The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A tasty-looking derby with Stamford kicks-off a mammoth run of seven games in 14 days for Spalding United as they enter the home stretch of the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South season.
Spalding, who are 11 points clear of the drop zone, welcome the play-off chasing Daniels to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on Saturday (3pm).
That’s followed by a home clash against Frickley Athletic (Tuesday, 7.45pm) and away trips to Gresley (Thursday, 7.45pm), Bedworth Utd (April 14, 3pm), Peterborough Sports (April 16, 7.45pm) and Carlton Town (April 18, 7.45pm), before a home clash against Leek Town on April 21 (3pm).
Tulips chief Chris Rawlinson is looking forward to the Stamford showdown, calling it a “great fixture” for his charges.
The Daniels, who have ex-Spalding hitman Brad Wells, smashed Chasetown 6-0 last weekend to go fifth in the table. But it’s their defensive record that has been the most impressive this season, with Graham Drury’s side keeping an incredible 21 clean sheets so far.
“Stamford have done really well,” said Rawlinson. “They’ve been very solid, a bit like we were last season when we made the play-offs.
“I think Graham Drury has done a great job there.
“They’ve obviously kept a lot of clean-sheets and, if Saturday is anything to go by, they’re adding goals to that too. We know all about Brad Wells, of course, and it’ll be great to see him on Saturday – after he’s lost, hopefully!
“Do I think they’ll make the play-offs? I’d be surprised if they didn’t now, I can’t see them slipping up.
“It’s a great game for us too. It’s a local derby and hopefully the fans of both sides will come out in force.
“Since I’ve been at the club, we’ve had a decent record against them in the league – I think we’ve only lost to them once in the Lincs Cup, which is a great effort.”
Rawlinson has no concerns that his side will suffer a relapse in form following Saturday’s 3-1 home reverse against Loughborough Dynamo (see page 37).
He’s also looking forward to the hectic run of games, admitting that every player in his squad will get game time at some point.
Rawlinson added: “We were sloppy in the first half on Saturday, but other than that we’ve been on pretty good form over the past few months if I’m honest.
“We need to re-focus now ahead of what is a tough run of seven games in 14 days.
“I think we’ll be fine for the first two games, but after that tiredness has to kick in.
“We’ll have to utilise as many players in the squad as we can, there will certainly be tiredness in our legs.
“But I’m looking forward to it – that’s what football is all about for me.
“Nothing beats playing games and we’ll essentially be playing one day, resting the next and then playing again the following day for a couple of weeks.
“I think it’s important we field an experienced side against Stamford, but the younger lads will certainly get their chance over the other games we have.”
Captain Gary King should return to the starting line-up on Saturday, with young striker George Couzens turning out for Sleaford Town instead.
Paul Walker (sciatica) and Conor Marshall (knee) are both injury doubts, though.
- Spalding’s under-21s lost 2-1 at Boston United under-21s on Tuesday night and beat Harrowby United under-21s 6-1 at homeon Thursday night.
That leaves them top of the Lincolnshire FA Under-21 Development League (South) with a points tally that only Boston can beat if they win their final four games.
Couzens (2), Marcel Chipamaunga, George Stainfield, Jordan Neil and Daniel Moulds were on target for Lewis Thorogood’s side against Harrowby.
They must now wait and see if they finish as league winners, which would see them reach the grand final next month against the northern champions.
