With Winterton’s injury list becoming larger every week, Chris Keel now added to the walking wounded. A bare bones team had to face a Lincoln side sitting in third place with the addition of ex Rangers Leigh Herrick and Chris McDonald in the squad. The plus for Rangers was the return of Ben Morley to the midfield.

Lincoln started the strongest pressing the Winterton back four of Green, Robinson and Haywood with new signing James Atkinson. The visitors flashed the ball across the face as early as the 2^nd minutes and 4 minutes later had the ball in the back of the net only for it to be disallowed for a leading elbow on Ben Simpson in the six yard box. Simpson was again called into action when Moorlands full back Rob Lund fired in a rising shot from 30 yards that the rangers stopper had to tip over.

Winterton didn’t venture much into the Lincoln half as they battled to find some rhythm. The first real visit to the Lincoln box had Sewell cross into the middle. Holt challenged the centre back and Herrick came to collect.

Rangers then started to get down the flanks, Northen made a great run past two before crossing into the box where it was cleared for a corner with Sewell closing. It seemed to be Rangers starting to get a grip on the game.  Which made the opening goal on 24 minutes more disappointing - a lofted ball into the box saw Simpson call and come, only to be beaten by Moorlands Dean Dye to the ball - his effort looping over and in. 0-1

Then again on the half hour the Lincoln captain headed wide from an in swinging free-kick. But Rangers coming more into the game were causing their own problems around the Lincoln box. On 35minutes Sewell was found on the edge of the box but the ball wouldn’t come down and the chance had gone. Then Morley did well, cutting inside from the left but his shot was deflected away.

Winterton’s continuing improvement culminated in a deserved equaliser on 41mins. A corner from the right was cleared to Clarke on the edge of the box, he headed back in and Holt reacted quickest to beat the Moorlands defence rushing out, to put the ball past the stranded Herrick. 1-1

Winterton went in at half time in the ascendancy and the score matched the balance of play in the first half.

Rangers came out for the second half in a determined fashion, immediately pressing the Lincoln box.   A Haywood ball to Sewell on the halfway line was flicked into the path of Andy Holt who raced to the by-line before pulling his cross to Sewell appearing on the edge of the box on the right. Sewell took a touch before lifting his shot into the top left hand corner. 2-1

A minute later, Gareth Sewell found himself in the box on the left but he chose to cross when a shot was probably the better option. Herrick collected.

Lincoln are always dangerous and especially from set pieces. A corner to the near post saw Robinson head wide with Rangers scrambling. But with so much pace in the side Winterton can break quickly. Ben Morley showed real quality on the ball to create a chance for Rob Northen who appeared in the box from the left and glanced a header across the face from 10 yards out.

On the hour mark Sewell could have sewn up the game when Holt chased down a ball and showing strength against Herrick managed to lay back to Sewell but he chose power over precision with Herrick stranded, and shot over. Then straight down to the other end and Pete Shelley was allowed to settle on the ball before firing in a shot that went the wrong side of the post.

The game was still poised but Winterton were getting the best of the chances. A Herrick goal kick was sliced to the feet of Morley who’s touch and first time shot from 40 yards went just over with Herrick probably in position as he raced across his box.

On 72minutes the influential Ben Morley dropped a cross field pass onto Andy Holt’s foot in the box. He took a touch but blazed over. Four minutes later Holt was found on the edge of the box but his first touch let him down and the half chance had gone.

Lincoln pressed for an equaliser in the closing minutes, Newman should have done better when he fired over from 8 yards on 82mins, and  with Atkinson and Robinson in a defiant mood, a chance in the last minute inside the six yard box was snuffed out and cleared.

FINAL SCORE 2-1

Winterton deserved this win, they weathered the storm and came away controlling the game.