Celebrations in Stamford and March on an otherwise bleak day for local non-league clubs
Stamford was the scene of Saturday night celebrations on an otherwise pretty bleak day for local non-league sides.
Stamford AFC moved back out of the Southern Premier Division Central relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Bishop’s Stortford at the Zeeco Stadium. A fine strike in the 12th minute from Connor Bartle sealed the win that enabled ‘The Daniels’ to leapfrog St Ives, and they have a game in hand.
Stamford were doubtless disappointed that another struggling side Bromsgrove Sporting scored an upset 2-0 win at second-placed Spalding United courtesy of two late goals, but the win has teed Graham Drury’s side up for a couple of tough Easter games against play-off contenders. Spalding have at least confirmed their place in the play-offs.
And Stamford-based Blackstones have sprung into life towards the bottom of United Counties League North. After 11 games without a win Stones have completed back-to-back away successes. Second-half goals from Harry Peasgood and Cameron Rankin, who struck in the 90th minute, overturned a 1-0 half-time deficit at Kimberley Miners Welfare.
The 2-1 win didn’t lift Stones out of the relegation places, but they are now only a point from safety and just two points behind Deeping Rangers who went down 1-0 at home to Melton Town today.
In the Premier Division South Yaxley are just three points clear of the relegation places after a 1-0 loss at Daventry, but March Town consolidated their place in the play-offs with a 1-0 victory at Sileby Rangers. Rio Henson scored the goal in the early stages. March host leaders Nuneaton on Tuesday (March 31), in a re-match after the original contest was postponed in the final moments because of a medical emergency in the crowd with March leading 2-1.
At Thurlow Nunn Division One North level, FC Peterborough delivered one of their worst performances of the season when losing 3-0 at home to Haverhill Borough and Whittlesey Athletic went down 3-1 at play-off chasing Stanway Pegasus.
Bourne dropped a place in the Northern Premier Midlands Division after a 5-0 beating at Wellingborough Town. The Wakes are two places, but still only a point, from safety.
Peterborough Sports slipped closer to the relegation trapdoor in National League North by losing 4-2 at bottom club Leamington.
SATURDAY RESULTS
National League North: Leamington 4, Peterborough Sports 2 (Jones, Booth).
Southern Premier Division Central: Spalding United 0, Bromsgrove Sporting 2; Stamford AFC 1 (Bartle), Bishop’s Stortford.
Northern Premier Midlands Division: Wellingborough Town 5, Bourne Town 0.
Thurlow Nunn Division One North: Diss Town 2, Holbeach Utd 2 (Wright 2); FC Parson Drove 1, King’s Park Rangers 4; FC Peterborough 0, Haverhill Borough 3; Stanway Pegasus 3, Whittlesey Athletic 1.
United Counties Premier Division North: Deeping Rangers 0, Melton Town 1; Gresley Rovers 2, Wisbech Town 0; Kimberley Miners Welfare 1, Blackstones 2 (Peasgood, Rankin).
United Counties Premier Division South: Daventry Town 1, Yaxley 0; Sileby Rangers 0, March Town 1 (Henson).