Town book place in Supp Cup quarter final

Despite the convincing scoreline, it was not until the second half that Town secured victory despite dominating proceedings throughout. A hat-trick from the in-form Mickey Stones proved the catalyst as Town progressed through to the quarter finals of the Supplementary Cup with a visit to Humbertherm their reward.

Town started brightly with Tony Edwards and Tom Sargeant seeing a lot of the ball in wide areas. A series of corners followed as Town pressed and from a Jackson delivery, Stones saw his heard cleared off the line. The early signs was encouraging as Town probed but it was the visitors who took a surprise lead on fifteen minutes with their first attack.

Andrew Shinn conceded a corner on the left but was followed was a catalogue or errors from Town defensively. After failing to clear their lines Shinn tripped an opponent just outside the area and when the defensive wall jumped, slow shot deceived keeper Burchnall before being poked over the line.

Town's response was immediate and Michael Harness volleyed just wide after good approach play from Edwards and Stones. Ollie Johnson then saw his curling shot clip the bar with the keeper beaten as Town kept up the pressure in the final third. Ollie Johnson and Richard Jackson were dominating midfield and a Jackson corner led to Town's equaliser with Stones downward header bringing the teams level. Town continued to press but on the half hour they gifted Nettleham a second goal. Nathan Rawdon needlessly conceded a free-kick in the corner and the resulting cross was missed by Stones at the near post on its way into the net.

Once again Town's response was positive and when Ollie Johnson looped a cross to the far post Michael Harness finished superbly with a controlled shot into the far corner.

Minutes later Town took the lead when another Johnson cross was flicked on by Stones as he out jumped the visiting keeper. This was no more than Town deserved and they could have added to their lead when a Johnson free-kick was headed just over by Edwards.

The second half took a while to get going and Town struggled to play with the same fluency but the impressive Scott Lowman saw a fine header tipped over by the busy Nettleham keeper. The visitors could have drawn level when Town allowed their striker too much space but he fired wide when well placed. This proved to be their last clear opportunity and Town sealed victory with a fine goal from Stones to complete a deserved hat-trick. Nathan Rawdon played a fine ball down the line to the hard working Edwards and after cutting inside Tony cleverly played the ball through to Stones who finished emphatically from close range.

Steve Lovett, Callum Low and Carl Smith were all introduced for the final quarter and it was Smith who completed the scoring with a speculative effort from thirty yards after good work from Shinn. A quickly taken free-kick by Ollie Johnson almost brought a sixth goal for Scott Lowman but the keeper pulled off an outstanding finger tip save to deny him. Johnson fired wide and Stones had a goal disallowed for offside as Town finished as they'd begun but the nature of the goals conceded will be a concern to manager Paul Johnson with Wyberton the visitors to The Wong on Saturday - kick off 3pm.

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