Eastwood Community have stretched their lead at the top of the table in the United Counties Premier Division North in a weather hit weekend that saw a large proportion of matches locally called off.
The Red Badgers came from behind to win 3-1 at Sleaford Town and stretch their lead at the top of the table to five points over second place Lincoln United who have one game in hand after their match at Kimberley Miners Welfare was called off, and seven points over Bourne Town who have two games in hand, the Lincolnshire outfit have the same amount of points (35) as Newark Town in fourth, Newark having played two games more, neither playing at the weekend due to postponements.
Eastwood fell behind in the 38th minute of their match in Lincolnshire but they levelled early in the second half through recent signing Terry Hawkridge before Tyler Blake netted another towards his season tally of fifteen league goals.
The home side looked to have been given a lifeline in the 88th minute when the Referee awarded Sleaford a penalty but after an agonising wait, he overturned his decision to give a goal-kick and although Lyndon Joyce saw red soon after, Terry Hawkridge wrapped things up on 98, deep in stoppage time with a curled home free kick.
The only other game played in the UCL Premier Division North on Saturday was between Melton Town and Newark & Sherwood United, the hosts winning 4-0, whilst in Division One, league leaders Clipstone lost 4-1 to Gedling Miners Welfare thanks to a couple each from Jack Vipond and Gianfranco Ciaurro.
That defeat gave Retford United the chance to close the gap at the top of the table to just two points which they did with an 11-1 thumping of Sandiacre Town, Kieran Knight with a hat-trick and amongst the goals, Alex Troke scored on his debut following his signing last week from Eastwood Community. Also going well are cross town rivals Retford FC who are fourth, the Choughs beating strugglers Selston 2-0 with goals from Wilson & Boden, they are just five points behind Clipstone now, with two games in hand.
Elsewhere Dunkirk beat Clifton All Whites 3-0 with a couple of Kieran Wells goals sandwiching a strike from Darragh Walsh, whilst Stapleford Town beat Holwell Sports 2-0 with a brace from Olatomide.
Finally, not much action in the Northern Premier League this weekend with Worksop Town held to a goalless draw at Lancaster City, Basford United came from behind to draw at home against Prescot Cables, Matt Thornhill with United’s goal, the Ambers eleventh in the table whilst Worksop stay third.
*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).
*Main image @ScottMessom action from Eastwood’s 3-1 win at Sleaford.
