Lincolnshire Junior Cup
Beehive United 2
Pinchbeck United 1
BEEHIVE United made history by becoming the first Grantham side in 51 years to win the Lincs Junior Cup.
The pub team pulled off the coup of the season when they defeated Peterborough and District League Premier Division leaders Pinchbeck in the county competition at Boston last Wednesday.
Grantham and District Saturday League side Beehive took 250 supporters with them to Boston United’s York Street ground and rewarded their loyalty with a sensational victory.
The underdogs started very nervously and went behind when Dunn and Gray cut through defence, with Gray slotting through Drury’s legs.
Beehive tried to get a foothold in the game as Pinchbeck’s Dunn continued to cause problems up front.
The Grantham side had their first chance in the 25th minute when Stinson connected with a fine cross from Weatherstone, but his header was somehow kept out by the Pinchbeck keeper.
Beehive competed well for the next quarter of an hour, with nothing really to choose between the two sides.
The local side were thankful for the half time whistle and had a slice of luck just two minutes before the break when Pinchbeck’s Dunn hit the bar with a header from a free kick.
A transformed Beehive started the second half with purpose and energy, and Pinchbeck had no answer to the wing play of man-of-the-match Liam Harper and Weatherstone.
Two or three chances went begging and it only seemed a matter of time before an equaliser would be found.
With 20 minutes remaining, a Wormall corner was challenged by Hill and a defender deflected the ball past his own keeper.
With Pinchbeck somewhat deflated, Beehive sensed victory was possible with skipper Mat Hogkin’s defence now rarely troubled.
With the game entering the final minutes and penalties on the horizon, Harper picked the ball up and played it to Wormall who sent substitute Andy Glencross away.
Rather than run the ball in on goal, Glencross unleashed an unstoppable 30yd strike that nestled in the top corner of the net and sent the Grantham crowd ecstatic.
The referee blew the final whistle two minutes later and Hogkin became the first Grantham team skipper to lift the trophy since Grantham St John’s triumphed in 1961.
Beehive manager Mark Fardell was overjoyed with his team’s achievement: He said: “We are only a pub side, playing teams who get paid. It’s a massive achievement.”