Spalding United picked up a vital 1-1 draw at Evo-Stik League First Division South play-off rivals Leek Town on Saturday, while Holbeach United were held to a 3-3 draw by Northampton Sileby Rangers in the UCL Premier Division.
The Tulips fell behind on the stroke of half time when Karl Espley struck, but a stunning free-kick leveller from Jamie Thurlbourne (52) earned them a deserved draw.
It leaves Pat Rayment’s side in fifth place, the final play-off position, with just three games left to play. Seven points from those three games – against Stocksbridge Park Steels (Saturday, home), Tividale (away) and Romulus (away) will be enough to guarantee a spot in the play-offs.
Holbeach, meanwhile, squandered a 3-1 lead as they failed to gain revenge on lowly Sileby at Carter’s Park.
Having lost the reverse 3-1 last weekend, Holbeach started well and were soon 2-0 ahead thanks to fine finishes from Gary King (3) and Andrew Tidswell (22).
Michael Byrne, who scored a brace last weekend, hit back with a clinical finish on 32 minutes, but King’s second on the stroke of half time restored the Tigers’ two-goal advantage.
However, two second-half strikes from Byrne (50 and 83) – including a sensational leveller – saw him complete a hat-trick and rescued a point for Sileby.
Despite the draw, Holbeach move back up to fourth in the table ahead of Yaxley, who lost 4-2 at home to Harrowby United.
In the ChormaSport Peterborough League, Pinchbeck United were the only South Holland side in Premier Division action – and they lost 4-3 at home to Sawtry.
Down in Division One, Long Sutton Athletic boosted their survival hopes with a welcome 3-0 win over Kings Cliffe, while Sutton Bridge United lost 5-0 at home to Whittlesey Blue Star.
RESULTS (Saturday, April 11)
Evo-Stik League
First Division South: Brigg Town 0 Stafford Rangers 1; Carlton Town 1 Tividale 2; Chasetown 3 Goole 2; Coalville Town 4 Stocksbridge PS 2; Kidsgrove Athletic 0 Gresley 5; Leek Town 1 Spalding United 1; Lincoln United 1 Newcastle Town 1; Mickleover Sports 3 Market Drayton Town 0; Norton United 0 Rainworth Miners Welfare 1; Sheffield FC 2 Romulus 3; Sutton Coldfield Town 2 Loughborough Dynamo 0.
ChromaSport UCL
Premier Division: AFC Rushden & Diamonds 7 Wellingborough Town 0; Cogenhoe United 2 Boston Town 1; Harborough Town 1 Eynesbury Rovers 1; Holbeach United 3 Northampton Sileby Rangers 3; Long Buckby 3 Huntingdon Town 0; Newport Pagnell Town 1 Wisbech Town 6; Oadby Town 3 AFC Kempston Rovers 2; Peterborough NS 0 Thurnby Nirvana 0; Yaxley 2 Harrowby United 4.
ChromaSport Peterborough League
Premier Division: Deeping Rangers Res 3 Thorney 3; Langtoft United 1 Stilton United 0; Pinchbeck United 3 Sawtry 4.
President Premier Shield: Oakham United 4 Peterborough Sports Res 1; Peterborough ICA Sports 0 Netherton United 1.
Division One: Ketton 5 Warboys Town 0; Long Sutton Athletic 3 Kings Cliffe 0; Moulton Harrox Reserves 1 Netherton United Res 0; Oundle Town 2 Ryhall United 5; Sutton Bridge United 0 Whittlesey Blue Star 5; Wisbech Town Res 1 AFC Stanground 0.
Division Two: Coates Athletic A 3 Pinchbeck United Res 1; Guyhirn 1 Thorney Res 4; Peterborough ICA Sports A 4 Parkside 1; Sawtry Reserves 1 Ketton Res 3; Spalding United Res 6 Leverington Sports Res 0; Stamford Bels 3 Crowland Town Res 3; Wittering Football Club 2 Parkway Eagles 1.
Division Three: Baston Reserves 1 Glinton & Northborough 1; Farcet United 0 Spalding Town 1; Kings Cliffe Res 2 Tydd St Mary 4; Ramsey Town 1 Riverside Res 0; Uppingham Town Reserves 1 Peterborough Sports A 3.
Division Four: Eye United 2 Holbeach Bank 0; Leverington Sports A 0 Stamford Belvedere Res 5; Peterborough ICA Sports B 3 Huntingdon Rovers 1; Rutland DR 2 Thorpe Wood Rangers 2; Stanground Sports 4 Bretton North End 1.
Division Five: FC Peterborough 5 Ryhall United A 0; Tydd St Mary Res 2 AFC Stanground Res 8.
