Wongers book their place in the cup final

Horncastle Town have booked their place in the Supplementary Cup final after a tense penalty-shootout victory over Lincolnshire League rivals Wyberton.
Chris Johnson.Chris Johnson.
Chris Johnson.

Keeper Lewis Burchnall made two great saves as the Wongers won 4-3 from the spot after the two sides had played out a 1-1 draw.

And in a feisty game both sides had a man sent off.

“The lads were bang up for it and it paid off,” said joint-manager Andrew Shinn, who was dismissed late in the contest.

Lewis Burchnall.Lewis Burchnall.
Lewis Burchnall.

“It’s a brilliant feeling to be in another cup final, now we’ve got to make sure we win it.”

Town will face Grimsby Borough Academy at Sleaford’s Eslaforde Park ground on Friday, April 20.

In a game full of incident Wongers midfielder Richard Jackson had a spot kick saved and the Villagers’ Daniel White was sent off for a lunge in normal time.

Horncastle skipper Chris Johnson opened the scoring as he found the net from a set-piece, only for Ben Lawrence to level.

Lewis Burchnall.Lewis Burchnall.
Lewis Burchnall.

“We were under the cosh for most of the game,” Shinn admitted.

“It was a narrow pitch and we couldn’t get the ball out wide. If it went to their defenders the ball just came back up to us.

“It wasn’t a game for the midfielders, but I think the lads did well to deal with the pressure.”

Shinn received his marching orders in the 30 minutes of extra time after catching an opponent attempting to control the ball.

“It was a good and a bad day for me really,” he added.

“I caught him, so I can’t argue the decision. But I’ll take the red card if it means we’re in a final.”

Horncastle beat Brigg Reserves on penalties to win the Challenge Cup last season, and once again there was spot kick heroics from stopper Burchnall.

“It was world-class stuff,” said Shinn.

“The way he reaches to get to the ball is like the stuff you see in the Premier League. It’s briliant, he gets right to the corner.”

The Wongers are without a fixture this week, but travel to Wyberton again on April 7 for their Challenge Cup semi-final (KO 2.30pm).