Skipper Rob Ambrose got exactly the response he wanted from his Spalding Town side as they blew Grimsby away in the Lincs ECB Premier League on Saturday.
Henry Charlton (75), Josh Newton (67), Nuwan Jayasena (40) and Charlie Kearns (28) all scored well to fire hosts Town to 277-8 batting at Spalding Grammar School.
All-rounders Thivanka Rajaratne (5-27) and Warren Nell (4-50) then starred with the ball to help Spalding dismiss their rivals for 191, some 86 runs shy of their target.
After slumping to an embarrassing 241-run defeat at Skegness the week before, Ambrose admits that he had a few stern words for his players before the game.
The response was emphatic – and the captain now believes a top six finish is achievable.
He said: “It was a great all-round performance. We batted well, fielded well and bowled well.
“It’s obviously a massive improvement on last week and great to see local lads Henry and Josh scoring so well.
“We all had words before the game, because last week wasn’t good enough.
“This was much more like it – although Grimsby didn’t really turn up if I’m honest.
“It’s given us a chance to finish well. The top three or four look to be out of reach, but we’re in a battle with the likes of Market Deeping, Skegness and Louth for a top six finish.
“If we can get that, it’ll show real improvement.
“From there, who’s to know where we might be in a few years?”
Indeed, just 12 points seperates sixth-placed Skegness (207) and Louth in ninth (195).
With eighth-placed Town (200) hot favourites to win at rock-bottom Market Rasen this Saturday (noon), they then hosts rivals Louth the following week before finishing their campaign at title hopefuls Bracebridge Heath on September 13.
Having just avoided the drop in their maiden season in the county top flight, a finish in the top six would represent a giant leap forward for Spalding.
But Ambrose has warned his side against any complacency ahead of their trip to Rasen, who are yet to win a game outright this season.
He added: “Improving on last year has always been the aim this season.
“Finishing in the top six would be perfect and I’d be made up if we can do that.
“But we’ve got to beat Rasen and Louth to have any chance of doing that.
“Rasen is the kind of game we’ve been prone to slip-up in. I’ve not played there for years, but I remember the pitch being a tough one.
“Winning the toss will be more important than ever this weekend.”
Luke Whitworth (unavailable) is Spalding’s only absentee, with Ambrose expecting to have a swelling squad to pick from due to the second side not having a fixture.
