Both Spalding United and Holbeach United picked up impressive wins on Saturday as they saw off Market Drayton Town and Oadby Town 4-0 and 3-2 respectively.
The Tulips jumped up to fourth in Evo-Stik League Division South with their vital victory, which was inspired by goals from Mitch Griffiths (7), Tom Waumsley (73) and Jamie Thurlbourne (77).
An own goal from JD Beckett (82) completed the scoring, as Pat Rayment’s side moved back into the play-off places with six games left to play. It’s incredibly tight, though, with Spalding, Gresley and Sutton Coldfield all locked together on 70 points.
Holbeach, meanwhile, needed a last-gasp penalty save from Nick Conroy to secure a thrilling win over Oadby at Carter’s Park.
The Tigers fell behind inside three minutes thanks to a clinical strike from Sam Hollis, but Charley Sanders latched into a pass from debutant Corey Newman to level four minutes later.
A fine Louis Hamilton strike put Oadby back ahead seven minutes into the second period, before a classy double from skipper Jamie Clarke (61 and 70) turned the game on its head.
Clarke’s first, in particular, was an absolute cracker as he lashed a stunning strike into the top corner.
It remained 3-2 until the third minute of added time, when Ben Brown’s rash challenge handed Oadby the chance to grab a point.
But Conroy got down low to keep out Hamilton’s spot-kick and secure back-to-back wins for boss Darren Jarvis.
Elsewhere, Moulton Harrox moved up to fourth in the Peterborough Premier Division with a 3-0 victory at Riverside. They boys from Broad Lane are now just three points off third place.
In the same division, Crowland Town slipped to a 1-0 home loss against Stilton United and remain just above the drop zone.
In the Intermediate Shield, Spalding Town roared into the final with a 5-2 win at Coates Athletic A. Martin Sandall starred with a hat-trick for Chris Page’s side, with Josh McGuire and Markus Parry also on-target.
Spalding United Reserves failed to make it an all-South Holland final, though, as they were beaten 5-3 at Peterborough Sports A.
RESULTS (Saturday, April 28)
Evo-Stik League
First Division South: Goole AFC 0 Mickleover Sports 3; Leek Town 2 Coalville Town 0; Lincoln United 1 Gresley FC 3; Market Drayton Town 0 Spalding United 4; Sheffield FC 2 Chasetown 6; Stafford Rangers 1 Carlton Town 1; Tividale 2 Stocksbridge Park Steels 1.
ChromaSport UCL
Premier Division: AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1 Deeping Rangers 0; Boston Town 1 Cogenhoe United 0; Harrowby United 1 Thurnby Nirvana 3; Holbeach United 3 Oadby Town 2; Huntingdon Town 2 Wellingborough Town 5; Newport Pagnell Town 4 Sleaford Town 1; Northampton Sileby Rangers 1 Peterborough NS 2; Wisbech Town 3 AFC Kempston Rovers 0; Yaxley 2 Harborough Town 0.
ChromaSport Peterborough League
Premier Division: Crowland Town 0 Stilton United 1; Leverington Sports 0 Langtoft United 1; Peterborough Sports Res 1 Thorney 0; Riverside 0 Moulton Harrox 3; Uppingham Town 0 Oakham United 6.
PFA Senior Cup: Semi-finals: Peterborough ICA Sports 2 Netherton United 2 (pens 3-2); Deeping Rangers Res 3 Coates Athletic 3 (pens 1-3).
Division One: AFC Stanground 1 Peterborough ICA Sports Res 3; Langtoft United Res 2 Whittlesey Blue Star 2; Moulton Harrox Res 1 Ketton 0; Ryhall United 4 Long Sutton Athletic 0; Warboys Town 7 Kings Cliffe 1.
Chairman Championship Shield: Oundle Town 5 Sutton Bridge United 3.
Division Two: Leverington Sports Res 1 Peterborough ICA Sports A 3; Ketton Res 3 Parkside 2; Oakham United Res 5 Crowland Town Res 1; Parkway Eagles 1 Thorney Res 2; Pinchbeck United Res 4 Guyhirn 0; Sawtry Reserves 3 Wittering 2.
Intermediate Shield: Semi-finals: Coates Athletic A 2 Spalding Town 5; Peterborough Sports A 5 Spalding United Res 3.
Division Three: Baston Reserves 2 Riverside Res 0; Coates Athletic B 0 Hampton Sport 4; Glinton & Northborough 3 Tydd St Mary 0; Peterborough PL United 4 Farcet United 0; Ryhall United Res 4 Uppingham Town Res 2.
Division Four: Holbeach Bank 0 Eye United 2; Long Sutton Athletic Res 0 Warboys Town Res 0; Peterborough ICA Sports B 3 Thorpe Wood Rangers 4; Rutland DR 3 Oundle Town Res 3; Stamford Belvedere Res 4 Huntingdon Rovers 1; Stanground Sports FC 8 Leverington Sports A 1; Sutton Bridge United Res 2 Bretton NE 3.
Division Five: AFC Stanground Res 0 FC Peterborough 0; Holbeach United A 2 Parkway Eagles 4; Sawtry A 7 Parkside A 1; Whaplode Drove 0 Ryhall United A 1.
