Bourne Town beat Sleaford Town in the United Counties League
Bourne Town moved within a point of top spot in the United Counties League Premier Division North after victory over Sleaford Town on Tuesday night.
An own goal in first half injury time settled the contest which brought Bourne their 15th successive victory in all competitions.
It also completed a quick-fire double over the visiting Greens after their 4-0 away success at Sleaford last month.
Bourne brought Dan Flack, Kyle Rowell, Jack Wilson and Will Bird all back into their starting line-up after the club history-making FA Vase victory at the weekend.
Flack saw an appeal for a penalty turned down in the first half after his cross appeared to hit the arm of a Sleaford player.
Zak Munton and Zac Allen then fired shots wide of the target before the Wakes finished the half with a flurry of corners.
A goalline clearance initially denied the Wakes but, from the next setpiece, the ball was turned into the net by a Sleaford defender to give Bourne the vital breakthrough.
They looked to add to their tally after the break with Allen shooting over after latching onto a ball over the top.
Flack fired another effort wide before Munton was denied by Sleaford goalkeeper Harrison Leech after Allen had won possession.
Sleaford came close to equalising as the game entered the latter stages with Bourne goalkeeper Dan Swan tipping a shot to safety from former Pinchbeck player Ben Robson and then the Wakes clearing off the line from the resultant corner.
Home skipper Robbie Ellis was then sin-binned for dissent with Bourne substitute Tom Siddons being denied by another save from Leech before Swan made a crucial block in injury-time to ensure the Wakes banked the three points.
With table-topping Eastwood's match at Kimberley being postponed, Bourne are a point adrift of the leaders with two games in hand.
The Wakes have another home game on Saturday when they welcome fourth-placed Newark Town to the JJ Mac Stadium.
Deeping Rangers travel to Ashby Ivanhoe in the Premier Division North while Holbeach will be hoping to play their first match of 2025 in the Thurlow Nunn League.
The Tigers welcome Division One North leaders Haverhill Rovers to Carter's Park looking to extend their seven-match unbeaten run.
Pinchbeck's scheduled match at FC Peterborough has been postponed with their opponents having a rearranged Northants Junior Cup clash at Wellingborough Whitworths.
The Knights' next match will be on Tuesday night when they host Premier Division title challengers Fakenham Town in the League Cup.