South Holland big-hitters Spalding United and Holbeach United both racked up welcome home wins on Saturday.
Spalding kept their Evo-Stik NPL First Division South play-off bid firmly on course with a 1-0 win over Belper Town at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, while Holbeach earned a 2-0 ChromaSport UCL Premier Division success over Northampton ON Chenecks at Carter’s Park.
Starting with the Tulips, they needed a 56-minute penalty from Lee Beeson to break down the stubborn resistance of Belper, with Michael Duggan keeping a clean sheet on his 200th appearance for the club.
Chris Rawlinson’s side remain third in the table, some seven points clear of the three sides below them.
As for the Tigers, strikes from Mitch Griffiths and Charley Sanders earned them a hard-fought victory.
Winger Griffiths lashed home a fine finish on 44 minutes, before Sanders headed Stacy Cartwright’s corner into the net to clinch the points on the hour.
Ricky Drury was forced to save a late penalty from Adam Spalding, but Josh Ford was sent off for foul and abusive language seconds later to ruin an otherwise good day for Seb Hayes’ charges.
Elsewhere, Pinchbeck United beat ICA Sports 3-1 at Knight Street to stay second in the ChromaSport PDFL Premier Division.
Ollie Maltby took his tally for the season to an amazing 52 with a double, while Liam Ogden was also on target.
Moulton Harrox remain third after they beat Sawtry 3-0 at Broad Lane, while Crowland Town lost 1-0 at Uppingham and Holbeach United Reserves went down 3-1 at Stanground Sports.
Division One side Moulton Harrox Reserves reached the final of the PFA Challenge Cup after seeing off Whittlesey Reserves 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
Long Sutton were 2-1 winners over Peterborough Polonia, with Matty Oliver and Lawrence Brandon netting.
More football in Thursday’s Spalding Voice.
RESULTS
Evo-Stik NPL
First Division South: AFC Rushden and Diamonds 2 Leek Town 1; Basford United 1 Shaw Lane 0; Chasetown 2 Bedworth United 3; Gresley 2 Romulus 1; Newcastle Town 2 Market Drayton Town 0; Sheffield FC 0 Carlton Town 1; Spalding United 1 Belper Town 0; Stamford 0 Stocksbridge Park Steels 5; Witton Albion 3 Rugby Town 4.
ChromaSport UCL
Premier Division: Desborough Town 5 Harrowby United 0; Holbeach United 2 Northampton ON Chenecks 0; Huntingdon Town 0 Boston Town 2; Kirby Muxloe 2 Eynesbury Rovers 2; Newport Pagnell Town 0 Yaxley 2; Northampton Sileby Rangers 1 Deeping Rangers 4; Peterborough Northern Star 0 Cogenhoe United 1; Peterborough Sports 4 Oadby Town 0; Sleaford Town 1 Rothwell Corinthians 2; Wisbech Town 2 Harborough Town 0.
ChromaSport PDFL
Premier Division: AFC Stanground Sports 3 Holbeach United Res 1; Deeping Rangers Res 1 Stilton United 2; Ketton 1 Peterborough Sports Res 3; Moulton Harrox 3 Sawtry 0; Pinchbeck United 3 Peterborough ICA Sports 1; Stamford Lions 5 Leverington Sports 1; Uppingham Town 1 Crowland Town 0.
Division One: Baston 0 Wittering Harriers 10; Glinton & Northborough 0 AFC Stanground Sports Res 1; Long Sutton Athletic 2 Peterborough Polonia 1; Oundle Town 3 Warboys Town 4; Riverside 0 Sutton Bridge United 9; Stamford Belvedere 0 Oakham United Res 1.
PFA Challenge Cup: Semi-finals: Glinton & Northborough 0 Stanground Sports Res 1; Whittlesey Res 1 Moulton Harrox Res 1 (pens 3-5).
Division Two: Crowland Town Res 0 Ketton Res 1; Glinton & Northborough 0 AFC Stanground Sports Res 1; Langtoft United Res 3 Whittlesey Athletic A 0; Parkway Eagles 1 Netherton United A 2; Peterborough ICA Sports Res 3 Tydd St Mary 3; Ramsey Town 8 Stamford Lions Res 0.
Division Three: Brotherhood Sports 1 Bretton North End 3; Farcet United 3 Stamford Belvedere Res 0; Sawtry Res 3 AFC Stanground Sports A 2; Whittlesey Athletic B 3 FC Peterborough 1.
Division Four: FC Peterborough Res 3 Whaplode Drove 3; Netherton United B 5 Parkside 0; Premiair 6 Huntingdon Rovers 1; Wittering Harriers Res 1 Stamford Lions A 6.
PFA Minor Cup: Peterborough NECI 1 Cardea 4.
Division Five A: Feeder Res 3 Glinton & Northborough Res 3; Ramsey Town Res 1 Orton Rangers 2.
Division Five B: Leverington Sports A 1 British School of Sport 3.
