In the end the visitors folded to just 104 all out giving Horncastle maximum points, which sees them leap frog four other teams in the process and makes the league table look altogether more appealing.

But things can change quickly and with seven games remaining, five of these are against teams below or just above them.

Horncastle comprehensively outplayed their local rivals to complete the double over them this season.

Horncastle were asked to bat first and got off to a solid start with Paige and Harry Smith putting on 40 for the first wicket before Joe Smith joined his brother and added 120 for the second wicket in a defining partnership.

Harry was eventually out for 58 and Joe for 65 and despite a slight collapse in the middle order in the chase for quick runs, Cooper and Greaves saw them past the 200 mark for maximum batting points.

Luke Smith and Steve Carr bowled economically as ever and had Alford's top order dismissed before they had reached 30 and from then on it was damage limitation for the chasing side.

Pubbs Chandrasekara picked up four wickets, whilst the rest were shared between Carr and Smith with two each, one for Mick Devereux and a late one in a rare bowl for Julian Loveley as the skipper looked to hurry proceedings and avoid the rain that was to arrive just five minutes after they had completed the victory.

This would have denied them a thoroughly deserved win.

They will take renewed confidence to their game this Saturday away to Hartsholme in Lincoln.