Horncastle fell well below the required standard in both defence and attack to deserve anything from the home cup-tie against Lincoln Moorlands – the visitors going home with a deserved 3-1 win.

There was much disappointment in the home camp at having lost to an ordinary but workmanlike visiting side, who were so delighted at the final whistle and seemed almost surprised to come away with a win – only their second of the season, writes Lloyd Harmston.

Indeed, less than a month earlier Horncastle had won away from home against Moorlands by the same scoreline.

Town could have led by two or three goals at the break.

While home boss Paul Johnson acknowledged the poor performance from his side he was not looking for excuses, but he could have been forgiven if he had done so.

For Town did not have the rub of the green, not least with regard to two good penalty shouts in the second half, as Terry Marshall and Michael Harness were felled.

"There is no doubt we did not do enough to deserve to win it," said manager Paul Johnson.

"I must say that Moorlands were a much-improved outfit than when we played them a few weeks ago. Having said that, we should still have been able to beat them."

Town have a home game this Wednesday evening when they entertain lowly Grimsby Borough reserves in a league fixture, kick-off at 7.45 pm.

On Saturday there is another home game, this time in the Lincs Junior Cup against The Red Lion from Bourne, something of an unknown quantity (2.15pm).