In-form Moulton Harrox made it three wins from as many games in South Lincs and Border League East One with a nervy eight-run win over Woodhall Spa 2nd on Saturday.
The narrow success sees Harrox leapfrog rivals Spa at the top of the early standings – and they now have a seven-point advantage at the top.
Batting first, Moulton cracked 170-6 from their 40 overs at Jubilee Park, with Matt Barnett (44 not out) and Matt Rose (43) leading the way.
The hosts had a real go at chasing their target down after a wobbly start, but an Alex Baker (3-26) inspired Harrox bowled them out for 162 with four balls left.
Batting first, the visitors lost skipper Chris Beale for a duck early on as he was trapped LBW by James White (1-42).
Joe Broomfield (14) and Josh Newton (37) rebuilt nicely, but Broomfield was soon bowled by Jackson Draper (1-24).
Former Spalding star Newton was then run out by Kieran Richardson, but that only served in bringing Rose and Barnett together.
They shared a super stand to push Moulton towards a strong score, before Rose finally fell seven runs shy of his half century – caught by Sam Cooke off the bowling of Matthew Haslam (1-44).
Keeper Jake Morton came and went for a duck after being run out by White, then Alin Carter (2) fell victim to Peter Jackson (1-27).
Clive Bayston (13 not out) joined Barnett in the middle and the pair steered Harrox to 170, a strong total to defend.
The Spa reply stuttered from the off, with Baker snaring Simon Behan (2) LBW and Morton stumping Matthew Todd (9) off the bowling of Broomfield (2-59).
Number four Cooke (0) was then bowled by Rose as Harrox celebrated three quick scalps.
Alex Hodson (14) and George Lindsey (15) offered better resistance, but Rose soon accounted for the former and Newton ran out the latter.
Draper came and went for a duck as he fell victim to Carter (1-40), but Woodhall found a much needed partnership when Danny Wells (43) and White (29 not out) came together.
Broomfield returned to remove Wells just shy of his 50, but Peter Jackson (32) joined White and took the fight to Harrox.
However, just when it looked like the hosts might pull off a big win, Baker struck to have Jackson caught behind.
Broomfield then ran out Richardson (0), before Baker bowled Haslam in the final over to earn the visitors a big win and 18 match points.
Moulton now turn their attention to a home date with rivals Long Sutton at Harrox Field on Saturday (1pm).
