Premier Division

Sleaford Town  2    Yaxley  4

Wednesday, 15 August 2007

Sleaford's top flight debut ended in disappointment as they struggled to cope with the pacy Cuckoos attack at Eslaforde Park.

The promoted side settled quickly and it needed alert goalkeeping from Yaxley's John Feetham to deny Town striker Jamie Shaw an early opener. Michael Stones went close with a shot on the turn but it was the visitors who displayed the cutting edge after 25 minutes, Mark Paul latching on to an Andy Chatters pass to round home custodian Andrew Scott and slot home.

Four minutes later the lead was double with Paul turning provider for Lee Blewett to score from close range.

Yaxley had the game all but won by the interval after scoring a third goal five minutes before the break. Chatters instigated the move sending Paul away on the right, the one time Southampton player fed Blewett whose shot was parried by Scott, but Chatters had made ground down the centre and was perfectly placed to convert the loose ball.

Pete Sutton for Sleaford and Paul for Yaxley had chances early in the second half, while Feetham tipped over a well strick effort from Shaw on the hour.

Impressive substitute Miles Hunter set up Jason Sedlan to score Town's first top flight goal after 64 minutes and Hunter went close to reducing the arrears himself, firing into the side netting after a jinking run.

Ian Edge was unable to convert a Paul cross at full stretch, but Yaxley wrapped up the win after 79 minutes, Chatters releasing Paul to finish clinically as Scott advanced.

A curling shot by Shaw gave Sleaford a deserved consolation after 85 minutes.

Sleaford: Andrew Scott, Kris Jones, Darren Statham, Paul Reece (Craig Wells), Paul Ward, Oliver Sidney, Pete Brothwell (Miles Hunter), Jason Sedlan, Michael Stones, Jamie Shaw, Pete Sutton.

Yaxley: John Feetham, Matt Parrott, Josh Crick (Danny Steward), Sam Kingston, Chris Lenton, Jimmy Dean, Ian Edge, Lee Blewett, Mark Paul, Ricky Hailstone, Andy Chatters.