Spalding United made short work of Stamford AFC, derby day bragging rights for Deeping Rangers and FC Peterborough, impressive win for Blackstones
Spalding United made short work of local rivals Stamford AFC in their Christmas Saturday derby in the Southern Premier Division Central at the Sir Halley Stewart Field.
The league leaders scored twice in the first 15 minutes through Yusifu Ceesay and Curtis Thompson before adding a third goal from Jack Roberts who delivered a typically thunderous strike early in the second-half to complete a 3-0 win in front of a superb crowd of 1,300.
Ceesay also provided a classy curling finish while Thompson was on hand to net after a Bart Cybulski effort had been saved. Spalding gave a debut to former Peterborough United central defender Ashton Fox who has moved on loan from Peterborough Sports. On loan Posh youngster Noah Freeman came on for Spalding as a substitute.
Sports remain three points clear of sole title rivals Harborough Town – 4-2 winners over Kettering Town today – who have three games in hand. The top two are due to meet in Spalding on January 10.
Blackstones ended a miserable run of form in the United Counties Premier Division North with a superb 4-3 win at home to third-placed Newark Town. Stones had picked up just one point in seven matches and trailed 3-2 with just 15 minutes to go today before a 75th minute strike from Nathan Rudman and a 93rd minute goal from Callum Davies secured a shock success. Shaun Archer and Harry Peasgood also scored.
Deeping Rangers won a local skirmish at Wisbech Town 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Fin Henderson and Josh Randall, but second-placed March Town lost ground at the top of the Premier Division South after a 0-0 home draw with Godmanchester. Experienced March sub Dan Cotton was sent off late in the game. Yaxley went down 3-1 at Moulton.
FC Peterborough took the local bragging rights in Division One North of the Thurlow Nunn League as two first-half goals from MIchael Goncalves secured a 2-1 victory at Whittlesey Athletic. Archie Waterland replied for the hosts. The city side are fourth and looking secure in the play-off places.
On Boxing Day, Peterborough Sports drew at King’s Lynn Town in National League North and Bourne Town lost at home to Corby Town in the Northern Premier Midlands Division.
RESULTS
National League North: King’s Lynn Town 2, Peterborough Sports 2 (Jones, Miller).
Southern Premier Division Central: Spalding Utd 3 (Ceesay, Thompson, Roberts), Stamford AFC 0.
Northern Premier Midlands Division: Bourne Town 0, Corby Town 1.
United Counties Premier Division North: Blackstones 4 (Archer, Davies, Peasgood, Rudman), Newark Town 3; Wisbech Town 0, Deeping Rangers 2 (Henderson, Randall).
United Counties Premier Division South: March Town 0, Godmanchester 0; Moulton 3, Yaxley 1.
Thurlow Nunn Division One North: Holbeach Utd 1, FC Parson Drove 0; Whittlesey Athletic 1 (Waterland), FC Peterborough 2 (Goncalves 2).