Red-hot Spalding United eye a winning double as they bid to build on superb start

Lewis Thorogood wants Spalding United to build on their excellent start to the new Pitching In NPL South East Division season.

The Tulips romped to a 3-0 victory over Sutton Coldfield Town last Saturday and now have two very winnable games within the space of four days.

Saturday sees Carlton Town make the trip to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field (3pm), before Spalding embark on their first away game of the campaign at Loughborough Dynamo on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Both of the Tulips’ opponents were beaten in their opening games, with Carlton stunned 3-1 at home by Lincoln United and Loughborough smashed 6-2 at Worksop Town.

With Spalding bidding to mix it with the big guns and battle for promotion this season, Thorogood admits that they are games his side must look to win – but he knows they’ll be entirely different matches style-wise.

“What Saturday did was give us a great platform to start the season,” said the Spalding supremo. “We’re all full of confidence and looking forward to the next two games.

“Carlton will be a very difficult match. I think everyone was surprised to see them beaten at home by Lincoln United on Saturday.

“They had a long trip in the FA Cup on Tuesday, too. But you know what to expect, they are physical and very direct – which can cause you problems.
“It’s good to be back at

home for another game and the plan is to carry on as we did against Sutton Coldfield.

“I’m not looking beyond that game, but we can expect a very different match at Loughborough. They like to get the ball down and almost play like an academy side.

“Obviously Worksop dispatched them on Saturday, but we’ll not underestimate them. You come across different styles in this league and Loughborough can be robust when they want to be, too.

“We’ll give 110 per cent in both games and will obviously be looking to get more points on the board.”

Thorogood hasn’t ruled out making further signings ahead of the double-header, but does expect to utilise the same squad – pending the suspensions of Ollie Price and Cameron Painter, who were sent off against Sutton Coldfield.