NON-LEAGUE: Furnell's fighters battle back, debut goal for 16 year-old Leicester City trialist

The Cuckoos were 2-0 down at home to local rivals Deeping Rangers in the United Counties Premier Division and then down to 10 men when Wayne Morris was shown a red card.

But Furnell’s fighters hit back to equalise through Northampton Town work experience youngster Tom Carroll on 74 minutes and a penalty from Dan Cotton on 80 minutes earned Yaxley a welcome point at the end of a turbulent few days.

Deeping’s early goals were scored by former Posh player Ryan Semple and Scott Coupland from the penalty spot. Deeping had central defender Spencer Tinkler sent off in the closing stages.

Furnell, who took over when Ian Benjamin resigned on Thursday (March 31), is only keeping the Yaxley hot seat warm until the summer. Favourite to replace him, Brett Whaley, who managed Yaxley last season, was at In2itive Park today.

Whaley quit Wisbech, also on Thursday, but the Fenmen didn’t receive the traditional new boss boost. Dick Creasey has the managerial reins until the end of the season, but Wisbech could only draw 1-1 at home to Harboroug. Stuart Cobb equalised for Wisbech midway through the first-half.

Holbeach United will do well to maintain their lofty sixth-place in the Premier Division as they must play a further 12 matches in 27 days before the end of the season on May 2. They go into that tortuous run on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw at lowly Sileby Rangers.

Teenager Sean Coughlan fired ‘The Tigers’ in front in the 10th minute, but the home side equalised 20 minutes from time.

Peterborough Sports completed a perfect home playing record in Division One with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Stewart & Lloyds at PSL. Substitute Jordan Macleod was the match-winner for the champions with a 64th-minute strike.

Sports have won all 18 of their home games this season and have now beaten every team in the division (they had lost at S & L earlier in the season, one of their three defeats in 32 matches), They have four away games, as well as three cup finals, to play before the curtain is drawn on a phenomenal season.

Bourne maintained fifth place with an emphatic 3-0 home win over struggling Bugbooke St Michaels. All the goals arrived in the second-half with manager’s son Sam Wilson scoring twice before Max Cooper added a late third.

Blackstones twice lead at Wellingborough Whitworth and then levelled at 3-3 before losing to an 83rd-minute goal. Scott Ginty, Dan Evans and Matt Simpson scored the Stones’ goals.

There was a goal on his first start for March Town United in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League for 16 year-old Rob Conyard. Conyard has been on several trials at Premier Division title favourites Leicester City, but he netted for his local club today in a 2-0 win over Team Bury.

March, who are 11th, have won three of their last four matches, two of them against Bury.

Stamford AFC’s battle against relegation from the Evo Stik Northern Premier Division is now in a crucial phase.

The Daniels drew 1-1 at fellow strugglers Marine to leave themselves two points and one place from safety with five matches to play. Stamford scored first in the 16th minute through Sam Downey, but were ahead for just two minutes.

It’s a big day at the bottom tomorrow (April 4) when Stamford visit sixth-placed Stourbridge and the team they are chasing, Hyde, host leaders Blyth Spartans. The team just below Stamford, Whitby, have a very winnable home match against Ilkeston.

Spalding’s season is over though. They crashed 5-0 at second-placed Shaw Lane Aquaforce - their heaviest defeat of the season - and are now stuck in mid-table in Division One South.

RESULTS


Saturday, April 2

EVO-STIK LEAGUE

Northern Premier Division

Marine 1

Stamford 1 (Downey)

Division One South

Shaw Lane Aquaforce 5

Spalding Utd 0

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division

Cogenhoe United 3

Huntingdon Town 0

Northampton Sileby Rangers 1

Holbeach United 1 (Coughlan)

Wisbech Town 1 (Cobb)

Harborough Town 1

Yaxley 2 (Carroll, Cotton)

Deeping Rangers 2 (Semple, Coupland)

Division One

Bourne Town 3 (Wilson 2, Cooper)

Bugbrooke St Michaels 0

Peterborough Sports 1 (Macleod)

Stewarts & Lloyds 0

Wellingborough Whitworth 4

Blackstones 3 (Ginty, Evans, Simpson)

THURLOW NUNN EASTERN LEAGUE

Division One

March Town United 2 (Conyard, Jackson)

Team Bury 0