Cal Davies helped himself to a hat-trick as Holbeach United started their new league campaign with a comeback win on Saturday, while in the Emirates FA Cup Spalding United edged out Deeping Rangers and Pinchbeck United drew at Melton Town to set up a replay.
Starting with Holbeach, they were 2-0 down at half time in their Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Division One opener against Needham Market under-23s at Carter’s Park.
But a rousing second half display saw Davies pull one back before Kyle Compton struck to haul the Tigers level.
Amazingly, man-of-the-match Davies then made it 3-2 from the penalty spot before adding a fourth to complete the turnaround, seal his treble and secure a first competitive win in more than a year for Danny Clifton and Simon Roberts’ side.
In the Emirates FA Cup, Spalding got their competitive fixtures for the season up and running by seeing off South Lincolnshire rivals Deeping 2-1 at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
Dylan Edge (24) fired the Tulips into a 1-0 half-time lead, but they were pegged back by a Luke Steele penalty on the hour.
That’s how it stayed until 13 minutes from time, when a Luke Marshall rocket gave Spalding the victory and set up a derby with Stamford in the next round.
Meanwhile, Pinchbeck picked up an impressive 2-2 draw at Uhlsport UCL Premier Division North rivals Melton Town to set up a replay at the Sir Halley on Wednesday night (7.45pm).
Elliot Foster gave the Knights an early lead, but Ethan Hulley (21) netted to ensure the sides were level at the break.
Patrick-Prosper Fini then put Melton ahead with 17 minutes to go, but Pinchbeck weren’t done and soon levelled through Ben Robson.
