James Hill-Seekings scores the winning goal for Bourne Town against Belper United
James Hill-Seekings stepped up to the mark to score the winning goal as Bourne Town recorded a vital victory on Saturday.
Last season's leading goalscorer has been hit by injury and work commitments throughout this campaign but rose to the occasion to head home a 71st minute winner in the 2-1 home victory over Belper United on Saturday.
Henry Dunn had earlier cancelled out Kieran O'Connell's third minute opener for the Derbyshire visitors in the Premier Division North clash before Hill-Seekings soared to head home a Zac Allen set piece.
Manager Michael Goode said: "It was a great header and I was really pleased for him.
"He's been brilliant for us because he's stayed around and been patient and has taken his chance.
"People will probably ask why he hasn't started more games but he wasn't really fit until Christmas and he's also had a situation with work which has affected his availability.
"He's still worked hard though and it was a really good striker's header. He was quite emotional at the end and rightly so because it's been a tough season for him but he's come back strong.
"He got such a nasty injury in the first pre-season friendly when he was champing at the bit to match his statistics from the previous year at a higher level.
"There was never any doubt that he could score the goals so I was really pleased for him."
The Wakes had gone into the match without the services of Tom Siddons, Robbie Ellis, Zak Munton, Will Bird and Bailey Baker as they looked to return to winning ways after defeat at Heanor the previous weekend and a loss to Lincoln United last Wednesday night in the final of the Lincolnshire Senior Trophy.
They got off to a poor start as O'Connell flicked home a set piece to give Belper an early advantage which rocked the Wakes.
They rallied and had a goal disallowed for offside before Dunn headed home the equaliser five minutes before the break from a pinpoint Kyle Rowell cross.
It gave the Wakes more belief and boss Goode ordered his side to stand up and be counted after the break with the players producing the perfect response.
Belper had Daniel Odunaiya sent off after collecting a second caution six minutes into the second period which boosted Bourne's cause.
They were dominant for the rest of the game with Hill-Seekings' clincher being followed by more chances for the Wakes.
Hill-Seekings had another effort cleared off the line before Eunis Lievins was denied by a fine save from the Belper goalkeeper.
Third-placed Bourne lost both Richard Jones and Shaun Archer to injury throughout the game but held out to keep the pressure on the top two who shared the spoils on Saturday with Eastwood netting a late leveller against Lincoln United.
Boss Goode added: "Like we've said a few times this season, we'll just take the three points and move onto next weekend.
"It was a bit scrappy but we got the job done and fair play to the boys who pulled us through.
"We did what we said we had to do and that was to get the win and it didn't matter how we did it.
"Everyone is still in the title race so all we can do now is to try and win our last two games and see what occurs."
Bourne host Hucknall Town at the JJ Mac Stadium on Saturday before completing their regular league campaign at Harrowby United on Easter Monday.
