FOOTBALL: Horncastle Town defeat league leaders

Ben Fidling scored twice for Horncastle. Photo: Nigel West

Two goals apiece for Horncastle Town’s Ben Fidling and Michael Harness saw the leaders slip to their third defeat of the season and the gap at the top reduced to five points.

Elsewhere in the league, Skegness Town climbed into second place with victory at Market Rasen Town, while Hykeham Town edged out Cleethorpes Town’s development squad by the odd goal in three.

There were postponements at Brigg Town Reserves, CGB Humbertherm and Wyberton.

Horncastle Town 4

Sleaford Town Reserves 2

Horncastle avenged their single goal defeat in the reverse fixture when they hit four past the leaders from Sleaford.

They took an early lead through Ben Fidling, who stroked the ball home with his left foot from 18 yards.

Michael Harness added a second midway through the first half.

Both Fidling and Harness went on to score once more.

At the other end, Scott Tite scored with his first touch, while Lee Llewellyn also netted for the visitors, who had Liam Tunstall red carded.

Hykeham Town 2

Cleethorpes Town Development Squad 1

Reigning champions Hykeham Town were made to work hard for the three points that lifted them to fifth in the table.

Chris Funnell and Josh Raby were the Hykeham scorers, while Reece Newell responded for the visitors.

Market Rasen Town 2

Skegness Town 4

Skegness Town climbed into second spot with a comfortable win at a sticky Rasen Park.

Will Britton gave them an early lead before Luke Rayner-Mistry doubled the advantage with his seventh goal in all competitions.

Rasen’s Andrew Belt pulled a goal back for the home side, but McCauley Parker restored the seasiders’ two-goal difference with a free kick on the stroke of half time.

The seasiders continued to press after the break but it took an own goal from Lewis King to widen the gap.

Substitute Keiran Togher grabbed a consolation for Rasen in the dying minutes.

Results: Horncastle Town 4 Sleaford Town Reserves 2, Hykeham Town 2 Cleethorpes Town DS 1, Market Rasen Town 2 Skegness Town 4. Postponed: Brigg Town Reserves v Skegness United, CGB Humbertherm v Ruston Sports, Wyberton v Lincoln Railway AFC.