Grantham & District Saturday League
Benevolent Cup
Bottesford Reserves 0
AFC Croxton 1
With both teams looking to progress from the group stages of the cup, a win was all-important and the end-to-end goal dashes showed the keenness to deliver a reward.
The first half, though, was filled with a host of missed chances as both teams failed to find their targets. Travelling keeper James Frost played hero for the highlight of the half when a quick dive enabled him to turn away the best chance so far, keeping the scores all level at the break.
The eagerness of the opening stint returned from the whistle as the second half got underway, but again there was little real threat in the first salvos.
A break finally arrived with 30 minutes remaining when Michael Burkitt picked out a pinpoint cross from the right wing which found Marc Clowes unmarked six yards out, and with time to pick his spot in the back of the net.
For the final phase, the home side raised the pressure as thye fought to get back into a game. But an organised Croxton backline held their nerve and the attackers out, to move them into the qualifying places for the knockout stages.