Lilywhites leave it late to wound Wongers

Earlier in the season a goal in added time cost Town a share of the points and on Saturday two goals inside the last five minutes proved decisive when a draw seemed inevitable.

Town started brightly with Carl Smith influential early on and he forced the keeper into a sprawling save after good work from Tony Edwards down the right. Mickey Stones and Scott Lowman both headed just wide from Ollie Johnson free-kicks as Town dominated the early stages but they survived a scare of their own when a well struck shot beat Burchnall in Town's goal but came back off the upright.

Town continued to press and got their just reward when Stones found space well before delivering a great ball to the far post for Tony Edwards to head in from close range. Town then had a penalty appeal turned down after a Skegness defender's outstretched arm blocked a Stones header and worse luck was to follow when Michael Harness headed in at the far post but he was adjudged to have fouled a defender.

Within minutes the home side had equalised when a poor defensive clearance fell kindly for their striker and his low drive wrong footed Burchnall to bring the sides level.

Despite this setback, Town continued to dominate with Steve Lovett getting forward at every opportunity to supplement the attack and Smith and Richard Jackson pulling the strings in midfield. They duly regained the lead when Tony Edwards turned a Michael Harness shot past the keeper for his and Town's second goal of the game.

With half-time approaching Town were good value for their lead but just before the break the home side drew level again. Ollie Johnson lost possession in midfield, and when the ball was played through their centre forward finished confidently.
Town were disappointed not to be ahead at the interval but when the game restarted it was the home side who looked the sharper. Town's back four had to defend resiliently with Steve Brown outstanding at centre half but Lewis Burchnall kept the teams level when he reacted superbly to turn a stinging drive onto the bar.

With Carl Smith struggling from a heavy challenge earlier in the game, he was replaced by debutant Sargeant and he gave an early indication of his intent with a long range effort which the keeper saved comfortably. Minutes later the same two players were again involved but this time the keeper did well to tip over a goal bound effort from thirty yards.

With the game entering it's final stages, Ryan Beaumont came on for his first team debut in place of Michael Harness but with both sides seemingly settling for a draw, it was the home side who secured victory late on. Richard Jackson's misplaced pass gave possession away and when their winger was allowed to cut inside unopposed, he skipped a clever ball into their centre forward who finished superbly with a deft chip over a helpless Burchnall in Town's goal.

With Town throwing players forward in the hope of salvaging something from the game, it was no surprise when the home side exploited the space left at the back to add a fourth goal in added time.

The final whistle signalled the vend of a frustrating ninety minutes for Town who had contributed a lot to an evenly contested game with the final score line flattering the home side.

This coming Saturday Town face another stern test when they visit Wyberton in the Challenge Cup - kick off at The Causeway is at 1.30pm.

Town side:
Lewis Burchnall, Steve Lovett, Andrew Shinn, Steve Brown, Scott Lowman, Ollie Johnson, Tony Edwards, Richard Jackson, Mickey Stones, Michael Harness (Ryan Beaumont), Carl Smith (Tom Sargeant). Unused subs: Chris Johnson, Nathan Rawdon.