Spalding slip up and do Stamford no favours, big win for Bourne, black day for Stones, birthday boy strikes twice for Whittlesey
Spalding United’s failure to beat struggling St Ives Town had a knock-on effect on Stamford AFC.
Spalding needed a second-half equaliser from Jack Roberts to claim a 1-1 draw at their out-of-form hosts which was enough to send Stamford back into the bottom four after their own 3-0 loss at high-fliers Real Bedford. Former Peterborough United youngster Michael Richens struck from the penalty spot for St Ives.
‘The Tulips’ look destined for the Southern Premier Division Central play-offs as they are now five points behind leaders Harborough Town who also have a game in hand.
‘The Daniels’ trail St Ives on goal difference, but have a game in hand. Both teams are in action on Tuesday (March 24) with Stamford travelling to Stratford.
Bourne settled their big relegation battle at bottom club Rugby Town with three goals in the opening 20 minutes, but a 3-0 win wasn’t enough to get ‘The Wakes’ out of the relegation zone. Zak Allen, Robbie Ellis and Lewis Darlington scored for Bourne who are within a point of safety and three points of 17th place.
It was another black day for relegation-haunted Blackstones in the United Counties Premier Division North. They conceded a last-minute winner at Gresley and watched one fellow struggler Heanor Town thrash Deeping Rangers 5-2. Ed Thorpe scored for Stones in a 2-1 defeat, while Josh Randall scored both Deeping goals.
March Town drew 1-1 at home to Atherstone in a game between two top four sides in the Premier Division South.
Whittlesey Athletic scored a surprisingly easy 5-0 win at play-off hunting Wroxham Reserves in Division One North of the Thurlow Nunn League. Scott Waumsley and Isaac Jobling both scored twice with Alfie Fryatt also netting. Jobling celebrated his 18th birthday this week.
That result would have cheered fourth-placed FC Peterborough who led 3-0 at home to Diss Town before drawing 3-3. Derrick Dadzie scored goals either side of an own goal.
Peterborough Sports slipped nearer to relegation from National League North after losing 1-0 at home to Darlington.
SATURDAY RESULTS
National League North: Peterborough Sports 0, Darlington 1.
Southern Premier Division Central: Real Bedford 3, Stamford AFC 0; St Ives Town 1, Spalding United 1 (Roberts).
Northern Premier Midlands Division: Rugby Town 0, Bourne Town 3 (Allen, Ellis, Darlington).
Thurlow Nunn Division One North: FC Parson Drove 0, Stanway Pegasus 2; FC Peterborough 3 (Dadzie 2, og), Diss Town 3; Wroxham Reserves 0, Whittlesey Athletic 5 (Waumsley 2, Jobling 2, Fryatt).
United Counties Premier Division North: Gresley Rovers 2, Blackstones 1 (Thorpe); Heanor Town 5, Deeping Rangers 2 (Randall 2); Wisbech Town 0, Hucknall Town 1.
United Counties Premier Division South: March Town 1 (Tsagium), Atherstone Town 1.