Seb Hayes said the players who stepped up from the reserves to help Huntingdon Town beat Newport Pagnell Town 3-0 for the club to move into second place in the United Counties League were brilliant.

After two goals from Jacob Joyce and one from Declan Rogers – from the penalty spot – the manager said: “To come and win 3-0 with seven of the first team missing, the reserves have stood up to the test and were absolutely outstanding.”

Ben Seymour-Shove was suspended for the game so Rogers’ goal meant the dynamic duo ended the day both on 28 goals as they fight for the golden boot at Jubilee Park. Seymour-Shove will be back in the team on Tuesday when Town go to Peterborough Northern Star. And, next Saturday, already-crowned Premier Division champions Spalding United will be Huntingdon’s visitors. The aim now for Hayes and co is to stay ahead of AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Deeping Rangers and finish in second.

St Neots Town have a massive game on Tuesday night when they play Tiverton Town in the second leg of their Red Insure Southern League Cup final.

Today they lost 3-0 at promotion challengers Chesham United but managers Gary King and Zema Abbey rested strikers Shane Tolley and Matt Nolan, plus midfielder Lewis Hilliard.

St Neots have the home advantage over their visitors from Devon on Tuesday after the two teams drew 0-0 at Ladysmead last month.

Also in the Southern League, St Ives topped off a horrible week with a third loss on the trot at Division One Central high-fliers Daventry Town.

Jon Stead got the only goal in the 5-1 defeat which followed losses on Tuesday to Royston Town (5-0) and Thursday (4-1) away at Kettering Town. So that’s 14 goals shipped in five days – but the team has done well enough this season to earn another crack at the division next time.

In Division One of the UCL, Eynesbury Rovers now just need to win their final seven games of the season to secure that second automatic place. They beat Potton United 4-1 at home and remain in third behind Harrowby United, who have fewer games to play and fewer points available to win.

In the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties League, Godmanchester Rovers won 4-0 away at Stanway Rovers and a third place finish is still a real possibility.

“It was a strong 4-0 away win for us,” said joint manager Nev Nania. “Tom Moran, Niks Savalneiks, James Hall and Joe Furness keeps us in the race as teams above us drops points again.”