The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
It’s early days of course, but Spalding United sit top of the Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division after a perfect start.
Elliot Sandy’s side made it four wins from four following Saturday’s 4-0 home win over Coventry Sphinx and a 1-0 victory at Cambridge City on Monday.
“Not many teams on a Bank Holiday take all six points so full credit to the boys,” Sandy said. “They put in a good shift in the 48-hours and with the points and two clean sheets, I can’t ask for much more.”
The Tulips came under some pressure against Cambridge on Monday with keeper Tony Breedon having to make some fine saves.
But they won the match thanks to a moment of magic from Dan Sweeney who won the ball and beat his defender before firing a low shot home.
“That’s what we brought him to the club for,” Sandy said. “He can create something out of nothing and create those special moments.
“He gets some rough treatment but the beauty with Dan is, come and kick him if you want as it just spurs him on.
“It was an unbelievable goal out of nothing and he really deserves it given his performances.
“He’s scored three, Mike Taylor’s on three and Jordan Graham two, so the forwards are all scoring, we’re keeping clean sheets at the back, it’s all round really positive.
“We’re not going to be at our best all the time as the second half against Cambridge showed but we defended it well.”
Sandy called Saturday’s 4-0 home victory over Coventry Sphinx a great performance.
Clifton gave them a 10th minute lead, slamming home off the bar after the ball broke to him following a fine run forward by Sweeney into the box.
Cartwright had an effort from distance palmed over before the lead was doubled in the 35 minute when Lewis Hilliard’s corner curled directly into the net.
Sub Graham came off the bench for the third in the 67th minute, sending three Sphinx players for a song before the powerful finish.
Four minutes from the end Danny Draper put Clifton through, and despite the tight angle he rolled home.
“I’ve been saying we’d put four or five past someone and were on it from minute one,” Sandy said. “We didn’t create as many chances as we have done but we were clinical.
“We controlled the game and we didn’t look like conceding.”
There were four changes for Tuesday’s game with injuries meaning Sandy only named three substitutes including himself, while one of those brought in, Connor Peters, broke his foot during the game.
The manager is hopeful some will be back for a test against higher opposition.
The first of seven games away from home is a visit to Stratford Town in the FA Cup on Saturday.
“It is a nice distraction and we’re up against opposition we really want to test ourselves against because that’s where we want to be,” he said.
Tulips v Coventry Sphinx: Breedon, Draper, Morley (Warburton), Walker, Stainfield, Cartwright, Barker (Curtis), Hilliard, Sweeney, Taylor (Graham) Clifton. Subs not used: Curtis, Carvalho, Graham, Peters.
Attendance: 281
Tulips v Cambridge City: Breedon, Draper, Warburton, Walker, Peters, Cartwright, Curtis, Hilliard, Sweeney, Graham, Clifton. Subs not used: Carvalho, Morley, Sandy.
Attendance: 214.
