ROUND-UP: County Cup joy for Deeping, frustration for promotion-chasing Spalding

Leon Mattam scored twice for Spalding at Carlton.

Deeping Rangers are through to the final of the Lincs Senior Trophy after a hard-fought semi-final win over Boston Town last night (February 7).

A goal 11 minutes from time from Jason Kilbride sealed a 2-1 victory over United Counties Premier Division rivals and set up a final against Cleethorpes at Lincoln City’s Sincil Bank ground on April 11.

Deeping grabbed an early lead through Scott Mooney before Boston equalised in first-half injury time.

It was a fifth win in a row for Michael Goode’s men, one achieved in freezing fog at Outgang Road.

Jason Kilbride (front) scored a late winner for Deeping against Boston.

Second-placed Deeping now embark on a tough run of Premier Division fixtures starting with a trip to fourth-placed Desborough on Saturday (February 11).

It wasn’t such a good night for Spalding United whose promotion hopes in Division One South of the Evo Stik Northern League were hit by a last-gasp 4-3 defeat at lowly Carlton, a result that left manager Dave Frecklington ‘angry and frustrated’.

The Tulips fell 3-1 behind on 76 minutes, but two goals in three minutes from Leon Mettam (his second of the night) and skipper Nathan Stainfield appeared to have rescued a point until Carlton found a 90th-minute winner.

Spalding remain second, but the teams challenging for play-off places are closing in on them.