Terrific Town seal Supplementary final spot with win over Sleaford

After dominating proceedings for most of the game Town ran away 2-0 victors to set up a cup final date with Gainsborough Town.

Town started the game without four of the regular squad with Danny Bent and Nathan Rawdon injured and Steve Lovett and Michael Harness unavailable. Ollie Johnson started despite being unwell and captain Chris Johnson, Dave Marshall, Andy Shinn and Steve Brown all came through a fitness test during warm up. Tony Edwards started up front on his own with Scott Lowman playing just behind him.

Town kicked off heading uphill and into the wind but nearly had the perfect start on two minutes when Lowman managed to get his shot off from a tight angle and the keeper had to produce a good save. Town continued to play on the front foot and edged in front on 20 minutes when Lowman had a shot blocked but it rebounded to the feet of Brown who struck the ball past the keeper from 12 yards. Edwards was then unlucky when he got to the ball before the defender but his lob went just over the bar. With five minutes of the half remaining Sleaford nearly drew level after their striker found space in the area but his shot beat Wood in the Town goal but not the crossbar which it cannoned off before being cleared to safety. The referee brought the half to a close with Town 1-0 up.

The second half started much like the first with Town enjoying the majority of possession. Things started to get a bit scrappy as both teams tried to get the important next goal. On 70 minutes it was Town that grabbed the second goal when Gareth Melia collected the ball on the left and delivered a pin point cross to the head of Tony Edwards who headed the ball back across the keeper into the bottom corner of the goal. Steve Brown and Ollie Johnson were replaced by Jamie Lamming and Luke Blondel after the goal to get fresh legs to try and hold onto the lead. Town’s defence of Shinn, Marshall, Chris Johnson and the impressive Callum Low were holding firm and giving the Sleaford strikers no chance of taking a clean sheet away from Wood. James Blondel replaced Shinn for the last five minutes as Town saw out the game. The referees whistle brought jubilation to the travelling wongers and set up a cup final at the home of Lincoln United on Ashby Avenue.

Town fully deserved the win after dominating possession and creating plenty of chances at one end and denying any opportunities at the other.

Team: Wood, Low, C.Johnson, Marshall, Shinn (J.Blondel), C.Smith, Brown (Lamming), O.Johnson (L Blondel), Melia, Lowman, Edwards. Unused subs: L.Smith