Cook at the double to rediscover winning recipe

Holbeach United ended a run of three defeats in a row to beat title-chasing Stanway Pegasus and move themselves to within three points of the Thurlow Nunn League Division One North play-off places.
They had to work hard though, after conceding a second-minute opener to the Essex side, who had been delayed on their journey north, with the game kicking off 15 minutes late. Ryan Cook quickly levelled and then put the Tigers ahead before Will Barnes made it 3-1 with 30 minutes not yet gone.
It was a hard-working win with Holbeach battling well and keeping things tight to frustrate their high-flying visitors. That was evident when Pegasus lost Harry McDonald to a 33rd-minute red card after a rash tackle.
The Tigers, who were without top scorer Connor Pilbeam and strike partner Jack Prentice, managed the rest of the game well to hold on for all three points.
Manager Danny Clifton was pleased to see how resilient his team were and said: “It was a tough game against a very strong team but we put in a superb battling display.”
The Tigers’ Lincolnshire County FA Senior Trophy hopes had been ended in midweek, when they fell to a 3-1 defeat at United Counties League Premier Division North side Sleaford Town.
“Unfortunately it wasn’t to be for us,” said Clifton. “We worked hard and gave it a go, but it wasn’t enough.”
A 12th-minute strike earned the hosts the half-time lead but Sam Carter levelled from the penalty spot. Man of the match George Frost had a goal disallowed before Sleaford struck twice more in the 69th and 86th minute to earn a semi-final place.
Tigers at Sleaford: Rigby, Greenacre, Robertson, Nicholson, Ling, Oldham, Carter, Harris, Pilbeam, Frost, Barnes. Subs: Prentice, Cook, Cash.
Attendance: 140.
Tigers v Stanway: Rigby, Greenacre, Robertson, Nicholson, Ling, Oldham, Carter, Barnes, Harris, Frost, Cook. Subs: Hoyle, Johnson, Coote.