Christmas Monday's First Division South review

A crowd of 589 at Harrison Park saw a Tim Grice brace in the 14th and 73rd minutes settle the game in Leek`s favour and re-kindle their own top five hopes, despite being in tenth place.

It ended Rangers` sixteen-game unbeaten run and was only their second defeat to date. They are, however, still nine points clear of second-placed Coalville Town, who do possess two games in hand though after winning the derby at Owen Street 3-0 against Loughborough Dynamo, courtesy of goals from Nialle Rodney after 23 and 80 minutes, sandwiched by a Jared Holmes effort on 38 minutes.

And Rangers have a whopping twenty-three point advantage over sixth-placed Daventry Town, so should at least be assured of a play-off place!

Shaw Lane Aquaforce, Spalding United and Lincoln United occupy the other top five spots. Shaw Lane`s and Lincoln`s games were off, while Spalding`s miserable festive period continued with a 3-0 home defeat to struggling Gresley FC.

Gary Ricketts gave the Moatmen a 32nd minute lead from the penalty spot and added his second eight minutes from time after Jordan Ball had made it 2-0 in the 57th minute.

Daventry also endured a poor Christmas period, losing twice and conceding nine goals after losing 5-2 at another of the strugglers, Carlton Town.

Goals from Josh Rae and Danny Gordon gave the Nottingham hosts a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes. Ricky Hill replied on 28 minutes only for Rae to score his second on 67 minutes to make it 3-1. Edilson Panzo-Antonio pulled a second back for Dav on 86 minutes, but two in the final minute from Romaine Graham made it a nap hand for Carlton.

In contrast, Kidsgrove Athletic made it back-to-back wins with a 2-1 derby success at home to Newcastle Town, coming back from a 14th minute Ben Mills goal to win, thanks to Anthony Malbon on the half-hour mark and then Ashley Hodgkinson 13 minutes from time.

Alex Steadman bagged a brace to help Belper Town to a 3-1 win at Sheffield FC. Steadman struck in the 6th and 45th minutes, with Rob Stevenson adding a third three minutes after the break, with James Gregory responding eight minutes from the end.

Rugby Town also made it two wins over Christmas to move into fourteenth spot – a 38th minute Kevin Thornton penalty winning the game at Butlin Road against Basford United.

The other game played saw Chasetown and Romulus share a 1-1 draw in which Chad Degville-Cross had seemingly won it for the Roms in the 90th minute, only for Paul Sullivan to level in injury-time.

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