A devastating century from Skegness opener Pete Houghton sentenced Spalding Town to a potentially pivotal Lincs ECB Premier League loss on Saturday.
Rock-bottom Town managed a respectable 179-9 batting first at Spalding Grammar School, with Josh Newton (50) and Tim Norris (41) both in solid form.
The target didn’t trouble relegation rivals Skegness at all, though, with Houghton clubbing an unbeaten 111 from just 84 balls and fellow opener Sean Chamberlain making a swift 55.
Indeed, the seasiders reached their target with nine wickets in hand to collect 17 points – and leave Spalding with just three batting points.
Town skipper Rob Ambrose felt the performance was one of the worst he’s seen in his long stint at the helm – and he’s accepted that only a miracle can save his side from relegation now.
“There’s a difference between losing and getting hammered,” said the influential captain. “We got hammered on Saturday.
“Fielding-wise and bowling-wise, that was probably one of the worst displays of my time here. It’s as simple as that really.
“This season has been a real sorry state of affairs – and to be honest I can’t see our fortunes changing for the remainder of it.
“I’ve said it all season, but the commitment and dedication from the squad has been very poor.
“We can’t just expect to turn up on a Saturday and win games in the Lincs ECB Premier League.
“The only chance we have is getting off the bottom and hoping things go our way off the field. It’s a shame when it comes to that.
“Maybe relegation will be a blessing in disguise for us. I don’t know. What I do know is this season has been a reality check for me.”
Town really needed maximum points from this home clash to boost their faint hopes of survival, but they started slowly and lost Ambrose for just four with the score on 18. He looked intent to bat long, having faced 32 deliveries for his runs, but was the first of five victims for an inspired Brendan Young (5-27).
That man Young then got rid of youngster Jimmy Hook for 11, before Newton and all-rounder Charlie Kearns enjoyed a 78-run partnership for the third wicket.
Newton cracked ten fours as he reached 50, before Mark Chamberlain (2-21) trapped him LBW with the score on 107. Then came something of a collapse, with Warren Nel (0), Dan Milgate (0),
Kearns (32) and Nuwan Jayasena (0) all going to leave Town toiling on 116-7.
Norris (41 from 45) balls and David Thomas (15) steadied the ship and set about steering Spalding to 200, but both went before the close to leave Jack Barratt (4no) and Roy Tilley (1no) to fend off the final few deliveries.
With a target to defend, Town will have hoped to at least worry Skegness in their reply.
But Houghton and Chamberlain took all of the tension out of game with a brilliant 163-run partnership for the first wicket.
Wicket-keeper/batsman Houghton cracked four sixes and 13 fours in his sensational century, while Chamberlain managed a quartet of boundary fours in his 65-ball half-century.
Hook (1-11) snared his wicket in his only over of the day, but the damage was already done as Houghton hammered his side to victory with plenty of time to spare.
With three games left, Town – now 49 points from safety with a maximum of 60 points available in their last three games – could be relegated this Saturday.
They travel to a high-flying Bourne side buoyed by a derby win over Market Deepng last time out.
Ambrose added: “Bourne are always very tough opposition, especially at this stage of the season.
“We’ve had success against them in the past, but it’s one of those games you worry about.”
Saturday’s Lincs ECB Premier League results
Bracebridge Heath 221-8 (Spence 62), Market Rasen 81 (Houston 5-36); Grantham 74, Louth 76-4; Woodhall Spa 218-7 (Bandara 102no, Botha 54, Miller 5-77), Lindum 146-7; Spalding 179-9 (Newton 50, Young 5-27), Skegness 180-1 (Houghton 111no, Chamberlain 55); Market Deeping 199, Bourne 200-7 (Wilson 63no); Grimsby 131, Sleaford 132-7.
This Saturday’s Lincs ECB Premier League fixtures (noon)
Market Deeping v Louth; Market Rasen v Lindum; Bourne v Spalding Town; Grimsby Town v Skegness; Grantham v Bracebridge Heath; Woodhall Spa v Sleaford.
