Lincoln United win their first-ever Lincolnshire FA County Senior Trophy with a tense penalty shootout victory.
Chris Funnell’s side won 8-7 on penalties, after a goalless draw. Jack Steggles scored his spot-kick, before pulling off the trophy-winning save.
The Whites went searching for their first piece of silverware since the 2016/17 season, while opponents Boston Town arrived at the Jakemans Community Stadium looking to end their 34 year winless run against Lincoln.
First-Half:
An early flourish forward saw a Jake Park cross headed wide of his own post by Boston’s Jason Field. It left goalkeeper Travis Portas stranded on his line, as the Whites started positively.
Both sides struggled to keep possession, as the teams could not hold the ball up from long balls pumped forward from defence.
It was Boston Town who would have the next chance, as Harry Limb beat the offside trap to beat the United defence. Bearing down on goalkeeper Jack Steggles’ goal, the Boston striker looked to square the ball, but could not find a teammate and the chance went begging.
Liam Adams tried his luck from distance on 23 minutes, but put too much power on the strike as it sailed harmlessly over Steggles’ crossbar.
Kallum Smith forced a fine save from Portas, with a left-footed free-kick from around 20-yards out just before the half hour mark. Smith’s effort looked destined for the far top right corner, but a fingertip touch from the Boston number one kept the scores goalless.
From the resulting corner, United captain had a header land just wide of the right post as the side from Lincoln looked to take control.
Boston’s Liam Adams was the first man to be cautioned by referee Ethan Nundy for a chopping challenge on Tobias Liversidge just over halfway in the 33rd minute.
On 37 minutes, a free-kick from the left, taken by Boston captain Lee Beeson, fell the way of forward Lucas Dakin. His flick-on caused panic and only a deflection saw the ball whistle past the post.
There was time for Jake Park to be cautioned in stoppage time at the end of the half, to bring an end to a first-half that lacked quality and clear chances for either side.
Second-Half:
Both managers made changes at the break, with Boston’s Jason Field being replaced by Dan Worthington, and Chris Funnell replacing Callum Chapman with Ted Gibbons.
Boston’s Harry Limb was cautioned within the opening minute of the second half, for a late challenge on United full-back Smith.
United came within inches of going in front on 53 minutes, after some nice footwork and a bending shot from inside the penalty area looped over Portas and bounced off the crossbar.
Nothing was made of the follow-up efforts, and Boston were able to clear their lines once another McMenemy shot was blocked back into the path of the Lincoln forward and out for a goal kick.
Adams had another effort from the edge of the penalty area just before the hour mark, cutting in on his left foot from the right wing, before bending a shot wide of Steggles’ far post.
Some nice patient football from the Whites gave the opening for Leo Priestley to swing a cross from the right and find the head of Park, but he could not divert his on target.
Boston United boss Martyn Bunce made his second change as Layton Maddison was replaced by Sisa Tuntulwana with over 20 minutes remaining.
A strike from Adams on the edge of the box had some speed behind it on 73 minutes, before it was deflected by Boston’s Luke Wilson and looped over the top of the bar.
It was the blue of Boston that had the biggest chance of the game a minute later as Harry Limb was played through one-on-one with Jack Steggles, but the goalkeeper stayed big and got to the ball after a poor touch from the Boston number nine.
Sean Wright’s long ball forward for the Whites caused problems for the Boston backline, especially when Jake Park got his head onto the ball in the penalty area, forcing a full-stretched save from Travis Portas.
A last man tackle from Evan Payne denied substitute Sisa Tuntulwana from getting a strike away in the penalty area, after the Boston man was allowed to dance past three United defenders.
In the five minutes of added time, Jack McMenemy seemed to have gone around goalkeeper Tortas before falling to the ground, but referee Ethan Nundy did not award the Whites a penalty kick in stoppage time.
Down the other end, Boston’s captain Beeson saw a free-kick from just under 25 yards powered into the wall.
That was all the action in the 90 minutes, meaning penalties were required to seal the trophy in front of the 547 fans in attendance.
Lincoln United 0 (8) – 0 (7) Boston Town:
The first four penalties for both sides all found the back of the net, despite McMenemy’s penalty going under goalkeeper Portas.
That meant a sudden death scenario from the fifth penalty onwards. It took until the thirteenth penalty for a player to miss, and it was the unfortunate Mitch Griffiths who had his penalty saved by Portas.
It gave Dan Worthington the chance to win the competition, but he skied the ball high and wide of the goal, to keep the contest going.
Portas saved the following penalty from Gibbons to hand a second chance for Boston to win. Lucas Dakin had the same result as Worthington as he too skied the ball over Steggles’ crossbar.
Goalkeeper Steggles put his pressure penalty away and stepped up to save Richard Ford’s penalty, securing the County Senior Trophy went back to Ashby Avenue.