The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Chris Rawlinson reckons that three more wins will secure Spalding United’s future in Evo-Stik NPL First Division South for another season.
The Tulips chief wants those points to be accrued as soon as possible in a bid to get perfectly prepared for next year – and sees no reason why his side can’t make inroads into that target over the next week.
This Saturday sees Spalding visit 17th-placed Kidsgrove Athletic, before home duels with high-flying Frickley Athletic (Tuesday, 7.45pm) and Belper Town (March 17, 3pm).
You’d think Rawlinson would be more hopeful of taking points against Kidsgrove, who won the reverse 3-1 back in January, but he admits that the Tulips’ well-documented away struggles dictate that even a draw this weekend would be very welcome.
On the other hand, he’s confident of giving Frickley a run for their money, having fared well against the leading sides – barring Cleethorpes Town – at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field this season.
“The loss to Kidsgrove at home was a very bad day for us,” accepted Rawlinson. “Everything went against us and we got what we deserved.
“Look, our away form is what it is – very poor. We just need to go there on Saturday and get something, even if it’s just a draw.
“We need to stop this run. Hopefully that will inspire us to get the points we need to stay in this division.
“Kidsgrove will think we’re a soft touch after beating us at our place. The hope is that they take us lightly and the lads step up.
“That being said, I don’t know what kind of performance I’m going to get from the lads.
“But what I do know is that, other than Cleethorpes, we’ve given the top sides a run for their money at home.
“Frickley won’t want to come down to us on a Tuesday night and I’m quietly confident that we can get a result against them.
“That sets us up for the home game against Belper the following week.
“I feel like we’re three wins away from being safe – and it’d be nice if we can get them as soon as possible.
“We want to secure another season in this league and we’d like to be as well prepared as we can.
“Once we’re able to stop looking over our shoulders, we’ll be able to get our preparations started.
“Next season will see a lot of new teams at this level and some teams moving around, so it’s important that we’re ready.
“It’s early days, but most of the squad have intimated that they’d like to stay next season and we also have a talented bunch of under-21 players that we can integrate into the squad.”
Spalding will make the trip to Kidsgrove with a full-strength squad. That means that skipper Gary King, sent off in the reverse fixture, is available again after his ban.
Midfielder Conor Marshall and right back Paul Walker are also expected to feature after shaking off their respective injuries.
The Tulips haven’t won any of the six games they’ve played so far in 2018, losing three of them.
Their last victory anywhere came against Newcastle Town at home on December 30 – but they haven’t managed as much as a point away from home since defeating Romulus 2-1 back on October 21.
Kidsgrove have drawn each of their last three matches, but haven’t won since last facing the Tulips on January 27.
