A 58 break from Steve Godfrey (O35) lit up the tightest game in Spalding and District Snooker League’s KO Cup on Thursday night.
Godfrey made the big break for Division Two high-flyers Long Sutton B, who pushed top tier side Tulips A all the way before succumbing 3-2 in the final frame.
The Spalding side had wins from Simon Law (O7), Bren Bowman (O49) – who made a 30 break – and, crucially, Martin Anderson (O7) to thank for their safe passage into the next round.
Division One side Services E have endured a slow start to the season in the league, but they put their troubles behind them with a crushing 5-0 victory over Division Three outfit Consti E.
Chris Dunmore (O14) pocketed a cool 31 break for the victors, while Vince Fitter (O21) added a 28.
Pyramid A have also struggled in the top flight – they currently sit bottom – but they dispatched third tier pretenders Consti A 3-2.
Victor Rouse (scr), Matt Chapman (O7) and Michael Twell (R14) got the job done for the Bourne side, who earned a timely morale boost.
The all Division One battle between Whittlesey A and Boundary B was a another tight tussle, too. Hosts Whittlesey eventually emerged victorious, with Gary Thewliss (scr) clinching their passage in the penultimate frame.
Terry Everitt (O14), who also won his frame, made a 24 break for Whittlesey, while Andy Mowforth (O14) chipped in with a solid 20 break as he won frame two for Boundary.
One of the more intriguing battles of the night saw two of the top three in Division Three do battle – and it was third-placed Crowland A who dumped out leaders Gosberton C 4-2.
Wins for Neil Burton (O7), Iain Smith (R14) and Paul Cook (R7) sent Crowland through, with Burton and Smith racking up breaks of 29 and 21 respectively.
Meanwhile, the all-club affair between Division Two basement boys Pyramid C and Division Three outfit Pyramid E delivered something of a surprise conclusion.
The C side were looking to kick-start their season with a cup success, but were handed a 5-1 reverse by the E side, who are in the bottom four of the third tier.
There was no mistake from Division One team Consti F, who edged out second tier rivals Boundary C 3-2.
However, they did need victories from Martyn Stanley (R21) and Bryan Turnell (R14) in the final two frames to guarantee their passage.
Also swerving a banana skin were top tier big-hitters Holbeach A, who put Division Three’s Donington B to the sword 4-1.
Division Two side Pyramid D were 4-1 winners over basement division outfit Services B in another game that could have delivered an upset.
The key in this one was a 77-76 triumph from Marcus Hamilton (O42) over Karen Howlett (R21) on the final black of the penultimate frame.
Another second tier side to progress were Services F, who saw off divisional rivals Gosberton D 3-2.
A 25 break helped Oliver Turner (O28) dispatch Stuart Ruskin (R14) in the match-clinching fourth frame.
They are joined in the hat by Gosberton A after they saw off a battling Whittlesey B 3-2. Two black-ball wins from Gosberton’s Carl Wand (O7) and Andy Wand (R14) helped them knock off a Whittlesey side that are bottom of Division Three.
Steve Mooney’s (O35) 24 break was the highlight of that clash.
