Tom Roberts was confirmed as the new permanent Holbeach United boss on a top afternoon all-round for the Tigers on Saturday.
They crushed Northampton Sileby Rangers 4-0 at Carter’s Park – and gained ground on the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division’s top two in the process.
Josh Ford put the hosts ahead on 20 minutes after great work from Nick Jackson, before Jake Clitheroe doubled the leader eight minutes later.
A trademark free-kick from player/assistant boss Andrew Tidswell (38) made it 3-0 to Holbeach at half time, before Ford’s 25-yard cracker rounded off the scoring late on.
With leaders Leicester Nirvana beaten 3-2 at Deeping Rangers and second-placed Kempton Rovers held 1-1 at Peterborough Northern Star, the Tigers are just four points off top spot with a game in hand.
With Roberts agreeing to replace Darren Jarvis as permanent boss and Tidswell confirmed as his assistant, Holbeach look well positioned for an assault on the league title ahead of festive fixtures with Wisbech Town (away, Boxing Day, 3pm) and Yaxley (home, December 28, 3pm).
Meanwhile, Moulton Harrox kept their incredible run going in the ChromaSport PDFL Premier Division as they made it 14 wins from 14 with a 2-0 victory at nearest rivals Whittlesey Athletic.
Dave Panton’s side sit top of the tree at Christmas thanks to a first-half header from Ollie Maltby and a Ben Allen effort after the break.
Harrox are now five points clear at the top and looking like clear favourites to regain the league title they last won back in 2013.
Pinchbeck United also signed off for Christmas in impressive style as they won 4-1 at home to AFC Stanground.
It’s now eight games unbeaten for Ian Dunn’s side, who were boosted by a Dan Woods hat-trick. Player/boss Dunn was the other scorer.
Pinchbeck are now fifth in the table, just five points off second place.
Level on points with them in fourth are Holbeach United Reserves after they slipped to a 1-0 loss at Langtoft United.
Crowland Town, meanwhile, remain second-from-bottom after drawing 1-1 with Sawtry at Snowden Field.
There were goals galore in Division One, with the South Holland sides getting involved.
Spalding United Reserves led the way with a 5-1 win at ICA Sports Reserves as Jake Farrell helped himself to a hat-trick. Dan Klos (2) rounded off the rout for Kev Nottingham’s side.
Also amongst the goals were Sutton Bridge United, who edged out visitors Stamford Belvedere 4-3 at Memorial Park.
However, Long Sutton Athletic lost 4-2 at Whittlesey Reserves and Moulton Harrox Reserves were upset 3-1 at home to Oundle Town.
More football online at www.spaldingvoice.co.uk throughout the week.
RESULTS (Satursday, December 19)
Evo-Stik League
First Division South: Carlton Town 2 Lincoln United 3; Chasetown 2 Gresley 1; Coalville Town 2 Stocksbridge Park Steels 1; Goole 3 Belper Town 3; Leek Town 3 Loughborough Dynamo 1; Romulus 0 Kidsgrove Athletic 5; Rugby Town 3 Market Drayton Town 1; Sheffield FC 0 Stafford Rangers 2; Spalding United 2 Basford United 3; Tividale 1 Daventry Town 2.
ChromaSport UCL
Premier Division: Deeping Rangers 3 Leicester Nirvana 2; Harborough Town 0 Newport Pagnell Town 1; Harrowby United 1 Wisbech Town 1; Holbeach United 4 Northampton Sileby Rangers 0; Northampton Spencer 4 Sleaford Town 2; Oadby Town 4 Huntingdon Town 0; Peterborough Northern Star 1 AFC Kempston Rovers 1; Rothwell Corinthians 1 Kirby Muxloe 3; Wellingborough Town 0 Desborough Town 1; Yaxley 1 Cogenhoe United 2.
ChromaSport PDFL
Premier Division: Crowland Town 1 Sawtry 1; Ketton 1 Stilton United 1; Langtoft United 1 Holbeach United Res 0; Pinchbeck United 4 AFC Stanground 1; Riverside 0 Deeping Rangers Res 1; Thorney 1 Peterborough ICA Sports 2; Uppingham Town 9 Leverington Sports 0; Whittlesey Athletic 0 Moulton Harrox 2
Division One: Moulton Harrox Res 1 Oundle Town 3; Peterborough ICA Sports Res 1 Spalding United Res 5; Sutton Bridge United 4 Stamford Belvedere 3; Whittlesey Athletic Res 4 Long Sutton Athletic 2; Wisbech Town Res 5 Kings Cliffe 0; Wittering 4 Langtoft United Res 1.
Division Two: Leverington Sports Res 0 Ketton Res 2; Netherton United A 4 Pinchbeck United Res 2; Sawtry Res 1 Crowland Town Res 6.
Division Three: Baston Reserves 3 Uppingham Town Res 0; Bretton North End 2 Whittlesey Athletic B 0; Oundle Town Res 4 Tydd St Mary 3.
Division Four: AFC Stanground Res 1 Parkside 2; Brotherhood Sports 3 FC Peterborough 0; Huntingdon Rovers 1 Warboys Town Res 5; Long Sutton Athletic Res 2 Sutton Bridge United Res 2; Stamford Belvedere Res 3 Parkway Eagles Res 1; Whaplode Drove 3 Rutland DR 3.
Division Five: FC Peterborough Res 3 KRC Deeping 0; Feeder 2 Stanground Sports Res 0; Parkside Res 1 Wittering Res 3.
Intermediate Shield: Parkway Eagles 2 Spalding Town 3.
PFA Minor Cup: Holbeach Utd A 2 Limetree UTR 2.
