Penalty heartbreak defines cup week across the United Counties League

Spot-kicks were the theme of the week in the United Counties League, with three clubs departing cup competitions on penalties inside a few days of each other. Sleaford Town were the most eye-catching casualty, exiting the FA Vase at Birstall United despite drawing 1-1 in normal time. All three of the Greens' penalty takers missed from twelve yards, a 3-0 shootout defeat that manager Jamie McGhee admitted stung. "I'm expecting a really big reaction to Saturdays Vase exit disappointment," he said, adding that his side had put in "a thorough session on what we need to do better" in training before facing Gedling Miners Welfare at the BPH Stadium.

Clifton All Whites were also knocked out of the FA Vase on penalties, twice taking the lead away at Heanor Town only to draw 3-3 and lose on penalties, with Reuben Maltby Stevens among their scorers. There was some consolation in the Notts Senior Cup, where Clifton All Whites beat Hucknall Town on penalties, winning 5-3 from the spot after a 1-1 draw at the Norman Archer Memorial Ground.

Shirebrook Town also saw their FA Vase run end this week, though the club offered little detail on the loss beyond confirming that "our journey in the FA Vase comes to an end for another season". Man of the match on the day went to Liam Childes. Dronfield Town's Vase hopes also finished, described by the club as ending after "a committed display", following the death of former long-serving player Gary Dixon, for whom a minute's silence was held before the game.

Not every cup tie went to penalties or ended in exit. Cotgrave needed a shootout of their own in the Notts Senior Cup, beating Arnold Town 4-1 from the spot after a 1-1 draw, with Samuel Dunn's goal sending the tie to penalties and Tom Webster saving three of Arnold's four spot-kicks to claim the man-of-the-match award. Cotgrave, meanwhile, were among the week's form sides in the league itself, earning a 3-0 win at Maltby Main with a clean sheet.

Southwell City progressed in the FA Vase, riding their luck in the second half to secure victory and set up a trip to Wolverhampton to face Wolves Casuals, with goals from Casburn and Newton and a man-of-the-match display in goal from Woody, praised afterwards by his manager as "one of the reasons why we've had a very good start". Gedling Miners Welfare and Southwell City both exited the Notts Senior Cup this week too, Gedling Miners Welfare beaten 2-0 away at Retford and Radford moving on to prepare for a run of league fixtures instead.