Two Josh Ford strikes earned Moulton Harrox a 2-1 derby win at Holbeach United Reserves in the ChromaSport PDFL League Cup on Saturday.
Ford won and scored a penalty just before the break at Carter’s Park, before his trademark finish late in the game sealed the win.
An injury-time consolation gave the Tigers a sniff of a late comeback, but Bobby Patterson and Tim Cole’s side held on.
Next up for them is a return to league action with a Broad Lane showdown against table-topping Uppingham Town on Saturday (2pm).
Harrox co-boss Patterson said: “The pitch wasn’t ideal for either side after Holbeach’s game with Deeping the other week.
“It made it hard work and, if I’m honest, it wasn’t a game for the neutral.
“They could have gone ahead early on when Jordan Keeble had a chance cleared off the line, but once we got ahead with Josh Ford’s penalty we looked relatively in command really.
“We had to go direct as it wasn’t a day for much football, so it’s very much job done and onto the next one.
“And the next one happens to be the league leaders at home, so we’re looking forward to that one.
“A lot of people fancied us for the title at the start of the season, but credit to Uppingham, they’ve got a great team-spirit and togetherness and they are top on merit.
“Of course, we’d like to beat them and lay down a marker though.”
Harrox: Murphy, Coddington, Johnson, Gardner, Chappell, Davies, Kisla, Townsend, Woodward, Earth, Ford. Subs used: B Smith, Steadman, Taylor.
- Elsewhere in the ChromaSport PDFL, two other South Holland sides were in League Cup action.
It was a tough day for Crowland Town Reserves, who suffered a 5-2 home reverse against Stamford Lions despite goals from Virginijus Simkus (63) and Darryl Mckeeman (71).
Also beaten in the same competition were Pinchbeck United Reserves, who went down 8-0 at Oundle Town.
In Division Two, goals from Glen Wells and sub Nicky Haw earned Holbeach United Sports a 2-1 win at Orton Rangers.
That result leaves Holbeach’s third string seventh in the standings, but they have played more games than any other team in their division.
Indeed, they only have five games left to play.
It wasn’t such a good day for Long Sutton Athletic Reserves, as they were thrashed 5-0 at Netherton United Reserves.
In Division Five B, Holbeach Bank made it four wins from five games with a battling 1-0 victory over Leverington Sports.
A second-half strike from Jack Earnshaw settled the clash and sent Holbeach Bank up to third the standings – just three points behind leaders Park Farm Pumas Reserves with two games in hand.
