FOOTBALL: Sleaford Town Reserves extend lead

While the leaders were sealing three points against Skegness United with a solitary goal at Eslaforde Park, nearest rivals Wyberton were going down by the odd goal in five at Lincoln Railway AFC.

This lifted Railway into second spot ahead of the Boston area side.

Hykeham Town bagged three points in their match against Market Rasen Town, while Ruston Sports ended an eight-game losing streak by holding Cleethorpes Town Development Squad to a draw at Newark Road.

Horncastle Town swapped places with their opponents after edging out CGB Humbertherm at The Wong.

In the Lincs Junior Cup, Skegness Town bowed out on penalties at Epworth Town after 120 minutes of play failed to separate the two sides in their quarter-final.

Sleaford Town Reserves 1

Skegness United 0

Shaun Popple’s third league goal of the season was enough to secure three points for Sleaford Town’s second string.

With Wyberton going down to their second league defeat of the season, this success extended Sleaford’s lead at the top of the table to six points.

Horncastle Town 1

CGB Humbertherm 0

Nadir Boulaid opened his account for the home side to help them leapfrog their East Lindsey rivals in the league table.

Horncastle have failed to score more than once in any league game this season, having found the back of the net only six times from their first ten league games.

But they have one of the meanest defences, making one goal potentially enough to secure the spoils.

Lincoln Railway AFC 3

Wyberton 2

The Railway goal machine Simon Mowbray continues to lead the chase for the golden boot.

His latest brace of goals, taking his league tally to 19, also helped the railmen to climb into second spot in the table.

Mowbray has twice the number of goals of his nearest rivals from nine games as the league enters the second half of the season.

Hykeham Town 3

Market Rasen Town 1

This match was switched to Sills and Betteridge Team of the Month Hykeham Town to give it more chance of being played after recent wet weather.

Basking in the county cup success at Wyberton the previous week, Hykeham took the points with goals from Josh Raby, Christopher Funnell and Matthew Easton.

Jake Wade scored the Rasen consolation.

Ruston Sports 2

Cleethorpes Development Squad 2

Lincoln-based Ruston Sports ended a barren spell of eight games without a point when they sealed a draw at home to Cleethorpes Town’s development squad.

John Waugh and Ian Ward netted for Sports, while the seasiders had goals from Jacob Wilson and Sam Walker to thank for their point.

Lincolnshire FA Junior Cup

Epworth Town 2

Skegness Town 2 (aet)

(Epworth won 4-3 on penalties)

Skegness Town only have themselves to blame for not securing a semi-final place against holders Hykeham Town.

They missed a catalogue of chances that would have eased their way into the last four.

Will Britton headed the seasiders in front early on, but the home side were gifted an equaliser when Skegness keeper Mike Emery was adjudged to have taken too long to distribute the ball. James Bingham fired home following an indirect free kick inside the Skegness penalty area.

Buoyed by this good fortune, Epworth enjoyed the better of the early exchanges after the interval.

Jordan Smith, Luke Rayner-Mistry and Wade Hurst all went close to scoring a second for the visitors, but the final whistle arrived with the scores level.

Epworth took the lead against the run of play during the first period of extra time when Richard Haynes volleyed in at the far post.

Courtney Warren hooked home the equaliser before the half-way stage of extra time.

There were no further goals, so attention swung to penalties.

Epworth keeper Chris Stanley saved the first and fifth spot kicks taken by Miles Chamberlain and McCauley Parker, while the home side scored their first four.

Results: Horncastle Town 1 CGB Humbertherm 0; Lincoln Railway AFC 3 Wyberton 2; Hykeham Town 3 Market Rasen Town 1; Ruston Sports 2 Cleethorpes Town Development Squad 2; Sleaford Town Reserves 1 Skegness United 0.

Lincs FA Junior Cup

Epworth Town 2 Skegness Town 2 (aet, Epworth won 4-3 on penalties).