A new era at the Sir Halley Stewart Field has started in style for top of the table Spalding United.
Delayed work on the new artificial surface meant the Tulips had played their first 10 games of the Southern League Premier Central season away from home but they made up for lost time with a stunning 5-1 victory over AFC Sudbury on Saturday.
And they backed it up with a 4-0 win over Royston Town on Tuesday night in the first game under the lights at home.
Manager Jimmy Dean was delighted to be finally back at home on Saturday against Sudbury and said: “It was great to be home and on a decent pitch. It lets you show your quality.
“There were loads of positives – some great football and great goals.
“We missed chances but scored five and could have had a lot more – we hit the post twice, had two off the line and missed a couple of taps-ins.”
It came despite the Suffolk visitors taking a 16th-minute lead through Kai Fletcher and Dean admitted that had been one of few negatives.
“We conceded a bad goal from a set-piece,” he said. “We restricted them to only two or three shots in the game, so it was just disappointing one was a goal.”
Ben Hart finished off a one-two with Dion Sembie-Ferris to hammer the equaliser into the roof of the net after 28 minutes and man of the match Jack Roberts earned the half-time advantage when he struck 11 minutes later after linking up well with Alfie Bendle.
Bart Cybulski tapped home from close range after a whipped cross from Sembie-Ferris in the 62nd minute and it was 4-1 four minutes later when Sembie-Ferris crossed for Cybulski to set up Yusifu Ceesay.
The nap-hand was completed in the last minute when a great cross from Roberts allowed substitute James Clifton a simple tap-in.
A delighted Dean added: “This pitch will help us score goals at home and we have some really good attacking players. After 12-13-14 games we’re getting that stimulation and getting those connections and that understanding.”
On Tuesday night Spalding had to work hard for the lead against Royston, but in first half stoppage time quick feet by Ben Blythe found Cybulski in the area who turned and smashed home the shot.
A fine solo goal by Jack Roberts made it 2-0 early in the second period.
Yusifu Ceesay scored a fine goal from an acuate angle after a one-two from a corner for 3-0 before Abduramane Sane tapped in the fourth.
With Harborough Town being held to a draw, it sent the Tulips top of the division.
“It feels great but it means nothing,” said Dean“We’ve got to remember what’s got us there and keep doing it.
“If we don’t then we struggle and we did that a bit in the first half.
“We were good value for our 1-0 lead but there wasn’t enough desire without the ball in periods.
“We ironed that out in the second half and I thought it was vintage us after that.”
Tulips (v Sudbury): Dadge, Hart (Sani), Blythe, Moore (White), Johnson, Lawlor, Roberts, Bendle (Sherif), Sembie-Ferris, Cybulski (Clifton), Ceesay (Nicholson).
Attendance: 557.
Tulips (v Royston): Dadge, Hart, Blythe, Moore, Johnson, Lawlor, Roberts, Bendle, Sembie-Ferros, Cybulski, Ceesay. Subs: Sheriff, Sani, Clifton, White, Nicholson.
Attendance: 440
