A 15th-minute strike from leading scorer Tom Waumsley earned Spalding United a vital 1-0 win at Kidsgrove Athletic on Saturday.
The victory puts the Tulips in a strong position in the Evo-Stik League First Division South play-off race, with both Gresley and Newcastle Town dropping points.
Pat Rayment’s side remain fourth, but are now just four points behind third-placed Newcastle, with a game in hand, ahead of Monday’s Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field clash with Lincoln United (3pm).
Meanwhile, Holbeach United slumped to a disappointing 3-1 loss at relegation-threatened Northampton Sileby Rangers in the UCL Premier Division.
A goal from Gary King wasn’t enough to get anything for Darren Jarvis’ charges, who slip to fifth in the standings. They visit title-chasing Wisbech Town on Monday (3pm).
In the ChromaSport Peterborough League, Pinchbeck United lost a seven-goal thriller 4-3 at Langtoft United.
Towards the foot, Crowland Town edged a point further clear of the bottom two with a 1-1 draw at Deeping Reserves, while Holbeach United Reserves remain in the drop zone after a 2-1 home loss against leaders Oakham United.
Down in Division Two, Spalding United Reserves saw their title hopes take a hefty hit as they were thumped 4-0 at home by chief rivals Peterborough ICA Sports A.
RESULTS (Saturday, April 4)
Evo-Stik League
First Division South: Brigg Town 0 Market Drayton 6; Carlton Town 2 Gresley 2; Chasetown 2 Rainworth Miners Welfare 1; Kidsgrove Athletic 0 Spalding United 1; Leek Town 0 Romulus 2; Mickleover Sports 6 Stocksbridge Park Stees 0; Norton Utd 2 Goole 1; Sheffield FC 3 Loughborough Dynamo 2; Sutton Coldfield Town 1 Newcastle Town 0; Tividale 2 Lincoln United 0.
ChromaSport UCL
Premier Division: AFC Kempston Rovers 1 Deeping Rangers 1; Desborough Town 5 Wisbech Town 1; Huntingdon Town 1 Oadby Town 2; Long Buckby 0 Yaxley 5; Newport Pagnell Town 3 Harrowby Utd 1; Northampton Sileby Rangers 3 Holbeach Utd 1; Sleaford Town 6 Peterborough NS 1; Thurnby Nirvana 7 Boston Town 1.
ChromaSport Peterborough League
Premier Division: Coates Athletic 3 Stilton United 1; Deeping Rangers Res 1 Crowland Town 1; Holbeach United Res 1 Oakham United 2; Langtoft United 4 Pinchbeck United 3; Leverington Sports 2 Peterborough ICA Sports 3; Uppingham Town 1 Peterborough Sports Res 0.
Division One: Baston 9 Langtoft United Res 0; Oundle Town 5 Whittlesey Blue Star 2; Peterborough ICA Sports Res 1 Moulton Harrox Res 2; Ryhall United 3 Netherton United Res 2; Wisbech Town Res 1 Warboys Town 2.
Division Two: Oakham United Res 2 Sawtry Res 1; Parkway Eagles 3 Parkside 2; Pinchbeck United Res 0 Coates Athletic A 5; Spalding United Res 0 Peterborough ICA Sports A 4; Stamford Bels 9 Thorney Res 1.
Division Three: Baston Res 3 Uppingham Town Res 0; Coates Athletic B 0 Glinton & Northborough 2; Farcet United 2 Kings Cliffe Res 4; Hampton Sport 0 Peterborough Sports A 4; Spalding Town 6 Stilton United Res 0; Tydd St Mary 4 Peterborough PL United 3.
Division Four: Rutland DR 3 Holbeach Bank 4; Sutton Bridge United Res 2 Eye United 2; Warboys Town Res 0 Stanground Sports 3.
Division Five: AFC Stanground Res 2 Netherton United B 1; Parkside Res 0 FC Peterborough 4.
