The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Marcus Ebdon admits that his Spalding United need to go to struggling Carlton Town and win on Saturday (3pm) if they want to get back into the play-off picture in Evo-Stik NPL Division One South.
Spirits are high at the Sir Halley after last weekend’s 4-0 win over Goole AFC (see page 45), but the Tulips haven’t won away from home in more than three months.
This weekend would represent the perfect time for Spalding to end their travel sickness – but chief Ebdon knows that his charges have struggled to put away the sides at the wrong end of the table in recent weeks.
He’s been frustrated by draws at lowly Tividale and Loughborough Dynamo, but is hoping for better this time around.
Ebdon said: “With ten games to go, we do need to be winning this kind of game if we want to get back into the play-off places.
“It’s not going to be easy, though. Carlton know they are in a relegation battle and I fully expect them to make things difficult for us.
“If we can play the way we did against Goole, I’m confident we can pick up the three points. But I think this will be a harder game for us than last Saturday.”
Ebdon will have a new face in his squad for the trip to the Bill Stokeld Stadium, having snapped up Daventry Town midfielder Joe Curtis on Tuesday night.
Curtis, who can play wide or in the middle, was on the books of Southampton as a youngster. He’s also played for Stamford more recently and impressed for Daventry in both games against the Tulips this season.
Ebdon added: “Joe has great quality on the ball, as we found out against us in the two matches this season.
“He’s what they call a ‘baller’ these days. We’re a little short in that department and have struggled to hold onto the ball at times, so he’s a great signing for us.
“I could see him playing from the left for us, we’re low on numbers there.”
As well as Curtis, Ebdon could also welcome back defender Neal Spafford from injury this weekend.
Sam Murphy (toe) and Stuart Eason (ankle) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of the weekend.
- Former Tulips boss Pat Rayment has been appointed to the board of ChromaSport UCL Division One side Peterborough Sports.
Rayment, who left Spalding back in November, will officially begin his new role of director with Sports on July 1.
