Rayment feels Spalding United are ready to take the next step

Ambitious boss Pat Rayment has no doubt that his Spalding United side are now well-equipped for Step Three football.

The Tulips chief has been enormously impressed by the improvements being made behind the scenes at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field – and Saturday’s stunning FA Cup success over Nantwich Town  proved to him that his side can mix it with the big boys.

Rayment admits that missing out on promotion from Evo-Stik League First Division South last season was something of a blessing in disguise for the Tulips, with the club’s infrastructure simply not up to scratch.

That’s no longer the case – and the Spalding supremo is hoping to go one better in the race for promotion to the Evo-Stik League Premier Division this time around.

He said: “If Saturday proved anything, it’s that we could easily cope at Step Three. I’m convinced we’d be fine.

“Last year we gave both Ilkeston and Barwell very good games. But Saturday showed that we can beat one of the best Premier Division teams in Nantwich.

“I don’t think any team from that league would want to come and play Spalding United. It’s that simple. I honestly think that it would have been a disaster if we were promoted last year. There was no infrastructure in place at the club and it would have cost us.

“The changes over the summer off the field were massive. Bridges are being built on a daily basis and everyone is pointing in the same direction.

“My team is good enough for Step Three. The longer you play at a level, the easier it becomes.

“We’re not just a Step Four side now, we’re a Step Four side that challenges for promotion.”

On the field, Spalding have made a solid enough start in their bid for promotion. They are ninth in the standings after six games, having won three and drawn two.

At least one game in hand on six of the sides above them, they’ll hope to be in a much stronger position after Saturday’s trip to Market Drayton Town (3pm) and Tuesday’s trek to Basford United (7.45pm).

Rayment, who is without the suspended Mitch Griffiths for both games, is pleased to get the Market Drayton trip out of the way in September, given that it’s a notorious fixture for cancellation once the winter weather sets in.

He said: “Like Sheffield FC away, Market Drayton is one of those games you want to play early.

“Had it been another two months down the line, we’d be worried about the game being on. As it is, we’re looking forward to our longest away trip of the season. They’ve not had the best start, but it’s by no means an easy game.

“Much like Basford on Tuesday, there are simply no easy games in this league.

“But we’ll be wanting two positive results to start climbing the table. We travel to both games full of confidence.”

Spalding were expecting to have Jamie Thurlbourne training with them tonight (Thursday). The left-sider, who was forced to retire from football over the summer on medical advice, has made a miraculous recovery from an ankle injury.

New signing Nialle Rodney (click here for story) is in the squad after agreeing terms on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, ex-Hull City midfielder Jack Barlow has left the Tulips after a brief and unsuccessful spell with the club.