Banbury are battered as on-song Harborough Town edge ever closer to title glory

Borough completed a brilliant Easter holiday weekend with a 5-1 hammering of Banbury United in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 at the Bee Hive on Monday, following up Saturday's 2-1 win at St Ives Town in style.

Spalding United ensured the title race would go on for at least another week as they claimed a 2-0 Easter Monday win at Barwell, but the Tulips still trail Mitch Austin's frontrunners by seven points, with just three matches to play.

Saturday sees the first opportunity for the Bees to clinch the title and promotion as they go to play-off contenders Halesowen Town, where a win would seal the title.

Against Banbury, the Bees went behind on 25 minutes, but roared back to win it thanks to goals from Alex Morris, Rory Mcauley, Terell Pennant, Ben Stephens and Danny Newton.

"That was a great Bank Holiday, there is a lot of pressure on those lads and they have delivered," a delighted Austin told @HarbTownFC.

"In both games we have gone 1-0 down, and they have shown great character to turn things around and win.

"Both games were equally important to get results, and to keep taking the hope away from the title rivals.

"It was important to come away from these two games with six points."

Looking back on the win against a Banbury side who beat Harborough on their home patch last month, Austin said: "The boys are living in the moment, and there were a lot of ingredients that could work in our favour on Monday.

"The form Banbury were in, a little bit of needle from the match at theirs when they were ecstatic to beat us.

"They have a lot of heart that comes from the manager, but it was destined to be our day to finish them off.

"We are one of the form teams, they are at the bottom of the form table having taken two points from six games, and if you give us any smell of blood we are going to finish it."

While the Bees go to Halesowen on Saturday, second-placed Spalding entertain Stratford Town.