If the sign of a good team is to keep picking up wins when not playing well then table toppers Spalding United enjoyed two big wins in their promotion charge.
Despite making it eight clean sheets in a row, manager Elliot Sandy wasn’t happy with the performances in the 1-0 wins over Coventry Sphinx on Saturday and Rugby Town on Tuesday night.
With Harborough Town’s game at the weekend called off, it allowed the Tulips to go five points clear at the top of the Northern Premier League Midlands Division.
Harborough and Anstey Nomads have two games in hand with the latter the visitors to the Sir Halley Stewart this coming Saturday.
Sandy will be hoping for better from his side after not being impressed with either performance this week.
Against a physical Sphinx outfit they were unable to build on Danny Draper’s seventh-minute goal, but they were able to keep the home side from creating many chances.
Back at the Sir Halley Stewart on Tuesday they were made to work really hard by second-from-bottom Rugby Town before Glen Walker struck with just four minutes left.
Spalding did most of the attack but struggled to break the hosts down, a brilliant challenge denying Riley O’Sullivan when he looked through on goal while Nathan Stainfield put a header from close range wide with the best chance of the first half.
Walker also hit the bar with a curling effort from just inside the area.
Rugby went closest when Jordan Walsh just got his lob of Tony Breedon wrong.
Spalding went for it in the second half but O’Sullivan was thwarted on several occasions by the keeper.
Then, four minutes from time, Walker was surrounded by around five Rugby players on the left of the penalty area before floating a teasing cross-cum-shot that nestled into the far top corner.
Spalding had to survive a late goal mouth scramble but made it a sixth win in a row.
“We weren’t at it,” Sandy said. “We got away with one.
“We were slightly better second half than we played in the first half but three points was all we wanted.
“It doesn’t matter how you get it at times.
“It’s a clean sheet again, that’s eight in a row in the league, but that was probably the only positive to take from the match.
“I’ve told the guys, that many clean sheets at this level is incredible.
“We know we need to be much better and that’s up to me and the management team to get the best out of the players.
“We’ll make sure we’re right for the big game here on Saturday.
“I’m sure we’ll lift it as we have a lot of big game players so we’re looking forward to it.”
On Saturday’s game, Sandy said: “It was probably the worst game of football I’ve seen in a long time.
“The pitch was heavy, Coventry were a very physical side.
“We got the early goal but never really pushed on.
“They don’t score or concede many. We had to match their physicality and then the one chance Danny took brilliantly.
“To win away from home when the pitch was like it is, you’re going to take the win all day long.”
The Tulips handed a debut to Sam Bennett in the game.
The striker has arrived from step three Southern League Premier side Kettering Town.
“Sam is a player we have been tracking for some time and I’m delighted the opportunity came to secure his services. He is raring to go, he’s a good young promising player with the right attitude and will fit into the squad well,” Sandy said.
Tulips v Rugby: Breedon, Westwood, Walker, Stainfield, Freeman, Barker, Snedden, O’Sullivan, Bennett, Draper. Subs: Cartwright, Curtis, Sandy, Graham, Winters.
Attendance: 215.
Tulips v Coventry Sphinx: Breedon, Westwood, Walker, Stainfield, Cartwright, Barker, Snedden, O’Sullivan, Winters, Draper. Subs: Freeman, Curtis, Sandy, Graham, Bennett.
Attendance: 113.
