Spalding United began life after Gaby Zakuani with a superb 2-1 win at Coleshill Town on Saturday, while Pinchbeck United lost 3-1 at home to Boston Town and Holbeach United slumped 4-0 at Sleaford Town.
Starting with the Pitching In NPL Midlands Division action, the Tulips reignited their play-off push with a Jordan Macleod inspired success at one of the title favourites.
Just two days after the shock departure of boss Gaby Zakuani, Macleod (44 and 83) netted either side of a Liam Molesworth strike (73) to end their five-game winless streak in style.
Under the caretaker charge of Bruno Porfirio, Spalding handed starts to new signings Harry Fisk and Josh Hinds (both on loan from Hull City), but were without Glenn Yala, who has followed Zakuani out of the Sir Halley.
The win sees the Tulips stay eighth, but they are now just seven points off the play-offs.
In the Uhlsport UCL Premier Division North, it was another tough day for struggling Pinchbeck and Holbeach.
Pinchbeck put up a great fight against high-flying rivals Boston Town at the Sir Halley, especially given they played with ten men for more than an hour after Ben Robson was sent off for handling on the line.
Ex-Knight Lee Beeson saw the resultant spot-kick saved by penalty stopper extraordinaire Alex Smith, but the same player gave Boston the lead on 31 minutes with a fine strike.
Jack Fixter did haul Lewis Thorgood’s side level from the penalty spot early in the second period, but further goals from Beeson (a rocket of a strike on 58 minutes) and Abou Sylla late on settled the contest.
The loss leaves Pinchbeck just two points clear of the drop zone after relegation rivals Quorn picked up a point against Newark – and the two sides meet at Farley Way next Saturday (3pm).
The only side below those two are winless Holbeach, who suffered another worryingly heavy defeat and failed to score for the tenth league game on the spin.
Goals from Charlie Ford (2), Harry Millard and ex-Tiger Mitch Griffiths for improving Sleaford put Gary Frost’s side to sword and sees them fall five points adrift at the bottom and seven points from safety with a game in hand.
The Tigers, who remain on two points, have scored just three goals in 14 league games this season, conceding 40 in the process.
Down in the ChromaSport PDFL, Moulton Harrox returned to form and went fourth with a 4-0 win at Leverington Sports in the Premier Division.
Third-placed Holbeach Reserves suffered a 3-1 home loss to Stamford Belvedere too, while Crowland Town beat hosts Long Sutton Athletic 2-0 in a South Holland derby.
More to follow.
RESULTS
Pitching In NPL
Midland Division: Bedworth 3 Yaxley 0; Chasetown 2 Carlton Town 2; Coleshill Town 1 Spalding United 2; Corby Town 0 Loughborough Dynamo 3; Histon 0 Halesowen Town 1; Ilkeston 2 Cambridge City 0; Shepshed Dynamo 4 Sutton Coldfield 4; Soham Towm Rangers 0 Sporting Khalsa 2; Stamford 5 Daventry Town 1; Wisbech Town 3 Belper Town 4.
ChromaSport UCL
Division One North: Heanor Town 4 Melton Town 4; Heather St John’s 1 Eastwood 3; Pinchbeck United 1 Boston Town 3; Quorn 1 Newark 1; Sleaford Town 4 Holbeach United 0.
