Goals from Kyle Onyon, Andy Whalen and Riley Wilkinson weren't enough for the Greens to secure points, with Jayden Joseph, Kian Tansley, Kieran Grant and Liam Widdowson all on the scoresheet for the hosts.

Manager Matt Evans made two changes from the side that narrowly lost to Retford FC a week prior, with Lewis Greenfield and Kyle Onyon coming in to replace the unavailable pairing of Lewis Smith and Benji Zalewski.

Whilst Shirebrook started out on top, it was the visitors that managed to find the vital first goal in under 20 minutes. Clayton Wilkinson whipped a cross onto the head of Ben Coleman, who hit the crossbar from close range. The ball landed to Onyon, and his first time finish was powerful, beating the goalkeeper and giving the Greens the advantage.

The lead didn't last long, however, with Joseph equalising for the hosts before the 25 minute mark. A free-kick was whipped in from the right hand side, and the header was deflected towards goal, finding its way past Josh Wilson and into the Sleaford net, levelling the game.

The next 15 minutes were filled with chances for both sides, until Sleaford eventually found their way in front again. A ball down the line from Archie Olivier-Townrow found Greenfield in behind, who cut inside and set Onyon up for a shot on goal. His shot was deflected towards the goalkeeper, rolling over his leg towards Whalen at the back post. Whalen's shot was rifled, hitting the underside of the crossbar from close range, with Sleaford finding themselves back in front despite not playing their best football.

As the second half began, the hosts looked the sharper of the two sides once again, eventually finding their shooting boots to make life tougher for the Greens.

Just three minutes after the start of the second half, Tansley levelled the game again. A ball across goal was poorly cleared by James Twigg, flying towards Wilson who had to make a good save to stop an own goal. The follow up shot from Tansley was superbly saved again, and a second attempt from point blank range beat Wilson as Shirebrook looked to build on their goal tally.

A third came for Shirebrook just minutes after their second. A cross from the right was put into a really dangerous area, and the unmarked Grant hit a first time volley past Wilson, giving the hosts the lead for the first time in the match.

They didn't stop there, either, as the hosts looked to kill Sleaford's hopes and secure three valuable points. A ball across goal was unsuccessfully cleared by Twigg, with Widdowson blasting his shot towards goal. It came off the inside of Wilson's leg, dribbling into the back of the net and dropping the heads of those in Green.

As the game progressed, conditions worsened which didn't help Sleaford's chances to get back into the match. Greenfield had a chance halfway through the second period, after being set through on the left wing. The goalkeeper was equal to it, however, with a lofted shot attempt brilliantly stopped and eventually cleared.

In the end, Sleaford managed to get a consolation deep in stoppage time when it looked to be too little, too late. A corner delivered from Greenfield was glanced on by the head of Wilkinson, which eventually bounced into the side netting, giving one last chance of hope for the Greens.

Greenfield came agonisingly close to making it 4-4 with the last kick of the game. A ball crossed in was only half cleared to the back post, with the unmarked winger just needing to beat the goalkeeper to clinch a point. After putting it onto his strong foot, he whipped his effort towards goal. It wasn't to be, however, with his shot going high and wide away from goal.

The referee blew for full time straight after, with Shirebrook players celebrating a much-needed strong second half performance, and Sleaford licking their wounds following a short blip which cost them dearly.

Sleaford are back at home next time out, as they face Clifton All Whites in more UCL Division One action.