Deeping delight for Tulips as Tigers are tamed

DOUBLE: Dan Cotton notched twice for Spalding. Photo by NIKKI GRIFFIN

A Dan Cotton double ensured that Spalding United concluded their UCL Premier Division title-winning season with a 2-1 victory at Deeping Rangers on Monday, while Holbeach United were thumped 4-0 by Wisbech Town in their finale.

Starting at Outgang Road, champions Spalding had to come from behind after their former defender Simon Ashton put hosts Deeping ahead on ten minutes.

That lead didn’t last for long though, with winger Cotton levelling on 36 minutes before firing the Tulips ahead just before the break.

That’s how it stayed, with no further goals added in the second period – meaning Pat Rayment’s side finish on an impressive 97 points for the season.

Over at Carter’s Park, Holbeach had a day to forget against rivals Wisbech, who avenged last weekend’s home loss to the Tigers in style.

A freak Adam Millson goal on 11 minutes put the Fenmen ahead, not that he knew much about it. Having raced into the box, Wisbech winger Billy Smith overran the ball and it was walloped clear by a Holbeach defender. However, the clearance ricocheted off ex-Spalding man Millson and into the bottom corner, leaving Leigh Overton helpless.

With the Tigers offering very little going forward, boss Glen Maddison seemed happy enough to get his side in just 1-0 down at the break. But some suicidal defending allowed Tony Battersby, another former Tulip, to waltz through and blast number two into the roof of the net with the final touch of the first half.

The Tigers were much improved in the first 20 minutes of the second period, with winger Frazer Bayliss twice going close. His first effort was comfortably saved by Lea Jordan from distance, before his lobbed volley just dropped the wrong side of the post.

It was game over shortly after, however, as Smith grabbed the goal of the game. The wing wizard rounded Overton on the left hand side of the box before composing himself and curling home a stunning effort into the unguarded net via the far post.

To rub further salt into Holbeach wounds, Millson lashed home a fierce second 13 minutes from time to complete the rout.

Maddison’s men must now hope that Desborough Town fail to win at Wellingborough Town in their season finale if they are to finish the campaign in the top ten.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

UCL Premier Division: AFC Kempston Rovers 1 Newport Pagnell Town 1; AFC Rushden & Diamonds 4 Wellingborough Town 1; Deeping Rangers 1 Spalding United 2; Harborough Town 0 Desborough Town 2; Holbeach United 0 Wisbech Town 4; Northampton Sileby Rangers 2 Cogenhoe United 1; Peterborough Northern Star 0 Yaxley 1; Sleaford Town 1 Boston Town 1; Stewarts & Lloyds Corby 0 Huntingdon Town 9.

UCL Division One: Bourne Town 0 Harrowby United 3; Buckingham Town 2 Olney Town 1; Eynesbury Rovers 5 St Neots Town Saints 0; Irchester United 1 Bugbrooke St Michaels 1; Northampton ON Chenecks 1 Northampton Spencer 1; Oadby Town 4 Lutterworth Athletic 0; Peterborough Sports 0 Blackstones 2; Raunds Town 2 Rothwell Corinthians 1; Rushden and Higham United 1 Wellingborough Whitworth 2; Thrapston Town 0 Potton United 3; Woodford United 0 Burton Park Wanderers 13 (thirteen).