League Round Up: 24th March

Callum Dye’s hat-trick and two goals from the prolific Alex Mackinder saw Sports through at Newark Road, while second placed Horncastle were on cup duty.

The Lincoln-based Rustons now need to win their last three games to clinch the title.

Skegness Town kept the pressure on with a solitary goal victory at Sleaford Sports Amateurs.

The Supplementary Cup Final will be between Grimsby Borough Academy and Horncastle Town after semi-final victories over Immingham Town and Horncastle Town respectively.

Sleaford Sports Amateurs 0 Skegness Town 1

A solitary goal from Jamie Coulson was enough to secure three points for the Lilywhites at Sleaford.

Coulson had limped off during the midweek game against Wyberton, and must have been an injury doubt for the trip to Eslaforde Park, but he recovered in time to provide the match-winning strike.

The first half goal completed a fruitful week for the current champions and lifted them to fourth in the table.

They trail leaders Ruston Sports by ten points with three games in hand.

Ruston Sports 5 Louth Town 1

With title rivals Horncastle Town taking part in the Supplementary Cup semi-finals, Ruston Sports took full advantage by winning their game in hand against Louth Town.

Fresh from their 5-1 success at Sleaford the week before, Louth had high hopes of derailing the Rustons charge for the championship.

But Callum Dye gave the home side an early lead, notching his first of the afternoon after just eight minutes.

Louth levelled the scores after 28 minutes when Gareth Flint got on the scoresheet, but on the stroke of half-time Sports were awarded a penalty, which Dye duly converted.

Ten minutes into the second half Dye completed his hat-trick.

This was how it remained until three minutes from the end when Alex Mackinder grabbed his first of the day.

He followed this up at the death with a penalty to make the final score 5-1.

Supplementary Cup

Grimsby Borough Academy 3 Immingham Town 0

Holders Immingham Town were knocked out of the Supplementary Cup with a 3-0 defeat in the North East Lincolnshire derby.

A brace of first half goals from Jack Boswell put Borough in the driving seat in this semi-final and two minutes into the second half Callum Lovett made it 3-0.

But it was Buster Smythe who was awarded the man-of-the-match award for the Grimsby side.

Borough now meet Horncastle Town in the final of the competition.

Wyberton 1 Horncastle Town 1 (aet)

(Horncastle Town won 4-3 on penalties)

In a dress rehearsal of next month’s Challenge Cup semi-final, Horncastle Town needed penalties to see off Wyberton.

They were matched for 120 minutes by the villagers and extra time was reached with the scores level at one apiece.

Ben Lawrence scored for the home side while skipper Chris Johnson was on target for the Wongers.

Just as they did in the Challenge Cup Final last May Horncastle held their nerve to win the penalty shoot-out and progress to the final against Grimsby Borough Academy.

Results:

Ruston Sports 5 Louth Town 1; Sleaford Sports Amateurs 0 Skegness Town 1.

Supplementary Cup semi-finals - Grimsby Borough Academy 3 Immingham Town 0; Wyberton 1 Horncastle Town 1 (aet) (Horncastle won 4-3 on penalties).