Spalding Town picked up their first Lincs ECB Premier League win in five weeks on Saturday – but an untimely points penalty saw them fall further behind in the race for survival.
The basement boys should have been toasting a 17-point haul after seeing off Alford by 73 runs at Spalding Grammar School.
Instead, they were hit with a 24-point penalty for using an ineligible player earlier in the season and are now 18 points adrift at the foot of the table and a hefty 39 from safety.
Town have been punished for fielding Hafiz Majeed at the start of the season and have lost every point gained from the four matches he played, as he didn’t have the correct visa to play in the league.
A Spalding club statement read: “We have been very naive as a club in the selection of an ineligible player, thus resulting in the 24-point deduction we have received, for which accept full responsibility and have apologised.”
The penalty overshadowed what was otherwise a very good day at the office for Spalding, who were skippered by Josh Newton in the absence of Rob Ambrose.
With Town batting first, they lost Faisal Javed for just eight as Steve Kirkham (2-44) clean bowled him.
However, a solid partnership from Newton (36) and Warren Nel (43) set the platform for the home side to post a solid score. Andrew White (3-45) eventually got rid of both of them, but the damage was already done.
Kirkham returned to trap Luke Hollingworth LBW (3), while Rikki Bovey (4-34) dismissed Cameron Roy (1) and White snared Mat Gill (1).
However, Jon Miles (26) and Shoib Chaudhry (19) added valuable runs down the order to ensure Town passed 150.
Andrew Dockerill (8) and Simon Juckes (7) chipped in too before Town were all out in the 46th over.
Alford’s reply never really got going, with four of the top five scoring no more than four. Chaudhry (3-16) ripped through the top order, snaring Sam Lempard (4), Michael Honman (1) and skipper Tom White (2).
Bovey (21), William Allis (15) and Neil Calvert (17) did offer some resistance with the bat, but all were dismissed by Javed (3-31) to leave the visitors rocking. It was then time for all-rounder
Hollingworth (3-8) to clean up the tail in a devastating three-over spell, removing George Gregory (6), Kirkham (4) and Jack Read (0) to wrap up a welcome win.
It’s now something of a win or bust game for Spalding, who make the trip to relegation rivals Louth on Saturday (noon).
Defeat would leave Town in dire straits at the foot.
RESULTS
Bracebridge Heath 337-7 (Lineker 118, M Carter 69), Louth 110 (Willerton 5-30); Grantham 224-8 (Webb 66), Sleaford 223-8 (Hibberd 93); Grimsby 133 (Sharp 5-50), Market Deeping 135-4 (N Green 72); Lindum 165-8 (Bishop 61), Bourne 169-7; Woodhall Spa 171 (Deans 5-49), Boston 172-6; Spalding 167, Alford 94.
FIXTURES (Sat, noon)
Boston v Lindum; Bourne v Alford; Bracebridge Heath v Grantham; Grimsby Town v Woodhall Spa; Louth v Spalding; Sleaford v Market Deeping.
