Premier Division: Crowland chief Steve Paling won’t forget his first victory in management in a hurry.
The player-boss capped a 4-1 success at out-of-form Whittlesey Blue Star with a stunning late goal from fully 50 yards. Luke Elsom, Adam Piergianni and an own goal had earlier set his team on the way to victory.
It was Paling’s second match at the helm following the departure of previous boss Seb Hayes after only 11 games.
Paling admitted: “I was playing golf with Gav McPartlin a couple of Sundays ago and told him the club needed to have a Plan B in place because I felt Seb might go.
“I said that if that did happen I would be prepared to give it a go. The next day I took a call from Gav and I knew what he was going to say. Seb had gone and I agreed to take over.
“It’s nice to get my first win as a manager but I just want the lads to enjoy their football. I think we’re good enough to stay in this league while doing that.”
Blue Star boss Micky Burch has drafted in a big helping of experience in a bid to arrest a worrying slide.
The Whittlesey lads have lost four successive matches in their first Premier Division season.
Veteran midfielder Ricky Speechley made his debut on Saturday while Andy Lodge is also set to join. Well-known former player Darren Edey has arrived as assistant boss.
But Burch admits his team must be more ruthless in front of goal, starting when they host fellow bottom-six side Pinchbeck this Saturday.
He said: “It is the usual case of having little things go against you when you’re struggling. Last Saturday we found ourselves 1-0 down after 30 seconds to an offside goal and another was scored from 50 yards out.
“But we need to start taking more of the chances we are creating. We’ve missed four penalties during this run and you can’t do things like that.”
Knockout clashes are not Harrox’s cup of tea
Moulton Harrox closed to within a point of Premier Division leaders Netherton - but now face an unwated fortnight away from league action.
Defender Bobby Patterson and frontman Ian Bradbury fired Harrox, who are unbeaten in 12 games this term, to a 2-0 success at Deeping Reserves last Saturday.
Now Paul Kent’s men turn their attention to a tasty PFA Senior Cup second round derby clash against local rivals Long Sutton on Saturday ahead of the next round of the Lincs Junior Cup the following weekend.
Kent said: “Of course we want to do well in the cups, but the Premier Division is our priority after such a good start.
“Ideally I would rather be playing league games.
“We know we’ll get a tough test from Long Sutton. It will be a real up-and-at-em type of game.”
Sutton are currently second in Division One.
One out, one in for Stilton
Mark Baines is back at Stilton after cutting short an unhappy spell at promotion-chasers Peterborough Sports.
Baines helped the village side to a county cup double and promotion to the Premier Division last season.
He made his return - which is well-timed following the exit of Richard Challinor to non-league side Northern Star - in a 2-0 PFA Senior Cup second round defeat at Ramsey.
Boss Tom Douse said: “Mark wasn’t enjoying it at Sports and asked if he could come back. I ran it past the lads who were in favour and it has come at a good time after losing ‘Chally.’”
Stilton launch the defence of their Hunts Scott Gatty Cup this weekend with a trip to a St Ives Rangers side they defeated in the quarter-finals last term en route to lifting the trophy.
Baines’ old club Sports had a ‘spot of bother’ as they were dumped out of the PFA Senior Cup.
The city lads threw away a two-goal lead before going down 5-4 on penalties at Uppingham.
Knockout clashes are not Harrox’s cup of tea
Moulton Harrox closed to within a point of Premier Division leaders Netherton - but now face an unwated fortnight away from league action.
Defender Bobby Patterson and frontman Ian Bradbury fired Harrox, who are unbeaten in 12 games this term, to a 2-0 success at Deeping Reserves last Saturday.
Now Paul Kent’s men turn their attention to a tasty PFA Senior Cup second round derby clash against local rivals Long Sutton on Saturday ahead of the next round of the Lincs Junior Cup the following weekend.
Kent said: “Of course we want to do well in the cups, but the Premier Division is our priority after such a good start.
“Ideally I would rather be playing league games.
“We know we’ll get a tough test from Long Sutton. It will be a real up-and-at-em type of game.”
Sutton are currently second in Division One.
For local football updates on Twitter follow @ptmarkplummer
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