Flourmen close in on the promotion places

Action from Whitworth's 2-1 victory over Lutterworth Athletic. Pictures by Alison Bagley

A Jordan Pendered penalty and Jamie Black’s goal secured another win for James Mallows’ side who are now just three points behind second-placed Bugbrooke with three games in hand.

The Flourmen so nearly got a favour from their local rivals Rushden & Higham United who squandered a 2-0 lead before losing 3-2 to Daventry Town, who returned to the top of the table at Hayden Road.

The Lankies were on course for a shock victory when goals from Steven Ainge and Jory Mann put them 2-0 up.

Whitworth maintained their promotion push by beating Lutterworth Athletic

But the visitors scored three times in the final 15 minutes to move another step closer to promotion.

The battle of the bottom two at Latimer Park went the way of Stewarts & Lloyds who claimed a 2-0 victory to leapfrog hosts Burton Park Wanderers who now sit at the foot of the table.

Two first-half goals from Jake Buckingham handed the Foundrymen their third win of the campaign, which also moved them above Woodford United.

Elsewhere, it was a good day for both Raunds Town and Thrapston Town.

Whitworth manager James Mallows was presented with the United Counties League Division One manager of the month award for February by league chairman John Weeks ahead of their win over Lutterworth

The Shopmates claimed a fine 5-0 success at Oakham United while Thrapston Town edged out Bourne Town 1-0 at Chancery Lane.

Desborough Town bounced back from their UCL Knockout Cup semi-final loss in emphatic style as they thrashed Premier Division strugglers Harrowby United 5-0 at the Waterworks Field.

Two goals in four first-half minutes from Will Arnold and Jason Turner put the hosts in the driving seat.

And they hammered home their advantage after the break with Olly Jones making it 3-0 before Leo Adams and Michael Boyle-Chong rounded things off in the final 10 minutes.

Rothwell Corinthians picked up a fine away win as they returned from Sleaford Town with a 2-1 success.

Corinthians took the lead through Djedje Gomes five minutes into the second half but the hosts levelled soon after.

However, Jordan Henson secured Corinthians’ victory with 19 minutes to go.