It was a great day for South Holland’s two premier football sides.
Spalding United are now on the very brink of the play-off positions and Holbeach United came from behind twice to seal a place in the third round proper of the FA Vase.
The Tulips romped to a 4-0 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Stafford Rangers at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
Recent signing Jordan Hempenstall bagged a pair of goals, getting the ball rolling on 36 minutes and wrapping up the scoring five minutes from time.
Centre-half Nathan Stainfield had doubled the Tulips’ money before the break, before Tom Waumsley extended his rich vein of goalscoring form on 65 minutes.
Pat Rayment’s side leapfrogged Stafford in the table into sixth place, 11 points off the top with three matches in hand.
Meanwhile over at Carter’s Park, the Tigers won a thrilling Vase tie against Huntingdon Town with a cracking Jamie Clarke strike five minutes from time.
The Tigers trailed twice, through a Jacob Joyce header (17) and a drilled Declan Rogers effort on the break (52).
Defender Kern Miller had fired the Tigers level on 22 minutes and Craig Parker set up the exciting finish by hooking home a parried effort by fellow sub Jermaine Palmer (79).
Clarke’s late winner sparked exuberant scenes, with subbed striker Lee Dube then booked for celebrating on the pitch.
Clarke said: “I can’t really describe [the winner] if I’m honest. I’m overwhelmed.
“A few people said I missed some chance in the first half so I set myself a target of getting the winner.
“It’s been said by one or two people that the wheels have been coming off here, but I can assure them they are well and truly on.”
And co-boss John Chand said: “It’s good for the club and good for the fans today.
“Here we are in late November a point off the top of the table, having got through another round in the county cup and now progressing in the Vase – it’s looking good.”
Results: FA Vase (selected) – Thurnby Nirvana 4 Gornal Ath 1; Wisbech Town 2 Cleethorpes 1; Yaxley 3 Fakenham 0; London Colney 3 Northampton Spencer 1.
UCL Premier Division – Cogenhoe Utd 0 Oadby 3; Eynesbury 4 Sleaford 2; Harrowby 2 Harborough 0; Newport Pagnell 1 Boston Town 1; Sileby 0 Desborough 3; Wellingborough Town 3 Long Buckby 1.
ChromaSport & Trophies Peterborough and District League: Premier Division – Crowland Town 3 Uppingham Town 0; Leverington Sp 4 Holbeach Utd Res 2; Netherton Utd 3 Moulton Harrox 1; Oakham Utd 3 Peterborough Sports Res 0; Peterborough ICA 1 Stilton Utd 4; Pinchbeck Utd v Sawtry – abandoned; Riverside 2 Langtoft Utd 6; Thorney 1 Coates Ath 3
Division One – Baston 1 AFC Stanground 3; Coates Ath Res 3 Wisbech Town Res 2; Ketton 1 Sutton Bridge 2; Langtoft Utd Res 8 Peterborough ICA Sports Res 3; Long Sutton Ath 0 Oundle Town 5; Moulton Harrox Res 4 Kings Cliffe 2; Netherton Utd Res 2 Ryhall Utd 3; Warboys Town 3 Whittlesey Blue Star 3.
Division Two – Netherton Utd A 2 Crowland Town Res 2; Parkside 1 Oakham Utd Res 5; Sawtry Res 5 Pinchbeck Utd Res 2; Thorney Res 0 Leverington Sp Res 2; Wittering 0 Spalding Utd 4.
Division Three – Coates Ath B 3 Baston Res 4; Farcet Utd 0 Peterborough Sports A 5; Kings Cliffe Res 0 Hampton Sports 8; Ryhall Utd Res 2 Ramsey Town 5;
Stilton Utd Res 0 Spalding Town 6; Tydd St Mary 10 Riverside Res 3; Uppingham Town Res 3 Glinton and Northborough 7.
Division 4 – Huntingdon Rovers 0 Long Sutton Ath Res 4; Rutland DR 8 Leverington Sports A 1; Stanground Sports 4 Warboys Town Res 2; Sutton Bridge Utd Res 3 Stamford Bels Res 1.
Division 5 – Coates Ath C 6 Parkside A 1; Holbeach Utd A 1 AFC Stanground Res 3; Whaplode Drove 3 Tydd St Mary Res 4.
Cup – Eye Utd 3 FC Peterborough 2; Holbeach Bank 4 Ryhall Utd A 1; Oundle Town Res 2 Glinton and Northborough Res 0; Parkway Eagles Res 0 Thorpe Wood Rangers 9.
