Captain Rob Ambrose admitted that he was a little disappointed to see Spalding Town slip to a three-run defeat against defending South Lincs and Border League Premier Division champions Market Deeping 2nd on Saturday.
Having restricted Deeping to 150 batting first at Spalding Grammar School, Town looked set to make it back-to-back victories before being bowled out for 147 in reply.
Ambrose won the toss and decided to put Deeping into bat – a decision he probabaly regretted when Richard Witt (49) and Ryan Bainborough (27) took the visitors to 52 without loss.
However, that soon became 104-5 as Dan Milgate (2-25) removed Witt and Ross Harris (0), Jack Barratt bowled Bainborough, Tim Norris ran out Ryan Hyman (3) and Roy Tilley (4-44) got rid of Connor Gillett (5).
Lee Peacock (17) and Ross Barnes (24 not out) steadied the ship a little, but Tilley returned to collect the wickets of Peacock, Nick Andrews (0) and Tom Shinkins (0).
Young gun Jimmy Hook (2-47) also clean bowled Jackson Andrews (2) and Karl Green (6) to clean up Deeping for 150 in 44.4 overs.
In reply, Town lost key man Warren Nel for a duck and Ben Smith for just three. They were soon toiling at 69-6 with Ambrose (15), Hook (19), Norris (1) and Milgate (3) all dispatched.
Chris Dring (35) and Cameron Roy (34) gave Town hope as the score edged to 132-8, but Roy eventually ran out of partners in the 45th over with just four more runs needed for victory.
Peacock (3-23) was the pick of the Deeping bowlers.
Ambrose said: “It was a very good game of cricket.
“I thought we did well to limit them to 150, at one stage they looked like getting away.
“We just got off to a slow start in our reply and lost a few key wickets early.
“Full credit to Deeping, they bowled well and look to be a very good side.
“I’m obviously disappointed, but it was an enjoyable match.
“They really wanted to beat us – and that’s something we’ll have to deal with this year.
“Losing is never good, but I’d rather it be now than later in the season.”
Spalding now turn their attention to a derby date at rivals Long Sutton on Saturday (1pm).
Josh Newton looks set to return to the Town side at Paradise Field and will likely replace unavailable all-rounder Roy.
