The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Spalding United will relish the role of underdogs in Saturday’s game at promotion-chasing Cleethorpes Town.
That’s the verdict of interim boss Lewis Thorogood, who takes his 15th-placed Tulips to the coast for a Lincolnshire derby of sorts (3pm).
One of the best results of Spalding’s season saw them defeat now third-placed Clee 2-1 back in September – but The Owls did knock the Tulips out of the Lincs Senior Cup a month earlier.
Thorogood rates Cleethorpes as one of the best teams in the league and places them in the same kind of bracket as Stamford in the BetVictor NPL South East Division.
Despite that high praise, the Tulips chief insists his side will be gunning for a result.
“This game is as tough as any in the league,” admitted Thorogood. “They are looking for promotion and i’d put them on the same level as Stamford really.
“They are going well and you’d expect there to be a decent crowd for Saturday’s game – which always spurs the team on.
“I suppose Saturday’s game is something of a derby, but we don’t really see it that way.
“We look to the games with Lincoln United, Wisbech Town and Stamford as our derbies.
“But Cleethorpes are a side with a lot of experience and they’ll probably look at us as a team they should beat.
“We enjoy ruffling the feathers of the high-flying teams – which is what we did at Beloer few weeks back. We revel in the role of underdogs and will go there aiming for points.
“It’ll also be a test of the character of our young players, especially with the next three games after this one being very tough too.
“Our aim is to upset the odds.”
Spalding, who saw their home game with Chasetown rained off last Saturday, could hand debuts to a pair of new signings.
Right back Josh Woodcock, signed on a work experience loan from Lincoln City, has joined up with the squad and might feature.
Exciting Lincoln Moorlands Railway attacker Lewis Smith has also signed dual forms with the Tulips. The ex-Lincoln City youngster is dubbed a “hot prospect” by Thorogood.
Spalding will also monitor the fitness of Josh Spencer and Jack Smith ahead of the game.
