The Greens fell to yet another defeat on the road this week, as they were beaten 3-0 by hosts Dunkirk, who made it six without defeat. This is in direct contrast to The Greens, who are now suffering a streak of seven consecutive losses.

Sleaford manager Matt Evans elected to make four changes from the last outing at home with Clifton All Whites. Teddy Jefcoate, James Twigg, Joe Wilkinson and Lewis Greenfield all came in for Josh Wilson, Callum Brown, Charlie Morgan and the suspended Kyle Onyon.

The game began in typical non-league fashion, as a two-minute delay to kick-off was caused by one of the nets being left up. This preceded a turgid opening twenty minutes. Chances were few and far between for both until there was yet another delay, this time as Dunkirk’s Rio Murray received attention for a dislocated shoulder. After the stoppage, however, it was the hosts who took control of the game, eventually scoring in the twenty-seventh minute through Craig Westcarr. A drive down the right from fullback Matthew Crawford allowed him to cut back for Westcarr, who sat down the Sleaford defence with a cute turn, before firing in at the near post past Jefcoate.

Things then got worse for Sleaford as the half came to a close, as the hosts doubled their advantage thanks to a calamity of errors at the back. A solo run from the Dunkirk forward wasn’t dealt with before a ball into the box wrongfooted Ben Coleman, who converted for an own goal. The whistle blew shortly after, marking the end of a bitterly disappointing first-half showing, where The Greens did not register a single shot.

As the second half got underway, Evans chose to make a change. Attacker Benji Zalewski was brought on for Coleman, with Town looking to get back into the game with the formation change. A slight improvement was visible from a Sleaford perspective, but the hosts managed the game to perfection to snuff out any attacks. It took until the fifty-third minute for the first shot to be registered, but it posed no threat as Andy Whalen poked wide.

Sleaford’s first shot on target came nine minutes later, and it ought to have been a goal. Lewis Smith would have been disappointed that he didn’t halve the deficit, as the goalkeeper foiled his one-on-one effort. Another one-on-one was again denied by Dunkirk, this time Zalewski the player to have his effort saved.

As the game came to a close, it was Sleaford who created the best chance of the match. In stoppage time, Whalen had a point blank header well saved and out for a corner. However, it was game, set and match moments later as Dunkirk added a third through Crawford. Captain Jonathan Timmins had his pocket picked by the goalscorer, who then held off the recovering Timmins before slotting in low at the near post.

The result meant Sleaford are yet to claim any points in 2026, a hard truth for Evans. “We’ve been looking for a while at what’s been going on around us as we try and navigate through the league” he said. “We’re uncomfortable, everybody is feeling it. It’s very uncomfortable and we need to find a way through, but I would be really worried if the progression wasn’t there.”

Sleaford will next make the trip to Stapleford, set for a 3pm kickoff on February 21st