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Hykeham Town v Epworth Town Colts

7.45pm  1 November 2019

Lincolnshire Junior Cup, Second Round
Hykeham Town 4 Epworth Town Colts 1 (att 72)

If this cup tie was switched to Friday night in the hope of attracting a larger crowd then it appears to have paid off. There were more locals here than I'd expected, although surprisingly few groundhoppers.

Hykeham Town were a Lincolnshire League side until quite recently, although I think this incarnation is a different club. Unlike their predecessors they play on the 3G pitch at the Priory City of Lincoln Academy.

I was last here three years ago, watching Lincoln City's youth team who at that time played on one of the school's grass pitches. The artificial pitch is as you'd expect, surrounded by a high fence, and has space for spectators down one side.

It's a good facility, but with a large crowd in the ground getting a decent place to watch the action was tricky. The spectator area doesn't quite run the full length of the touchline, and there are dugouts and stored small-sided goals that get in the way.

Several spectators opted to watch from outside the 'cage', on a grass bank behind the goal. I hope they did that for a better view rather than to avoid paying the admission charge of just £2.

Epworth Town Colts play in the Central Midlands League's second tier, effectively one level lower than Lincolnshire League Hykeham. There was little sign of the gap for most of the game, and it took two late goals for a final score that was harsh on Epworth.

The visitors created more chances over 90 minutes, but Hykeham were much sharper in front of goal. They had a 2-0 lead until a penalty just before half time kept Epworth in the tie. Hykeham finally wrapped it up with their own penalty about five minutes from time, soon followed by a late fourth on the break.







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