Struggling Spalding Town suffer final over woe at Grimsby

Already-relegated Spalding Town narrowly missed out on a morale-boosting Lincs ECB Premier League victory at Grimsby on Saturday.

Town posted 181-9 batting first at Augusta Street as Warren Nel returned to form with a gritty 54 from 95 balls.

Grimsby passed that target with just four balls to spare, although they did have five wickets in hand.

Brendan Volley (58 not out) and Jack Wilson (67) were did most of the damage, sending Spalding home with just five points from the clash.

Bidding for a first win since June 6 – some 12 games back – Town batted first and made a solid start, with Nel and Jimmy Hook (15) putting on 31 before the latter fell to David Carr (1-29).

Nel and the in-form Josh Newton (26) then put on 49 for the second wicket, only for Newton to become the first of five victims for 16-year-old Harrison Tice (5-41).

The teenager then got rid of David Thomas (6), Tim Norris (1) and Patrick Harrington (0) in quick succession soon after to leave Town on 104-5.

Nel remained calm and passed 50, but was soon bowled by Michael Brown (1-57) to add to the visitors’ woes.

To make matters worse, Aussie Dan Milgate (19) became Tice’s fifth victim to leave Spalding staring down the barrel at being bowled out cheaply.

The lower order had other ideas, though, as skipper Rob Ambrose (18 not out) and Nuwan Jayasena (26) dug in to steer them to 181-9, despite the efforts of Lee Charlton (2-36).

Buoyed by their late resistance, Spalding started well with the ball and had Grimsby struggling on 47-3 after Nuwan Jayasena (3-56) removed Joe Farmery (3), Steven Crossley (0) and Michael Brown (29).

However, Wilson and Volley set about putting on 106 for the fourth wicket to give put the hosts in a great position.

Wilson was eventually run out and Roy Tilley (1-33) got rid of Charlton (1), but Volley remained to edge Grimsby to victory in the final over.

The win all but secures Grimsby’s future in the Lincs ECB Premier League too.

Town conclude their campaign at home to Louth at Spalding Grammar School on Saturday (noon).

• Matt Sharpe took figures of 6-49 to help Spalding Town 2nd beat Stamford by ten runs on Saturday.

Simon Juckes hit 52 not out as Town made 173-9 batting first, before Sharpe helped bowl the hosts out for 163 in an entertaining South Lincs and Border League Premier Division clash.

Also in the top flight, Long Sutton by 127 runs at Boston as the hosts were crowned champions.

Kieran Evans made 93 in Boston’s 291-7, while skipper Phil Barnes managed 40 in Sutton’s reply of 164-9.

In Division One, Sutton 2nd suffered a ten-wicket home loss against Grantham 3rd after being bowled out for just 42. Danny Ashley claimed 9-19 in the demolition.

Down in Division Two, Pinchbeck lost by just one-wicket against Claypole at Spalding Grammar School.

Lee Smith (72) and Danny Jackson (31) steered Pinchbeck to 146-9, but the visitors made it to 150-9 despite Jackson’s 6-36.

RESULTS

Lincs ECB Premier League: Lindum 202 (Robinson 90, Brumby 5-22), Grantham 109; Market Rasen 146, Sleaford 147-3 (McIntosh 70no, Mountain 60); Louth 191 (Limmer 56,  Berry 5-63), Bourne 193-5 (Morgan 96); Bracebridge Heath 247-8 (Atri 53), Market Deeping 170-7 (Kreik 53no, Carter 5-64); Spalding 181-9 (Nel 54, Harrison Tice 5-41), Grimsby 182-5 (Wilson 67, Volley 58no);Woodhall Spa 119, Skegness 121-8.

South Lincs & Border League

Premier Division: Billingborough 196, Woodhall Spa 2nd 198-5 (Dixon 80, Timby 67); Sleaford 2nd 147-5, Belton Park 39; Boston 291-7 (Evans 93, Vella 77), Long Sutton 164-9  (Boston are champions); Lindum 2nd 202, Grantham 2nd 123; Spalding 2nd 173-9 (Juckes 52no, Barrett 5-21), Stamford 163 (Sharpe 6-49); Moulton Harrox conceded to Bourne 2nd.

Division One: Heckington 123, Deeping 2nd 125-1 (Deeping are champions); Welby 27 (Bell 5-12), Boston 2nd 31-1; Cavaliers 144, Lindum 3rd 129; Skegness 2nd 92 (Moeed 5-20), Freiston 93-4; Long Sutton 2nd 42 (Ashley 9-19), Grantham 3rd 43-0.

Division Two: Belton Park 2nd 146, Boston 3rd 147-6; Pinchbeck 146-9 (Smith 72no, Wharmby 5-30), Claypole 150-9 (Jackson 6-36); Burgh & District 142-8, Graves Park 140 (Howsam 77no); Timberland 232-8 (Blankley 64), Spalding 3rd 74.

Rutland League (selected)

Division Three: Long Sutton 175-8, Bretton 96.

Division Six: Uppingham Town 300-7 (Hodson 160), Moulton Harrox 46.