Lambourn Town AFC Hold Lincoln City To Draw Before Winning On Penalties

Lambourn Town AFC hosted Lincoln City at Lambourn on the morning of 3 December 2025, kicking off at 10:00am in a fiercely contested cup tie. After 90 minutes plus added time and a further 30 minutes of extra time, the match ended 2-2, with Lambourn ultimately triumphing 5-3 in the penalty shootout.

Lambourn Town lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, deploying Daniel Carter in goal. The defensive line consisted of Alexander Cole at right back, Andrew Patel and Anthony Wallace as central defenders, and Benjamin Stone on the left. The midfield quartet featured Henry Collins on the right wing, Joseph Miller and Lucas Bennett centrally, and James Holloway on the left flank. Up front, Adrian Foster operated as the right forward alongside David Mackay on the left. This setup was designed to provide balance across the pitch, with the full-backs expected to support wide play, central midfielders to control the tempo, and forwards to spearhead attacks. No substitutes were named for Lambourn Town in this fixture.

The match began with an early setback for Lambourn as Lincoln City opened the scoring in the ninth minute, taking advantage of a swift attacking move. Just two minutes later, Daniel Carter was called into action, making a crucial save to keep his side in the contest. However, the pressure soon told again when a lapse in concentration from central midfielder Lucas Bennett at the 13th minute led directly to another goal for Lincoln City, doubling their advantage within five minutes of the opener.

Despite the early deficit, Lambourn Town showed resilience. The visitors received a yellow card in the 21st minute, a sign of the physical nature of the encounter. On the defensive front, Henry Collins was instrumental in the 36th minute, blocking a promising chance and preventing Lincoln from extending their lead further. As the first half drew to a close, David Mackay tested the opposition goalkeeper with a shot on goal in the 42nd minute, though it was comfortably saved.

The first half ended with Lincoln City firmly in control at 2-0, but Lambourn Town’s response after the break was swift and effective. In the 55th minute, James Holloway’s precise delivery forced an own goal from a Lincoln defender, pulling a goal back and reigniting hope for the home side. The match remained finely poised as both teams battled for supremacy.

As the clock ticked towards full time, Lambourn Town’s persistence paid off once more. In the 86th minute, David Mackay scored a remarkable goal from long range, a fluke strike that caught the goalkeeper off guard. The assist came from James Holloway, who delivered a perfectly weighted long pass to set up the chance. This goal levelled the scores at 2-2, sending the match into extra time.

Neither side could find a winner during the additional 30 minutes, despite efforts from both teams. The contest was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout, where Lambourn Town held their nerve to prevail 5-3 over Lincoln City, securing progression in the cup.

The match was a rollercoaster of emotions for Lambourn Town, who overcame an early two-goal deficit through determination and key contributions from James Holloway and David Mackay. Daniel Carter’s early saves and Henry Collins’ defensive interventions were vital in keeping the team in the game. The 4-4-2 formation allowed Lambourn to regain control in midfield and launch effective attacks, culminating in a dramatic shootout victory on home soil.