Grantham & District Sunday League
Ropsley 1
Springfield AFC 0
Ropsley continued their excellent start to 2013 with a confidence-inspiring victory at home to promotion chasers Springfield AFC.
Springfield created the first real chance of the game but the shot was turned over by keeper Neil Graham.
Ropsley took the lead mid-way through the half when lone striker Loz Fiorentino took a pass from Chris Greenaway and beat his marker.
Fiorentino carried the ball 20 yards down the right flank before cutting inside and hitting his shot off the foot of the post. The ball rolled across the goal line before it was prodded home by Paul McAllister.
Ropsley’s Tom Parrish almost made it 2-0 in the second-half but a good stop by the Springfield keeper made the final minutes of the game tense for the home side.
The result means Grantham TRE have some breathing room at the top of the league.
Newark Alliance
Division One
Laxton 3
Barkestone le Vale 4
Barkestone fought back from two goals down at half time to record at tremendous victory in the rain at Laxton.
The first half saw the home side fail to make the most of numerous chances, and they paid the price as Laxton hit them on the break time and again and found the net twice to hold the advantage at the break.
In the second half, Barkestone took complete control of the game, with Simon Hollingsworth and Craig Moore dominating midfield and Sam Garner continually causing the Laxton defence problems.
It was Garner who scored Barkestone’s first goal and Hollingsworth soon followed with the equaliser.
Chances continued to be created with ease by Barkestone who were now playing with confidence and it was man-of-the -match Jake Hutchinson who rose highest to plant a firm header home from a corner for the third goal.
Garner latched on to a defence-splitting pass from Hollingsworth to finish neatly for the home side’s fourth.
Laxton scored a late late third but it was Barkestone who left with all three points.