Spalding United and Holbeach United each had good results on Boxing Day.
The Tulips extended their unbeaten run in Evo-Stik League First Division South to 11 matches with a 1-1 result at Lincoln United.
Still fourth in the table, it keeps them confident ahead of the visit to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field of league leaders Sutton Coldfield Town on Sunday (3pm).
Jamie Thurlbourne fired the Tulips ahead at Ashby Avenue from the penalty spot on 52 minutes, after striker Andrew Tidswell had anticipated well and been fouled.
But just 12 minutes later the ref was again awarding a spot kick, this time for a clumsy-looking challenge by Nathan Stainfield, although the Tulips’ centre-half is adamant it wasn’t a foul. Daniel Brooks netted from 12 yards.
Manager Pat Rayment said: “It wasn’t a game for the football purist.
“Staino is a bit cut up about the penalty award, but a draw was a fair result.
“Lincoln have good balance and work hard and we weren’t at our best so overall, I have no complaints.”
Jordan Nuttell, Tom Waumsley and Jordan Hempenstall are all concerns for Sunday’s match but Luke Thurlbourne and Lewis Webb, who both played for Wisbech Town on Boxing Day, will be back in the squad.
The Tulips trails Sutton Coldfield Town by 11 points but have five matches in hand.
Meanwhile, Holbeach United’s pursuit of leaders AFC Rushden and Diamonds had another good turn in ChromaSport and Trophies United Counties League Premier Division.
The Tigers saw off Wisbech Town 1-0 thanks to Matty Nolan’s first goal for the club, on 28 minutes.
A free kick to the far post was turned into Nolan’s path by Tigers centre-half Danny Spencer.
Co-manager John Chand said: “I’m sure for our fans it perhaps won’t have been the football they’re used to seeing but our game plan to get the ball forward quickly worked well.
“Our back four and keeper Nick Conroy were absolutely outstanding, they have been great for the last four or five games.”
The result meant the gap to the top was cut to five points when AFC Rushden and Diamonds’ match at home to Wellingborough Town was abandoned in the second half due to floodlight failure. It was 0-0 at the time.
However, the Northamptonshire side have the chance to re-establish an eight-point gap to the Tigers on Saturday, January 3, when Holbeach are in Knockout Cup action v Rothwell Corinthians.
