Brigg Town hosted Horncastle Town six days before their final. It was a league match and Brigg ran out 1-0 winners.
Charlie Dolling bagged the only goal of the game on 15 minutes.
Brigg made two changes with Sam East and Jonny Nicholls replacing Tom Raithby and Cameron Hill.
Brigg began brightly and had a goal disallowed early on. Chris Rodgers headed in Ryan Thompson's free kick, but the flag was up for an alleged offside.
Soon afterwards Brigg had the ball in the net again and that time it did count. Reece Moody cut inside from the left and squared for Dolling to score at the far post.
Minutes later Nicholls whipped in a cross and found Dolling, who forced Lewis Burchnall into a good save.
Rodgers then headed wide before Jack Tierney came close with a 25-yarder.
Nicholls and Jake Reed also came close as Brigg continued to dominate.
On the stroke of half time Nathan Rawdon fired over after being played in by Josh Kisby.
Brigg were the better side in the first half and led 1-0 at the interval. However, Horncastle improved and almost scored a stunning equalizer just after half time.
Steven Lovett struck the post with a thunderous drive from 30+ yards - it really was a great effort!
At the other end Moody drilled in a low cross to Reed, whose shot was well saved by Burchnall.
Burchnall then pulled off a string of saves to deny Reed, Joe Moloney and Hill.
The visitors pressed for a late equalizer with Michael Harness shooting over.
In the closing stages they almost equalized when Johnson's powerful strike hit the post.
Horncastle piled on the pressure in stoppage time, but Brigg hung on for a narrow victory.
Brigg just about did enough to win this time. However, a better performance is required in the final.
Assistant manager Simon Roach realizes that.
"We started really well and didn't take long to score. We did everything right in the first 30 minutes or so.
"Unfortunately we got worse towards the end of the half though. We then played badly in the second half which was a shame.
"Horncastle dominated that second half and were unlucky not to equalize. They went for it and gave us a fright hitting the post twice.
"We can't wait to play them again in Friday's final. We'll need to be more convincing to bring home the trophy.
"Hopefully this win was a good omen."
On Friday, Brigg meet Horncastle in the Lincs Junior Cup final (kick off 7:45pm).
Brigg (3-1-4-2): Shaw; East, Rodgers (c) (Smithson 46), Forrest (Houson 60); Tierney; Thompson (Pearson 60), Moloney, Reed, Dolling; Nicholls (Hill 70), Moody.