Valiant display sees team lead the pack
The Valiant went top after beating leaders Seven Seas 2-0 with goals from Luke Marshall and Dale Mason, while second-placed Fabrenco missed a golden chance to go clear when they went down 3-1 to a lively Humberston Quayside at St Christophers.
Humberston, for the first time this season, were at full-strength and it was no surprise they produced their best performance.
With James Swann recalled to spearhead the attack with Iain Ward, Humberston soon had their reward when Louis Grant sprung the offside trap and fired in a fierce low cross which the lively Ward slotted home.
Later in the half, keeper Scott Drury saved from point-blank range for Humberston.
Fabrenco equalised soon after the break when Darren Lambert scored on his debut – but two more Quayside goals gave them victory.
This was Humberston's day and the hardworking Scott Bartlett restored the lead with a mis-hit shot that looped over Leigh Graves in the Fabrenco goal.
Bartlett then put in an inch-perfect cross for the bullish Lee Bushell to power home a bullet header at the near post.
Referee Sid Cowley was always in command in a hard-fought game.
Jubilee Inn had a noteworthy 4-2 victory over AFC Buddies, with goals from King, Simpson and Horsefall (two).
FC Milan are now going well, they beat Seacatch FC 6-0 with goals from Lee Potter (two), Chris Gordon, Chris Call, Dan Grant and Paul Smith, while Sealord also had a good victory, 4-1 against Lincs International.
In Division Two, Gy Cladding still top the pile after their 7-2 beating of Gunners Watch.
Rob Lewsam, Sean Carlisle and Freddy Cass all scored a couple apiece. Jason Langley scored the other goal.
Holton-le-Clay lead the chasing pack after beating Golden Fleece 4-1.
Holton manager Dave Allen made a few changes, some enforced and some to shake the team up after drawing their last two league games.
Against the run of play, Holton took the lead through good counter attacking football, with Olly Howard drilling home from 18 yards.
Fleece threw everything at Holton, but they stood tall. Eventually, Holton fell asleep as a ball was played into the six yard box and the Louth side levelled at 1-1.
Holton came out the better side after the break.
Matty Powell got tangled up with a Louth striker and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Louth's captain took the penalty, but Holton keeper Ben Mills guessed the right way and saved well.
Shortly after the penalty, Mills pulled off another class save.
Holton gave everything in the second half and got their reward with 20 minutes left, courtesy of top scorer Ant Chamberlain, who bagged his 12th of the season.
Within minutes, Holton got their third through skipper Powell.
Gaz Mason's Glenn Hoddle-like run and finish rounded off the scoring.
In Division Three, well-placed White Hart beat Harvest Pet Products 7-1 with goals from Kirwin (two), O'Hare (two), Snook, Howard and Luddington.
Leaders Seven Seas 2nds beat Police 4-0 and Millfields won 2-0 away to Bridge to strengthen their hold at the top end of the table.
Arron Love-Bean scored the Millfields goals but it was a team performance, with a man-of-the-match display from centre-back Dan Taylor.
Best wishes go to Millfields supporter Val Taylor after freak accident involving a Bridge player sliding off the pitch while making a tackle, hitting Val and breaking her toe.
Excel FC beat Old Clee 5-3.
Meanwhile, LOR and SW Steelers met for the second successive week.
Kai Haig almost gave Steelers an early lead but his well struck effort went just wide.
Jason Chisnall then saw the LOR goalkeeper make an excellent save from his shot but Steelers made the breakthrough soon after. A long throw by Gaz Deakins was flicked on by Nick Rook and Scott Sadler ran in to head the ball past the LOR keeper.
Towards the end of the half, LOR finally began to get into the game and were rewarded with an equaliser from what was their first real attacking move of the game, Wayne Long beating the Steelers keeper Matty Chapman.
If LOR had shown little attacking prowess in the previous game and a half they made up for it in the second half and only an inspired display by man-of-the-match Chapman in the Steelers goal helped them come away with a point.
In Division Four, runaway leaders DMS FC were without a game.
Grimsby Warriors (Matthew Freudenberg) drew 1-1 with Nick's Takeaway (Robert Morrison).
Pattesons continued their winning form with a comprehensive 3-0 display against a good footballing side in Healing 2nds.
Goals from Paton, Barber and Baker rounded off a solid performance and lifted the pickle boys to third in the table.
Caistor Rovers made their intentions clear when they beat Tap & Spile 2-0.
The Empire notched their first victory with a hard-fought 4-2 win over Crows Nest 2nds. Goals from Lee Croft (two), Simon Munday and Craig Walton secured the points.
Clark Construction faced Trawl FC in the second instalment of a mini saga.
Last week, the boys from Toot Hill edged a close game by 4-3, but Clarks were out to gain a quick revenge at their North Thoresby home – and did so with a 4-2 victory.
A good interchange of passes from midfield saw the ball end up just inside Clark's box allowing a free shot from the Trawl right winger – which cannoned in off the bar.
The goal seemed to rock Clarks.
Trawl continued to attack and had a couple of long range efforts easily saved by Damion Mroczkowski in goal.
However, for the remainder of the half, the home side upped the tempo and tried to get back into the game.
Clark's best chance came when Luke Morley played a defence-splitting pass for Pete Fuller to run onto, however, the striker's shot was well-saved.
Their goal eventually came after the ball was crossed in from the right and, from the resulting scramble, Fuller nodded home.
After the break, Clarks continue to be dangerous with their quick, attacking play.
Their second goal came when a Trawl attack broke down in midfield. The ball fell to Luke Niland, who picked out Fuller. The striker raced into the box and centred for Usher, who tapped home.
The beginning of the end for Trawl came when Jamie Wilkes won a 50-50 ball with a mighty challenge just outside their box.
This seemed knock the stuffing out of the away side and, not long after, Clarks took control with a third goal.
Fuller made no mistake from the penalty spot after he had been brought down in the box.
Clarks sealed the game with their fourth. Fuller completed his hat-trick with another penalty.
Trawl had a late rally during the final 10 minutes, claiming a second goal, but Clarks claimed all three points and quick revenge.
In Division Five, Greenlands welcomed Lucarly's Eastern Trucks, just a week after beating them 12-0 in the reverse fixture.
They gave a debut to 17-year-old Michael Hand.
Greenlands broke Lucarly's resistance as Hickinson was sent clear by Harmer and, although the flag went up, the referee overruled his linesman and Hickinson skilfully lobbed the ball over the stranded keeper.
Lucarly's came out of the traps quickest in the second half as Jimmy Flowers had to head an effort off his goal line.
Lucarly's crashed an effort off the crossbar as they pushed for an equaliser.
Greenlands woke up and started to take control of the game.
They grabbed their second after neat interplay on the edge of the penalty area between Hickinson and Tez Ballard. Hand's snap-shot found the bottom corner for a debut goal.
Greenlands went further ahead as Tim Harmer sent son Chris away down the right, and he got to the byline before pulling the ball back across goal for Hand to smash home his second.
Lucarly's got a consolation to make the final score 3-1 to Greenlands.
Referee Payne did well.
Elsewhere in the division, Grange Crowland beat RCS Athletic 5-2.
On target for Grange Crowland were Pete Dennis, Dean Barratt, John Higton, Dave Deane and man-of-the-match Craig Norman.
Top team Louth Utd won 2-1 away to M&M Decor. Spiders Web won 3-1 away to bottom club Crows Nest 3rds while Immingham Town narrowly beat AFC Wybers 2nds.
In Division Six, leaders BBS Couriers beat AA Property New Waltham 6-0.
Daniel Harrison scored their first hat-trick of the season. Other contributions came from Owen Stamp (two) and Kurt Fawcett.
In hot pursuit are Number 2 FC who won 3-1 against Smugglers AFC.
Well-placed Fair Deal Carpets won 2-1 against DLB Taverners. Willows Community won 1-0 away to Clee Workingmens while Locomotive Blossom Way recorded their first victory, 2-0 away to DC Amateurs.
In Division Seven, leaders Tap & Spile 2nds won 3-1 away to bottom club Melt Bar.
Newton Athletic beat Abatis Fire & Security 5-2 and remain second.
The other games were mid-table clashes with Tower Bucharest beating Clee Community 3-1 and Cromwell Rovers winning 3-1 against Taverners Cleethorpes.
In Division Eight, Asureflow beat KCT Photography 5-0 and top the table.
Their scorers were Harvey Shaw (three), Jonathan Mason and David Hine.
A to Z Trading are on the same points.
They won 10-0 against Keelby Utd 2nds with goals from J Nicholson (three), Chapman (two), McFarlane (two), Billy Nicholson, Walker and Salamah.
Mariners FC won 3-1 away to AFC Waltham while Aston Estates beat West Marsh 8-4 with goals from Wadby (three), Endar (two), Dunks, Baldock and Burns-Salmond.
Clee Rangers beat East Marsh FC 4-0.
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