More success on the road for Market Rasen with cup giantkilling
After two impressive away successes in Lincolnshire League Division One, Market Rasen again won on the road on Saturday with a superb 3-1 giantkilling at Premier League side Spilsby Town in the opening round of the Challenge Cup.
Manager Ian Williams, back on the touchline following his recent suspension, said: “We were excellent in all departments.
“We played some terrific football at times, but the effort and desire from everyone stood out.
“We defended and played out from the back well, won the loose balls in midfield and really looked dangerous every time we got into their defensive third.
“The lads have really set the standards in early season and long may it continue.
“I could pick many Man of the Match candidates, but I’ll pick young Harvey Baxter, who has come back this season in great shape.
“He read the game well and won all his duels. Considering his age, he shows great maturity both with and without the ball.”
From the opening whistle, Rasen looked determined and set the tone with a strong early challenge from Charlie Scales, who stepped into central midfield in place of the unavailable Ben Hearn.
Rasen dominated the first half and created the better of the opportunities, with goalkeeper Alex Aistrop barely troubled.
The pressure finally told on 25 minutes. A slick move through midfield released Liam Korynickyj down the left, and his superb sliderule cross to the far post was met by the onrushing Scales, who slid in to give Rasen a deserved lead.
Ten minutes before half-time, Rasen doubled their advantage in style.
Lucas Sparrow won the ball in the centre circle and drove straight at the Spilsby defence. With fantastic footwork and balance, he danced past three challenges, rounded the keeper and calmly finished for a brilliant individual goal.
Spilsby came out after the break determined to get back into the game and capitalised on a rare moment of hesitation in the Rasen defence.
A free kick from the right was headed down into the path of the Spilsby striker, who finished to make it 2–1.
Rasen were then reduced to 10 men temporarily when Theo Williams was sent to the sin-bin for dissent.
Korynickyj was left to lead the line, while the energetic Finn Drakes dropped into midfield to help shore things up.
During this spell, Baxter and the rest of the Rasen back four were outstanding, putting their bodies on the line and blocking several Spilsby attacks.
With Theo Williams back on the pitch, Rasen regained their attacking threat, and the introduction of fresh legs and experience from Jack Robinson and Tom Carter helped turn the tide.
With 15 minutes remaining, the Korynickyj late show arrived as he fashioned an opening just inside the penalty area and calmly finished to effectively end Spilsby’s hopes of a comeback.
RASEN: Aistrop, Davison, Baxter, Ford, Graves, Scales, Parry, Sparrow, Drakes, Korynickyj, Williams, Carter, Mattu, Chapman, McKee, Robinson.