League Round Up: 13th Jan

A first half header from Miles Chamberlain wasn't enough to secure the points to ignite their charge up the table. Three goals from McCullough, Cass and Alex Mackinder in the final ten minutes turned the game on its head to inflict defeat on the Lilywhites for the second weekend in a row. It's the first time Skegness have suffered back to back league defeats since October 2012.

Elsewhere around the county, goals from Moody, Fanthorpe and Southern ensured Grimsby Borough Academy a solid 3-0 win over Immingham in the North East derby at Lucarlys Sports Ground.

Nettleham also scored three without reply, as they recorded their seventh league victory of the season against league leaders Horncastle Town thanks to goals from Higginson, Croft and Nurse. This result lifts them up into second spot, whilst The Wongers drop to fourth having gained just a single point in their previous four league matches.

Just one goal seperated CGB Humbertherm and AFC Boston at Fulstow, but it was the home side who triumphed to take their points tally for the season to double figures. Joe Marshall netted his fifth of the season and crucially the important goal of the game.

Sleaford Sports made the trip north to The Hawthorns and returned with all the spoils as they put five past Brigg Town Development, who were looking to build on last weekends point at Nettleham. A Jac Wright brace, accompanied by goals from Funnell, Thompson and Park were more than enough to overcome Brigg who could only find one in reply.

Next Saturday the league's representative side play host to the Staffordshire League in the FA Inter League Cup. Kick off is 3:00pm at The Vertigo Stadium, Skegness. £5 entry includes a matchday programme. The game was previously arranged for 9th December, but the game was postponed due to poor weather conditions in the West Midlands.

Match Report: Ruston Sports 3-1 Skegness Town

RUSTON SPORTS gave their title hopes a huge boost after an incredible comeback against Skegness Town on Saturday afternoon.

Skegness knew this would be a stern test of their own title credentials going into the game, particularly coming into the fixture off the back of their first league defeat of the season.

It was the hosts who started the game the brighter of the two sides, pushing the Skegness defence deep and forcing several early corners. Although Britton, on his return for the visitors, posed a threat with his pace on the counter attack. Rustons came close on two occassions, one lobbed effort being hooked off the line by Skegness centre back, and also a flicked header which just went wide of the back post.

However, on the 15 minute mark, it was the Lilywhites who opened the scoring. Miles Chamberlain rose above the rest to head past the flailing arms of the home side's 'keeper.

The following thirty minutes saw a much more even affair, with both teams battling hard to gain control of the game but neither side being able to do so. Despite a slow start to the game Skegness took a 1-0 lead into the half time break.

The second half started much like the first finished, little goalmouth action but both teams fighting hard to prevent their opposition from gaining the initiative.

With 15 minutes to go Skegness' Danny Stevens came the closest to getting a 2nd goal when he saw his free kick comfortably parried away. But it was the 87th minute when the game changed significantly. Rustons were given a huge opportunity when the referee pointed to the spot after a clumsy challenge just inside the area. The consequent penalty was saved down to the 'keepers right but he couldn't get the rebound which was cooly slotted back across the goal and into the net by McCullough to give his side a late equaliser. (Video of equalising goal)

Astoundingly the game was turned on its head minutes later when Thomas Cass spun on the edge and fired past the Skegness number one to give his side the lead and send the home crowd wild.

And that wasn't the end of the action. With seven minutes stoppage time announced Skegness committed men forward in search of an equaliser. However, after a long ball from deep in the Rustons half, the leagues leading scorer Alex Mackinder superbly took the ball in his stride with his first touch after a long pass forward, before unleashing an unstoppable 30 yard shot over a helpless Skegness 'keeper for his 21st goal of the season to secure all three points for his side.