Roberts steps down as Holbeach United boss after draw while Spalding United are beaten at home

Tom Roberts stepped down as Holbeach United player boss after watching the Tigers rescue a 2-2 draw with ChromaSport UCL Premier Division rivals Harborough Town on Saturday, while Spalding United slipped to a 3-2 home loss against Stocksbridge Park Steels in Evo-Stik NPL First Division South.

The big story came after all of the action at Carter’s Park, where Holbeach twice came from behind to earn a draw with fellow high-fliers Harborough.

An Ollie Pinner own goal (38) put the Tigers behind against the run of play, but Josh Ford lashed home an almost instant leveller (40) to make the score 1-1 at half-time.

Harry May looked to have won it for the visitors when he buried a fine individual goal 20 minutes from time  – but Jack Smith’s sensational 25-yard free-kick in the third minute of added time ensured that the spoils were shared.

But more drama followed the whistle, with Roberts revealing that the clash was to be his last in charge of the Tigers.

He cited additional work commitments for his decision, but admitted that he departs Carter’s Park with a “heavy heart”.

Holbeach chairman Dave Dougill – who confirmed that Roberts wasn’t sacked – hopes that number two Martyn Cundy will now take the top job, but nothing is yet confirmed.

More on that story will follow.

Meanwhile, Spalding’s winless run in the league stretched to four matches as mid-table Stocksbridge handed them a 3-2 home reverse.

Harrison Biggins (28) and Adam Hinchcliffe (43) put Steels in command at the Sir Halley, but Bradley Wells (46) got the Tulips back into the game.

However, Joe Lumsden (67) restored Stocksbridge’s two-goal advantage – rendering Chris Hamilton’s injury-time strike as mere consolation.

The Tulips are now six points behind leaders Shaw Lane AFC having played a game more.

Down in the ChromaSport PDFL, Pinchbeck United produced the result of the day by walloping hosts Stilton United 11-1.

Top scorer Ollie Maltby scored six of the 11, with Brad Murrell (2), Liam Ogden, Tom Panton and the returning Tyler Wright also getting in on the act.

Also winning handsomely were Moulton Harrox, who walloped visitors Uppingham Town 5-0.

Also in the top tier, Crowland Town lost 2-1 at home against Thorney and Holbeach United Reserves were beaten 2-0 at Leverington Sports.

In Division One, leaders Moulton Harrox Reserves made it 12 wins from 13 by winning 4-0 at Oundle Town, while third-placed Sutton Bridge beat Glinton and Northborough 3-0.

But the big winners at this level were Long Sutton Athletic, who beat Netherton United Reserves 7-0 at London Road.

More to follow.

RESULTS

Evo-Stik NPL

Division One South: Bedworth United 0 Shaw Lane AFC 1; Belper Town 1 Basford United 1; Chasetown 1 Witton Albion 4; Kidsgrove Athletic 0 Romulus 2; Lincoln United 4 Gresley 1; Loughborough Dynamo 0 AFC Rushden and Diamonds 3; Market Drayton Town 0 Carlton Town 3; Northwich Victoria 2 Sheffield FC 5; Rugby Town 2 Newcastle Town 0; Spalding United 2 Stocksbridge Park Steels 3; Stamford 2 Leek Town 3.

ChromaSport UCL

Premier Division: Boston Town 2 Northampton Sileby Rangers 3; Cogenhoe United 3 Rothwell Corinthians 1; Holbeach United 2 Harborough Town 2; Huntingdon Town 1 Harrowby United 2; Leicester Nirvana 3 Newport Pagnell Town 1; Northampton ON Chenecks 0 Wisbech Town 2; Oadby Town 2 Eynesbury Rovers 1; Peterborough Northern Star 2 Kirby Muxloe 0; Wellingborough Town 0 Peterborough Sports 7; Yaxley 1 Deeping Rangers 4.

KO Cup: Desborough Town 2 Sleaford Town 0.

ChromaSport PDFL

Premier Division: Crowland Town 1 Thorney 2; Deeping Rangers Res 3 Stamford Lions 3; Leverington Sports 2 Holbeach United Res 0; Moulton Harrox 5 Uppingham Town 0; Sawtry 3 AFC Stanground Sports 1; Stilton United 1 Pinchbeck United 11; Wisbech Town Reserves 0 Netherton United 3.

Division One: Baston 1 Peterborough Polonia 0; Long Sutton Athletic 7 Netherton United Res 0; Oundle Town 0 Moulton Harrox Res 4; Riverside 3 Wittering Harriers 3; Stamford Belvedere 1 Warboys Town 6; Sutton Bridge United 3 Glinton & Northborough 0; Whittlesey Athletic Res 3 Spalding United Res 0.

Division Two: AFC Stanground Sports Res 3 Langtoft United Res 0; Netherton United A 2 Ketton Res 2; Ramsey Town 5 Spalding Town 1; Stamford Lions Res 4 Leverington Sports Res 1; Tydd St Mary 3 Crowland Town Res 0; Whittlesey Athletic A 10 Peterborough ICA Sports Res 0.

Division Three: Bretton North End 2 Rutland DR 0; FC Peterborough 2 Brotherhood Sports 1; Farcet United 6 Sawtry Res 4; Thorpe Wood Rangers 2 Sutton Bridge United Res 3; Uppingham Town Res 0 Stamford Belvedere Res 2.

Division Four: Feeder 3 Holbeach Bank 2; Huntingdon Rovers 2 Tydd St Mary Res 2; Parkside 2 Whaplode Drove 1; Stamford Lions A 3 FC Peterborough Res 3; Wittering Harriers Res 1 Whittlesey Athletic C 6.

Division Five: Glinton & Northborough Res 1 British SOS 4; Holbeach United A 12 Leverington Sports A 0; Peterborough NECI 3 Orton Rangers 0; Ramsey Town Res 11 Riverside Res 0; Wisbech Town Acorns U21 6 Feeder Res 4.

PFA Challenge Cup: Pinchbeck Utd Res 1 Oakham Res 9.