Spalding United and Holbeach United both endured disappointing away results on Saturday as neither could beat lowly opposition.
The Tulips were held 1-1 at Evo-Stik NPL Division One South basement boys Tividale, while the Tigers went down 3-2 against Northampton Spencer in the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division.
Spalding, who named new signing James Tricks on the bench, went ahead through Tom Waumsley on eight minutes.
But a 34th-minute penalty from Chris Sterling pegged them back before the break – and with neither side able to net after the interval, Marcus Ebdon’s side were forced to settle for a point.
The Tulips remain in the final play-off position, one point ahead of Leek Town.
Holbeach, meanwhile, saw their title hopes suffer a major blow at a Spencer side that began the day outside of the top 12.
They trailed 2-1 at half time despite a goal from the returning Jake Clitheroe. Both sides notched again in the second period, including a first Tigers goal from Sean Coughlan, but Tom Roberts’ charges just didn’t do enough.
Holbeach are now 13 points behind new leaders Kempston Rovers, who beat previous table-toppers Leicester Nirvana, with two games in hand down in fifth place.
Elsewhere, ChromaSport PDFL Premier Division leaders Moulton Harrox were left frustrated by a postponed fixture at Deeping Rangers Reserves. The home side were unable to raise a side.
That allowed Whittlesey Athletic to close the gap at the top to just three points with a 1-0 win at Pinchbeck United, although Harrox do have a game in hand.
Also in the Premier Division, Holbeach United Reserves thrashed Leverington Sports 6-1 to climb back into the top six and Crowland Town eased their relegation fears with a 2-0 triumph at Sawtry.
In Division One, Long Sutton Athletic were held to a 1-1 home draw by Baston, while Spalding United Reserves beat Stamford Belvedere 1-0 at the Sir Halley.
Meanwhile, Sutton Bridge United’s fine run in the Lincs Junior Cup ended with a 5-1 semi-final defeat at much-fancied Limestone Rangers.
More football throughout the week on www.spaldingvoice.co.uk and in Thursday’s edition of The Spalding and South Holland Voice.
RESULTS
Evo-Stik NPL
Division One South: Belper Town 0 Stafford Rangers 1; Chasetown 1 Goole AFC 1; Daventry Town 0 Shaw Lane Aquaforce 1; Kidsgrove Athletic 2 Coalville Town 5; Leek Town 3 Gresley 0; Lincoln United 0 Stocksbridge Park Steels 0; Newcastle Town 1 Market Drayton Town 1; Romulus 5 Loughborough Dynamo 1; Rugby Town 2 Carlton Town 1; Sheffield FC 1 Basford United 2; Tividale 1 Spalding United 1.
ChromaSport UCL
Premier Division: AFC Kempston Rovers 2 Leicester Nirvana 0; Boston Town 1 Desborough Town 3; Eynesbury Rovers 1 Sleaford Town 2; Harrowby United 1 Oadby Town 3; Kirby Muxloe 3 Huntingdon Town 0; Northampton Sileby Rangers 4 Deeping Rangers 4; Northampton Spencer 3 Holbeach United 2; Peterborough Northern Star 1 Cogenhoe United 2; Rothwell Corinthians 0 Newport Pagnell 2; Wellingborough Town 0 Wisbech Town 3; Yaxley 3 Harborough Town 2.
ChromaSport PDFL
Premier Division: Holbeach United Res 6 Leverington Sports 1; Peterborough ICA Sports 0 Netherton United 3; Peterborough Sports Res 2 Langtoft United 0; Pinchbeck United 0 Whittlesey Athletic 1; Riverside 0 Ketton 6; Sawtry 0 Uppingham Town 2; Stilton United 0 Crowland Town 2; Thorney 3 AFC Stanground 1.
Division One: Langtoft United Res 1 Stamford Lions 2; Long Sutton Athletic 1 Baston 1; Netherton United Res 4 Kings Cliffe 0; Oundle Town 3 Warboys Town 1; Spalding United Res 1 Stamford Belvedere 0.
Division Two: Crowland Town Res 1 Peterborough Polonia 0; Hampton Sport 1 Glinton & Northborough 3; Ketton Res 1 Pinchbeck United Res 0; Leverington Sports Res 0 Oakham United Res 4; Netherton United A 3 Whittlesey Athletic A 1; Parkway Eagles 5 Thorney Res 2; Spalding Town 3 Sawtry Res 0.
Division Three: Baston Res 1 Oundle Town Res 2; Bretton North End 2 Stanground Sports 3; Farcet United 2 Eye United 4; Stamford Lions Res 2 Tydd St Mary 2; Uppingham Town Res 1 Ramsey Town 5.
Division Four: AFC Stanground Reserves 2 Whaplode Drove 1; Parkside 3 FC Peterborough 4; Stamford Belvedere Res 2 Holbeach Bank 3; Tydd St Mary Res 3 Netherton United B 2; Warboys Town Res 5 Huntingdon Rovers 0.
Division Five: FC Peterborough Res 0 Limetree UTR 11; Holbeach United A 0 Wittering Res 2; Stanground Sports Res 4 Stamford Lions A 2; Whittlesey Athletic C 2 Feeder 1.
Chairman Championship Shield: Moulton Harrox Res 0 Wisbech Town Res 1; Wittering 2 Whittlesey Athletic Res 3.
PFA Junior Cup: Rutland DR 14 Whittlesey Ath B 1.
PFA Minor Cup: Brotherhood Sports 5 Harrowby Res 1.
Lincs Junior Cup: Limestone 5 Sutton Bridge Utd 1.
