Magnificent seven for title-chasing Stamford AFC at the expense of Spalding United, Wisbech lose the basement battle badly, important wins for Bourne and Holbeach, but Peterborough Northern Star beaten and Whittlesey bag a last-gasp equaliser

It finished 5-1 to the Daniels at the Zeeco Stadium in front of a bumper crowd of 513 as they kept within two points of leaders Leek Town. There is a 13-point gap to third.

Spalding, who are in freefall after the loss of several key players, battled hard in the first-half and even took a shock first-half lead through Tobias Liversedge, but their never seemed any doubt their young side would eventually be overpowered.

Tom Siddons equalised just before the break and then shot Stamford ahead just before the hour mark. Harry Vince made it 3-1 after a fine piece of team play before Tendai Chitiza claimed the final two goals.

Stamford might have some time to savour the result as the Northern Premier League is expected to follow the lead of other leagues and call a halt to football until the coronavirus threat has eased.

That will also give Wisbech Town to recover from a bad hammering at home to Market Drayton Town in the big basement battle. The pair are adrift at the bottom and Drayton overtook Wisbech after winning 4-0 at the Fenland Stadium, all the goals arriving in a desperate first half.

Holbeach United, whose manager Danny Hussey has announced an intention to leave the club at the end of the season, retained an interest in the United Counties Premier Division title with a 6-2 thrashing of Lutterworth Town at Carter’s Park, but Peterborough Northern Star went down 3-1 at home to Harborough despite a fine equaliser from Craig Smith following Jack Bloodworth’s excellent free kick.

In Division One Bourne Town eased relegation fears with a 2-0 win over fifth-placed Harrowby at the Abbey Lawns, but Huntingdon remain hard on their heels after beating Blackstones 2-0.

Ashley Jackson bagged a deserved late equaliser as Whittlesey Athletic held fourth-placed Aylestone to a 2-2 draw at Feldale Field. James Hill-Seekings had earlier fired Wisbech in front.

RESULTS

Saturday, March 14

Northern Premier LEAGUE

South East Division: Stamford AFC 5 (Siddons 2, Chitiza 2, Vince), Spalding United 1 (Liversedge); Wisbech Town 0, Market Drayton 4.

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division: Holbeach Utd 6 (Lockie, Adams, Frew, Fairweather, Ford, og), Lutterworth Town 2; Peterborough Northern Star 1 (Smith), Harborough 3.

Division One: Bourne Town 2 (Fenton, Demeter), Harrowby 0; Huntingdon 2, Blackstones 0; Whittlesey Athletic 2 (Jackson, Hill-Seekings), Aylestone Park 2.