FOOTBALL: Squad selection continues to hamper Horncastle
Horncastle Town FC – by Lloyd Harmston
Lincolnshire League
Horncastle Town 3–2 Heckington United
Facing a Heckington side going through something of a renaissance after the departure of long-serving manager Terry Smith, this excellent midweek encounter went marginally the way of Town, even though the scoreline hardly does justice to the visitors.
Horncastle team boss Paul Johnson was the first to admit that his side did not deserve all three points, He said: “We struggled to play with any real fluency even though we scored first then regained the lead with 20 minutes to go.
“Heckington deserved their equaliser but somehow we scored the winner with two minutes to go when perhaps a draw would have been a fairer result.”
Town did edge the first half and went ahead when a Michael Harness corner was flicked on by Ollie Johnson and finished with a volley at the far post by Chris Johnson. 1-0.
Heckington played better in the second half and equalised on the hour through Robinson, 1-1. Ben Wadd forced another corner for the home side with the Harness cross superbly controlled by Chris Johnson before hitting in his second. 2-1.
Poor defending let in Heckington for a second equaliser, scored again by Robinson. 2-2.
The winner came when substitute Daniel Boddily, on for Jacob Wilson, broke clear before crossing to Harness on the far side of the area. Harness cut inside and finished with a shot just inside the post. 3-2.
Town L Burchnall; D Marshall, A Enderby, C Johnson, M Low; M Harness, O Johnson, S Brown, J Watters, J Wilson, D Bent. Subs: B Wadd, D Boddily, D Dunn.
Lincolnshire County Cup
Long Sutton 4–3 Horncastle Town (AET)
Town failed to repeat the semi-final achievement of last season, going out of the County Cup at the first hurdle.
Yet the story of this game could have been told before the trip, with manager Paul Johnson having his worst selection nightmare in a season of unbelievable difficulties. Without naming names, he had a full team of men missing from squad selection.
It was hardly the best possible performance from a Town side, against a Long Sutton outfit that was there for the taking.
Even with a depleted team, it should have been so different. Paul Johnson said: “We came so close and without making a song and dance, there is little doubt that a full strength Town side would have gone through with no bother.”
Town struggled early on and the game was a quarter old before they came into the action. Daniel Boddily hit the side-netting from an Ollie Johnson pass and Michael Harness had a couple of decent chances, one in each half, in an unfamiliar role as lone striker.
Debut goalkeeper Brody Willerton pulled off a superb reflex save as he smartly adjusted his dive from a deflected shot. Somehow, Town had reached half-time still on level terms. HT 0-0
Andrew Shinn had to retire at the break and on went Jonjo Cooke. Keeper Willerton pulled off a penalty save early in the second half but Long Sutton took the lead then doubled their advantage minutes later. 2-0.
Town switched from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 and were soon on level terms. Firstly Harness lifted in a shot from Ollie Johnson, then, when Brown was felled by the keeper, Ollie Johnson levelled from the spot. 2-2.
The home side regained their lead early in extra time and added a fourth goal in the second period. However, Jacob Wilson pulled one back for Town late in the contest. FT 4-3.
On Saturday there is a home game against Lincoln Moorlands Reserves kick-off 3pm. The reserves are away to Ruston Sports Reserves in a cup-tie.
Town (4-5-1) B Willerton; C Low, D Marshall, C Johnson, A Shinn; D Boddily, J Watters, S Brown, O Johnson, J Wilson; M Harness. Sub: J Cooke.
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Weather for Horncastle
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
