Spalding United bowed out of this year’s Lincolnshire FA Senior Cup as Grantham Town eased to a 3-0 victory in Friday night’s quarter-final clash.
A Paul Walker own goal (8) and strikes from Danny Meadows (16) and George Couzens (71) were enough for the higher-graded Gingerbreads at The Meres, in what was the Tulips’ first competitive game of the 2017/18 season.
To make matters worse for Chris Rawlinson’s side, key man Jordan Lemon will also face at least six weeks out after breaking his wrist during a freak first-half incident.
Of course, the last eight clash was very much a pre-season game for Spalding, who won’t lose too much sleep over exiting the competition.
The Tulips, who handed starts to new signings Ellis Humble and Gary King, suffered an early blow when Lemon was forced off after having the ball blasted at him from close range.
He was taken to hospital and had his wrist re-set, meaning six weeks in plaster await the full-back.
While Lemon was being treated, Grantham got in on the right and forced Walker to divert the ball past a helpless Michael Duggan and into his own net at the near post.
The Tulips went close to levelling soon after, but Conor Higginson saw his effort saved when in on goal.
With that chance going a begging, there was soon daylight between the sides when Meadows buried a Curtis Burrows corner to make it 2-0 to the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division side on the quarter hour.
In truth, only Duggan’s efforts and wayward finishing kept the score down before the break as the keeper denied Burrows and Lee Shaw twice missed his mark when well placed.
Higginson rattled the bar with a 30-yarder after the interval, but Grantham also hit the woodwork through Couzens before the same player fired how a low effort to book a semi-final date with Gainsborough Trinity.
Tulips: Duggan, Walker, Spafford, Humble, Jackson, Higginson (Marr 67), Beeson, Varley, Lemon (Fixter 8, Clarke 67), Lockie (Durkin 52), King (Chipamaunga 78). Not used: Smith.
Attendance: 165.
- South Holland sides were in a free-scoring mood in Saturday’s pre-season friendly fixtures.
Leading the way were Moulton Harrox, who hammered hosts Spilsby 9-2, with Jake Mason – who was with Peterborough Northern Star last season – hitting a hat-trick.
Marcus Parry and Ian Bradbury also notched doubles, while Billy King and Ashley Coddington rounded off the rout.
Also in a free-scoring mood were ChromaSport UCL Division One newboys Pinchbeck United.
They knocked off UCL Premier Division outfit Northern Star 5-3 at Knight Street, with Ollie Maltby and Corey Kingston each netting braces.
Josh Smith, the talented winger signed from ICA Sports, got the other goal.
Going one better than the Knights were Holbeach United, who walloped hosts Skegness Town 6-2.
New strikers Lewis Leckie and Will Bird netted two apiece for Seb Hayes’ Tigers, while Charley Sanders – back from a serious head injury – and Stacy Cartwright grabbed the other goals.
Holbeach then romped to an 8-0 win at Wisbech St Mary on Tuesday night, with Sanders (2), Joe Smith (2), Nick Jackson, Dan Jenkins, Mitch Griffiths and Cartwright on target.
Elsewhere, Holbeach United Reserves beat Spalding Town 2-1 on Friday night and Tuesday night saw Long Sutton and Moulton Harrox draw 1-1.
