Spalding United slipped down to fifth in the Evo-Stik League First Division South standings after drawing 1-1 with lowly Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday, while Holbeach United also picked up a 1-1 draw at Long Buckby in the UCL Premier Division.
Needing six points to secure a place in the play-offs, Spalding had banked on three of those coming against a Steels side that had little to play for.
But they stunned the Tulips with a 35th-minute opener from Ryan Laight, who volleyed home from a corner.
That’s how it stayed all the way up until the 87th minute at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, when Matt Nolan turned home Avelino Vieira’s header from close range.
Spalding are leapfrogged by Sutton Coldfield Town in the table as a result, while they are now level on points with both Gresley and Stafford Rangers ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Tividale.
Above them, Mickleover Sports clinched the title with a 3-2 win at Lincoln United, while both Leek Town and Newcastle Town won to seal their places in the play-offs.
In the UCL Premier Division, Holbeach are also fifth after they were pegged back by an injury-time effort at rock-bottom Long Buckby.
The in-form Gary King had given Darren Jarvis’ side the lead, but they couldn’t hold on to register a first win since March 28.
A win at home to Harborough Town in their final game of the season next Saturday will be enough to clinch fourth position for the Tigers, though.
More football online at www.spaldingvoice.co.uk throughout the week.
Evo-Stik League
First Division South: Carlton Town 0 Romulus 1; Chasetown 2 Leek Town 3; Goole AFC 0 Stafford Rangers 1; Gresley Tividale 1; Lincoln United 2 Mickleover Sports 3; Newcastle Town 1 Loughborough Dynamo 0; Norton United 4 Market Drayton Town 2; Rainworth Miners Welfare 3 Kidsgrove Athletic 4; Sheffield FC 2 Coalville Town 6; Spalding United 1 Stocksbridge Park Steels 1; Sutton Coldfield Town 6 Brigg Town 0.
ChromaSport UCL
Premier Division: AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2 Newport Pagnell Town 0; Cogenhoe United 1 Wisbech Town 0; Desborough Town 0 AFC Kempston Rovers 2; Eynesbury Rovers 1 Oadby Town 2; Long Buckby 1 Holbeach United 1; Northampton Sileby Rangers 3 Harrowby United 1; Thurnby Nirvana 2 Deeping Rangers 1.
ChromaSport Peterborough League
Premier Division: Peterborough ICA Sports 2 Pinchbeck United 0;Peterborough Sports Res 1 Leverington Sports 0.
Division One: Kings Cliffe 0 Netherton United Res 3; Langtoft United Res 3 Long Sutton Athletic 0; Moulton Harrox Reserves 2 AFC Stanground 1; Oundle Town 1 Baston 4; Peterborough ICA Sports Res 4 Sutton Bridge United 3; Whittlesey Blue Star 2 Ryhall United 3; Wisbech Town Reserves 1 Ketton 3.
Division Two: Crowland Town Res 1 Ketton Res 2; Leverington Sports Res 0 Wittering 2; Netherton United A 2 Coates Athletic A 2; Oakham United Reserves 3 Parkside 0; Peterborough ICA Sports A 4 Parkway Eagles 1.
Division Three: Coates Athletic B 1 Stilton United Res 4; Kings Cliffe Res 0 Glinton & Northborough 5; Riverside Res 3 Baston Res 4; Ryhall United Res 1 Peterborough Sports A 3; Tydd St Mary 3 Farcet United 4; Uppingham Town Res 0 Spalding Town 4.
Division Four: Eye United 0 Rutland DR 2; Oundle Town Res 5 Huntingdon Rovers 4; Sutton Bridge United Res 5 Holbeach Bank 2; Thorpe Wood Rangers 2 Stanground Sports 0; Warboys Town Res 2 Bretton North End 3.
Division Five: Parkway Eagles Res 2 AFC Stanground Res 6; Sawtry A 0 Ryhall United A 3.
