The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Table-toppers Gosberton D took a giant step towards the Spalding and District League Division Three title after seeing off nearest rivals Services D 5-1 last week.
In what is the tightest of all three divisions, Gosberton are now five points clear of their most recent victims with just four rounds of fixtures left.
A re-spotted black frame win for Marcus Pell (O21) and Paul Whyte’s (scr) black-ball win proved key for the leaders – and also showed just how closely matched these two sides are.
Third-placed Boundary C are now just a point behind Services in third after they dispatched hosts Whittlesey C, themselves fifth, 4-2 on their own green baize.
Josh Aggar (R14) managed a 20 break for the Deepings side, while a 22 clearance from Steve Jennings (O21) in the final frame denied Boundary a larger winning margin.
Elsewhere in Division Three, Long Sutton C’s Dan Mayfield (O28) made the highest break of the campaign so far (at this level).
His fantastic 40 helped inspire his struggling side to a welcome 5-1 win over Consti D to move them out of the bottom three.
Up in Division One, the highlight of the week was a 51 break from Long Sutton B’s Wayne Dent (O42).
Team-mates Carl Parnell (O42) and Steven Godfrey (O21) also chipped in with scores of 21 and 22 respectively to steer Sutton to a 4-2 away win at Services A.
Jon Bettinson (scr) hit back with a 24 break for the hosts.
There was also a super 46 break and 22 clearance from an in-form Bren Bowman (O63) as Tulips A defeated Donington A 5-1.
Fellow Spalding aces Kieran Bowman (O14) and Martin Anderson (O7) also chipped in with scores of 21 and 20 respectively to help seal the success.
At the foot of the table, a 22 clearance from Dan Ashton (R14) couldn’t stop relegation-threatened Holbeach C from slipping to a 4-2 loss at Whittlesey A.
They are now six points adrift in the bottom two.
Meanwhile, title-chasing Bourne SC A suffered a potentially costly 5-1 beating at Holbeach B in Division Two.
Neil Harvey (O14) managed a 22 break for the hosts in the final frame.
That opened the door for third-placed Boundary A, who won 4-2 at Pyramid C to move within three points of the second-placed Bourne boys.
Black-ball wins from Pete King (scr) and Nic Heywood (O14) proved key for the Deepings side.
Towards the bottom, Services C secured a much-needed 5-1 triumph over Pyramid D to edge out of the bottom two.
Kev Fitter (O7), Nigel Cherry (O7) and Craig Fitter (O56) pocketed breaks of 26, 23 and 22 respectively to help inspire the Spalding sides’ win.
Another 23 break, from Gosberton A’s James Waterfall (O14), couldn’t stop his side going down 4-2 at home to Crowland A.
Results: Division One: Whittlesey A 4 Holbeach C 2; Sutton A 2 Services E 4; Consti F 1 Pyramid A 5; Boundary B 0 Holbeach D 6; Services A 2 Long Sutton B 4; Tulips A 5 Donington A 1.
Division Two: Services C 5 Pyramid D 1; Gosberton B 2 Consti I 4; Pyramid C 2 Boundary A 4; Gosberton A 2 Crowland A 4; Holbeach B 5 Bourne SC A 1; Crowland B 2 Sutton D 4.
Division Three: Donington D 5 Whittlesey B 1; Long Sutton C 5 Consti D 1; Services D 1 Gosberton D 5; Whittlesey C 2 Boundary C 4; Consti J 4 Donington B 2; Bourne SC B 2 Consti C 4; Consti A 5 Gosberton C 1.
