The depth of quality and quantity of the Spalding United squad was put to the test on Saturday.
They passed with flying colours as Jimmy Dean’s much-changed team rattled off a 2-0 win at Rushall Olympic in the FA Trophy, ahead of this Saturday’s crunch FA Cup tie at South Shields.
Dean made six changes to his team, two of them leaving him no choice after injuries to key players Josh McCammon and Jack Roberts.
Paul Jones, Bart Cybulski, Alfie Bendle and Dion Semble-Ferris were rested after the exertions of the 2-1 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge and took their places on the bench, but their replacements excelled.
Mani Sani took the glory with a brace to secure a final qualifying round tie at home to Corby Town on October 25.
“If you’d offered me a 2-0 win on the way here, I would have snapped your hand off,” said Dean.
“It’s always a difficult place to come and when you make six changes it can sometimes knock you, even though they were strong boys coming into the team. Anyone has an argument to be starting and we were efficient, apart from a short spell, without being vintage Spalding United as you could call it.
“We had a lot of good chances and probably should have put the game to bed before we did.”
Sani fired the visitors ahead after 26 minutes, following an earlier disallowed Tulips strike. The striker’s first-time curling effort from 25 yards flew into the top corner.
He doubled his tally in the closing stages when Spalding caught the hosts on the counter attack, racing on to a through ball ahead of the chasing defence and looped the ball over Dan Jezeph in the Olympic net.
Roberts and McCammon both picked up injuries in the FA Cup third qualifying round tie against Dagenham and are expected to be out for about three weeks each.
It is a huge blow for Dean with Roberts, especially, having been expected to be playing a massive role against the unbeaten National League North leaders.
“They have both been big players for us this season and we’ll miss them,” said the manager.
“It is disappointing but it gives others a chance. It’s not just about the FA Cup but we’ve got some big league games coming up after that.
“We’ll try and make a plan this week to go there and give us a chance.
“The club couldn’t have done any more. They’ve got us a coach to go up there and stay over for the night.”
Tyneside-based Shields are full-time and have won eight and drawn two of their 10 games so far.
“Their management really know what they’re doing,” said Dean. “The stakes are high but we’ve got good players here and if they beat us it’ll be because they’re better than us.”
“It’s a real challenge but we will give it absolutely everything for our fans.”
Supporters’ coaches will be leaving Spalding Bus Station at 8.30am and seats for non-Travel Club members are £30 (£25 for under-18s). Call Dan, 07446 301268, to book.
Tulips: Dadge, Hart, Bondswell, Moore, Johnson, Lawlor, Nicholson, Thompson, Clifton, Sani, Ceesay. Subs: Jones, Cybulski, Bendle, Blythe, Sembie-Ferris.
* Spalding face a tough trip to South Shields on Saturday with a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup at stake but for the club’s women’s team, their hopes of a long run have been ended.
The new Tulips team enjoyed 6-0 and 7-2 wins in their opening Women’s FA Cup ties but crashed out 11-0 on Sunday at home to Solihull-based Leafield Athletic, of the FA Women’s National League Division One.
