Greens Grab Semi-Final Berth

Sleaford Town made progression into the Lincolnshire FA Senior Trophy semi-final courtesy of a determined 3-1 victory over Holbeach United at the Longwater Stadium on Wednesday evening.

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The Greens were in control for much of the contest at a chilly Eslaforde Park and didn’t let a Holbeach equaliser midway through the second half dampen their spirits as goals from Finlay Armond, Kofi Gonsalves and Jacob Fenton saw the Greens progress to a semi-final scheduled for February.

Joint-Manager’s Tom Ward and Nathan Arnold made three changes from the side that suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Melton Town in United Counties League Premier Division North action at the weekend. The headline return came in the form of captain Charlie Ward who returned to the starting eleven after serving a one-match suspension at the weekend. Another man making a similar return was Dominic Kew while the Greens final change saw the full return of Ryan Flitton after injury. The three names dropping out from the weekend were the unavailable trio of Ryan Rushen and Shaun Harrad and Akeel Francis. Opponents Holbeach United meanwhile made two changes from a 4-1 Eastern Counties League First Division North defeat to Cornard United at the weekend - those changes saw Harvey Thorne and Ryan Cook drop to the bench and replaced by George Frost and Connor Pilbeam.

The Greens started with good intent at the Longwater Stadium and Jacob Fenton was lively to work space in the first minute before smashing wide. The Greens continued to dominate the early possession and they made it count when Fenton broke through, seeing his shot initially saved by Max Rigby before Finlay Armond was on hand to stroke home the opener for the hosts from the rebound.

That pressure was kept up and the Greens ought to have doubled their advantage five minutes later when Dom Kew headed Fenton’s cross against the post before Kew was then denied again a minute later, this time by an outstretched limb from Max Rigby. Come the half hour mark though and Holbeach had worked their way back into the contest and generated their first notable chance when George Frost smashed a freekick into the grateful hands of Liam Flitton before Frost was again involved 10 minutes later, smashing home Greenacre’s cross only to be ruled offside.

The Greens had a goal of their own ruled offside when Jacob Fenton – from an onside position – stole the ball off Dominic Kew – in an offside position – but the linesman already had his flag raised as Fenton coolly dispatched into the bottom corner. It was Fenton again who should have given the Greens that much-needed cushion when he headed Ryan Flitton’s sweeping cross inches wide of the post before he cut inside his man in first half stoppage time but could only blast high and wide of the mark.

The second half began much like the first as Jacob Fenton caused trouble early on, stinging the palms of Max Rigby early on before dispatching a wild effort well wide of the mark after he’d be released forward by Lewis Daff. The Greens were then made to regret those missed chances when Holbeach were awarded a penalty, with keeper Liam Flitton the guilty party and despite getting a hand to Sam Carter’s spot-kick, he couldn’t prevent the away side levelling.

The Greens response to that setback though was admirable, and substitute Kofi Gonsalves teed up Ryan Flitton to shoot into Rigby’s hands. With that warning shot fired, it was Gonsalves who put the Greens back in front when he was alive to Fenton’s cross and beat his men to tap home at the far post. The Greens continued to push on and the found a clinching third goal with four minutes remaining when Holbeach allowed Liam Flitton’s long freekick to run right into the path of Jacob Fenton to head over the stranded Rigby and wrap up the Greens progression. That advantage could well have been extended in stoppage time, first when Fenton blasted well beyond the post before Rigby was back in action to beat away another Gonsalves effort in the final minute of stoppage time.

The Greens face a free weekend now ahead of a fourth consecutive home fixture when Kimberley Miners Welfare visit for a United Counties League Premier Division North contest on Saturday, December 2nd. Kick-off in 10-days is at 3PM.