Incredible Greens Topple Title-Favourites

Sleaford Town served up a stunning away performance to edge out United Counties League Premier Division North title favourites Lincoln United on their own turf on Saturday afternoon.

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A sizeable Greens following witnessed the visitors put in a strong defensive showing at Ashby Avenue, with Ryan Lennon jumping on Sean Wrights indecisiveness in the box to score the only goal of the contest. The Greens had ridden their luck at times, particularly when Elliott Dye crashed the crossbar early in the second half, but on the balance of play, the Greens deserved their gutsy three-point haul.

The Greens went unchanged from the side that defeated Heanor Town 3-2 two weeks ago – the first such time the Greens have been unchanged all season. The only two adjustments came on the bench for the Greens with Nathan Brettoner and Kofi Gonsalves dropping out for Liam Tunstall and the returning Latrell Patterson. Hosts Lincoln United meanwhile were defeated for the first time in 21 games in midweek as they slipped to a 2-0 reversal at the hands of title-rivals Sherwood Colliery. They also went unchanged in the hope of registering an immediate response – their only change to the matchday squad altogether coming on the bench with new signing Bradley Wells taking the place of midfielder, Harry Millard.

The Greens started well at Ashby Avenue and soon had the home side rattled, mainly through the enterprising work of Ryan Lennon down the middle. He first forced his way through the Whites backline only to find a retreating Callum Foster and Mitch Griffiths in his way before Lewis Daff very nearly sent the lively frontman through again. Lennon was the man causing problems again on the quarter of an hour when he found space out wide before blasting well over the crossbar when well placed.

The Greens could have been made to rue their profligacy when the Whites responded with possibly the clearest chance of the half when Ted Gibbons was set free by Tobias Liversedge, but Liam Flitton was on hand to produce a fine save at close range to keep the scores level. Flitton was in action again 10-minutes later when he was behind Callum Fosters free header while back at the other end, Ryan Flitton lifted a well-placed freekick over the crossbar.

The Greens rounded off a strong first half showing with another flurry of half chances, the most notable of which saw Akeel Francis scuff across goal after Ryan Flitton’s set-up before Gregg Smith forced home keeper Jack Steggles into action – saving his header from Sebastian Robbemond’s deep cross.

The Greens began the second period much like they finished the first and Lewis Daff was inches away from sweeping home a wonderful opener after Akeel Francis’ neat set-up. At the other end though, the Whites were beginning to show their quality and the Greens were mightily lucky not to find themselves behind just short of the hour when an almighty goalmouth scramble – initiated by Tobias Liversedge’s cross – eventually ended up in the hands of Liam Flitton after Callum Foster and Jack McMenemy amongst others had swings at the ball.
The Whites continued their push and Elliott Dye went close again, ending an enterprising run by crashing the Greens crossbar with a fine effort from distance. This seemed to jolt the Greens back into the contest and Gregg Smith sliced just across the post as the visitors fired warning shots of their own. With the game really hotting up though, the Greens finally found a breakthrough and it was persistent work from Ryan Lennon that seized upon an indecisive Sean Wright to steal the ball, round keeper Jack Steggles, and tap the opener into an empty net.
The Greens dug in from this point onwards expecting the Whites onslaught that in truth, never really materialised. Liam Flitton had to be lively to beat away a powerful Tobias Liversedge effort just four minutes after the Greens had taken the lead, while Jack McGovern’s handily placed freekick was also down the Greens keepers throat.

The Greens are back on the road next weekend with another local derby in the offing as they visit rivals Boston Town in United Counties League Premier Division North action. Kick-off at the Mortgages4You Stadium is at 3PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin