Toothless Greens Slip to Skegness Defeat

Sleaford Town slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Skegness Town on Saturday afternoon as they fell further off the United Counties League Premier Division North play-off race.

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Frustration was evident as the Greens struggled to create any meaningful opportunities after falling behind as early as the 4th minute when Scott Floyd headed in Ben Davison’s pinpoint cross to give the hosts a dream start. It was then a start that they had little trouble in maintaining with neither side particularly threatening the afternoons second goal.

Joint Player/Managers Tom Ward and Nathan Arnold made just one change from the side the fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of league-leaders Sherwood Colliery last weekend with Issa Gaye coming in to take the place of Connor Pilbeam who dropped to the bench. There was however a couple of changes on the bench with Tom Ward and the now departed Jacob Fenton dropping out of the side, their places on the bench taken by Kofi Gonsalves and Dan Wright. Hosts Skegness Town meanwhile also made just one change from a 3-0 victory over Pinchbeck United last weekend with Adam Millson coming in to take the place of George Hobbins who dropped out of the Lilywhites side altogether.

The hosts started well at a gusty Vertigo Stadium and they found the lead after just four minutes when the Lilywhites recycled well to release Ben Davison who crossed for Scott Floyd to head beyond a planted Liam Flitton. Skegness continued to push hard and strung together some neat moves but, in what was to be the story for much of the remainder of the first half, they lacked a killer final pass.

Liam Flitton was alive to danger when blocking Declan Johnson’s cross with Scott Floyd lurking whilst Lewis Daff produced a fine covering tackle after the lively partnership of McCauley Parker and Ben Davison had seen the former break dangerously into the box. At the other end and the Greens finally called home keeper Jake Lovelace into meaningful action when he was required to tip Tristan Drummond’s freekick over the crossbar but that was to be the last goalmouth action of the half with both sides lacking a killer instinct despite some neat football.

The second half was certainly a slow burner under a stunning sunset and the Greens best opportunity of the contest saw a combination of post and Lovelace divert Ryan Lennon’s close-range effort wide. At the other end, Flitton was back in action, collecting Davison’s header from Stacey Cartwright’s freekick before Floyd’s effort from distance flew well over the crossbar.

The Greens were handed a lifeline with 10-minutes remaining when Connor Marshall’s vocality was too much for the referee and he was given his marching orders, though that advantage did not last too long, when substitute Nathan Arnold was pulled up for a similar outburst, though he was only sin-binned rather that dismissed. A flurry of yellow cards were visible examples of the Greens growing frustration – Charlie Ward the next to try his luck, smashing over the crossbar from distance. At the other end, the hosts could well have secured the victory had Elliott Broughton’s curling effort crept inside the post rather than outside it, and despite Kyle Watkins forcing a late save from Jake Lovelace, it was destined to be another frustrating afternoon for the Greens.

The Greens will now look to part two of their festive triple-header with Pinchbeck United due to visit Eslaforde Park on Boxing Day. Kick-off on Tuesday will be at the normal, 3PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin