiting, Gainsborough Town Canutes against outgoing champions Ivy Tavern. 90 minutes of football failed to separate the two sides as they were tied at 1-1 but in extra time it was Canutes who came out on top with three further goals. Scoring for the winners were the League’s Top Striker, Lee Bognor with two, along with one each from Craig Mallett and Joe Owen. Danny Bee scored for Ivy Tavern.  

In the first of the two Sincil Bank finals, the David Cooper Cup two more sides were appearing in a final for the first occasion as Clayton Sports took on their near neighbours RM Imp.  These two sides had shared ten goals in a recent league encounter so there was little to separate them and this was proven on the field. At full time the score stood at 2-2, then in extra time both sides scored one apiece but it was Imps who held their nerve in the penalty shoot out, winning 4-3 to lift their first trophy. Scoring RM Imps goals were last seasons’ League top scorer, Jason Tinkler (2) and Liam Uzzell while Claytons goals came from Jay Murphy, Jamie Hatton and Ady Gray.

Later in the day it was the Village Trophy, as Nettleham, appearing in just their sixth Village Trophy final, took on holders Washingborough, who were making their twelfth appearance (5 wins). Both sides were in a rich vein of form but on the day it was Nettleham who produced the goods with a convincing 4-1 win. On target for them were James Cairns (2), Lewis King and Jack Darby with Tom Butcher getting Washingborough’s goal. After a tricky start to the season for Nettleham it eventually panned out into an excellent one as they lifted two trophies and finished sixth in the table.

Back into league action league leaders Gainsborough Town Canutes, with a 100% home record, took on a Fulbeck side that had not won in their last three games. Keeping their tenth clean sheet, Canutes won 6-0, to lift the title at their first attempt. Not surprisingly the League top scorer Lee Bognor, weighed in with two goals to take his tally to 32. Also scoring were Kieran Locking, Danny Martin, Neil Farrow and Steve Crooks. Had Gainsborough failed to win, second placed Waddington had a mathematical chance of catching them, so their home game with Horncastle Town had some importance. With goals from Ryan  Creane, Gavin  Mackie (his 23^rd) and Lee Wright they won 3-1. Luke Shelbourne scored for Horncastle. Further down the table Ivy Tavern entertained Middle Rasen and able to call on the services of striker Billy Munro they strolled to their biggest win of the season, a 7-2 victory. Munro scored a hat-trick long with further goals from Darren  Chapman, Sam  Allmond, Danny Bee, and Pete Rea. On target for Middle Rasen were Danny Norburn and Ben Brown. Finally Metheringham closed their season with the visit of AFC Ruston Sports who they had beaten 3-2 back in November. Eleven goals were scored in the match with Rustons going ahead inside the first minute thanks to a Metheringham own goal. Goals came at regular intervals with the half ending 4-2 to the home side, but ironically they had scored all six goals. Meg doubled their tally in the second half while Rustons got one more, a rarer than rare goal from Scott Grady. On target for the home side were James Slater, with two quality goals, Jon Miller, Guy Goodwin, Aaron Harrison, Mark Jordan, Ben Deakin and Jake Thorpe.