ROUND-UP: Sports smooth progress towards title, wins for Deeping, Wisbech, Holbeach, Stones and Spalding

Action from Peterborough Sports' (blue) 4-0 win over Oadby. Photo: David Lowndes.

Mark Jones scored twice as Sports moved on to 93 points. A very young, and game Oadby side provided the other goals. They have seven games remaining in which to secure back-to-back titles.

It was an excellent day for all local top-flight sides with the exception of Peterborough Northern Star who slipped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cogenhoe.

Second-placed Deeping Rangers and third-placed Yaxley collected superb away wins, while Wisbech (seventh) and Holbeach (eighth) were successful at home.

Peterborough Sports' striker Avelino Vieira (blue) on their way to a UCL Premier Division win over Oadby at PSL> Photo: David Lowndes.

Deeping saw off the challenge of a decent Sileby Rangers side in style. Scott Coupland (2), Charlie Coulson and Tom Waumsley scored the goals in a 4-1 win.

Deeping remain 12 points adrift of Sports, but maintained a healthy seven-point lead over Yaxley who won 2-0 at FA Vase quarter-finalists Newport Pagnell. Liam Hook and Kyle Nolan scored for the Cuckoos.

Yaxley manager Brett Whaley was happy. He said: “Great win and performance against a good Pagnell side. Starting to play to our strengths and getting rewards because of it.”

Alex Beck and Sam Vince (penalty) saw Wisbech to a 2-0 win over Harborough, while Holbeach responded to a recent tongue-lashing from manager Seb Hayes to beat ON Chenecks 2-0 thanks to goals from Charlie Sanders and Mitch Griffiths.

Action from Peterborough Sports (blue) v Oadby at PSL. Photo: David Lowndes.

Tigers’ goalkeeper Ricky Drury saved a penalty towards the end. Josh Ford was dismissed for dissent in the aftermath.

Jones Da Sousa’s hat-trick and two goals from Scott Ginty enabled Blackstones to win 5-1 at lowly Woodford United in Division One, but Bourne went down 1-0 at Thrapston.

Stones are now seven points (but just one place) clear of their local rivals in 14th.

Third-placed Spalding United are still favourites for a play-off place in Division One South of the Evo Stik Northern Premier Division after a battling 1-0 home win over Belper. Lee Beeson’s 57th-minute penalty proved decisive for an understrength Tulips’ team.

Jake Mason (stripes) of Peterborough Northern Star hurdles a challenge in the game against Cogenhoe. Photo: Tim Gates.

But Stamford probably can’t wait to draw a veil over their campaign. A mini-run of four unbeaten matches came to a shuddering halt as the Daniels were crushed 5-0 by mid-table Stocksbridge Park Steels at the Zeeco Stadium.

March Town couldn’t quite secure back-to-back wins in Division One of the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League.

Rob Conyard fired the Hares in front at Team Bury, but the home side equalised early in the second half.

RESULTS 

Saturday, March 18

EVO-STIK LEAGUE

Division One South

Spalding Utd 1 (Beeson), Belper Town 0

Stamford 0, Stocksbridge Park Steels 5.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division

Holbeach United 2 (Sanders, Griffiths), Northampton ON Chenecks 0

Huntingdon Town 0, Boston Town 2

Newport Pagnell Town 0, Yaxley 2 (Hook, Nolan).

Northampton Sileby Rangers 1, Deeping Rangers 4 (Coupland 2, Coulson, Waumsley).

Peterborough Northern Star 0, Cogenhoe United 1

Peterborough Sports 4 (Jones 2, og , Oadby Town 0

Wisbech Town 2 (Beck, Vince), Harborough Town 0.

Division One

Thrapston Town 1, Bourne Town 0

Woodford United 1, Blackstones 5 (Da Sousa 3, Ginty 2).

THURLOW NUNN EASTERN LEAGUE

Division One

Braintree Town Res 5, Wisbech St Mary 3

Team Bury 1, March Town United 1 (Conyard).