Bourne Town beat Boston Town in the United Counties League
Victory in the clash of the in-form teams moved Bourne Town up into second spot in the United Counties League Premier Division North table on Tuesday night.
A second half penalty from Will Bird secured victory for the Wakes against visiting Boston Town at the JJ Mac Stadium.
It helped land a ninth successive win in all competitions for Bourne as the Poachers plummeted to their first league loss since the end of September.
The visitors were forced to play nearly three-quarters of the match with 10 men following the sending off of Richard Ford but made life difficult for the Wakes throughout the derby duel.
Bourne boss Michael Goode said: "Everyone knows that a sending off doesn't always do you any favours but I felt we didn't get any rhythm in the first half so, when it happened, our passing, crossing and decision-making was nowhere near.
"We were a bit rusty after 10 days off and I don't think the sending off helped us in any way because we didn't open the game up.
"I did still fancy our chances at half-time but some ill discipline crept in and we lost any momentum that we had started to build.
"We have to learn from that because Boston fed off it and created a few chances but we got the penalty and Birdy stuck it away to win the game.
"We will play better in many games this season but ultimately we got the three points."
The Wakes were without goalkeeper Dan Swan for the midweek match so brought in former Blackstones custodian Simon Dalton who enjoyed a solid debut to keep a clean sheet on his Bourne bow.
Clear-cut chances were in short supply in the first half with Harry Limb blazing an early effort over for the visitors while Pierce Hudson headed wide from a Layton Maddison free-kick.
Ford then saw red midway through the first half for an over-the-top tackle which prompted Bourne's best spell of the opening period as Robbie Ellis fired two efforts wide of the Boston goal.
The Wakes skipper sent another header over the crossbar before Lucas Dakin curled an effort wide for the visitors as the first half finished goalless.
Bourne began brightly after the break and Jordan Tate produced a crucial headed clearance to deny Henry Dunn.
Ellis sent another header over before Bourne were reduced to 10 men for 10 minutes when Dunn was sin-binned for dissent.
The all-important breakthrough arrived just past the hour mark when Zak Munton showed some neat footwork in the penalty area to outfox Macca Burdass who brought the Bourne attacker down.
Bird stepped up to dispatch the resultant spot kick for his 20th goal of the season to give Bourne control of the contest.
They came close to increasing their advantage but were denied by some stoic Boston defending.
Richard Jones and Brad Gothard both had shots cleared off the line with Ellis' follow-up being brilliantly blocked by Tate.
Substitute Martin Tudosa was denied by a near post save from Travis Portas before Hudson produced another outstanding last-ditch block to deny the Bourne man.
The lack of a second goal kept Boston's hopes alive and Dakin headed over when well-placed before Limb had an injury-time chance that brought a match-winning save from Dalton as Bourne moved within four points of top spot with two games in hand after completing a league double over the Poachers.
Goode added: "Boston had been on a good run and they're a decent footballing side with players who can play a bit.
"To get six points out of Boston this season with two clean sheets is something that you'll always take.
"We'll move on now but, although I've no doubt that we can work harder than teams and grind results out, we've got to move the ball faster in some games and be a little bit more ruthless."
Bourne play their rearranged FA Vase tie at Northampton ON Chenecks on Saturday.
The winners will travel to face either Winsford United or Sutton United (Birmingham) in the fourth round on Saturday, January 11.
