The race to the National League North is gathering pace and Spalding United manager Jimmy Dean is determined it will be his team that claims the single guaranteed promotion place.
Despite being top of the table for much of the season, the Tulips boss has been busy in the transfer market, snapping up four more players to add to his squad.
Prolific scorer Ben Fowkes, 27, joined from Leiston this week for an undisclosed fee, along with forward Saleem Akanbi, 20, from Bishop’s Stortford.
In defence, Dean has signed promising youngster Josh Taroni on loan from League One side Burton Albion. The 18-year-old left wing back was last season’s young player of the year and u18s captain.
Experience has been added in the middle of the park with the recruitment of vastly experienced Tom Pugh from FC Halifax Town, also on a month’s loan. The Welsh u21 international has lots of National League and Step 2 experience from a variety of clubs.
Moving the other way is James Clifton, who has left the club, looking to get himself set up with a new team ready for next season.
“He’s been absolutely brilliant for me. James is too good to not be playing,” said Dean.
“He’s been a great servant for the club across four years, he turned things around for me when he came in and got a lot of goals.”
Clifton said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure for the last four years but all good things come to an end.
“I hope the club gets the promotion it wants this season.”
Also leaving is loan defender Ryan Fryatt, who returned to his parent club Peterborough Sports and was immediately sent to St Ives Town.
Saturday’s 3-0 win against Alvechurch at the Sir Halley Stewart Field sees Spalding go into the last 11 matches of the season holding a four-point advantage at the top of the Southern League, Premier Central standings.
However, second-placed Harborough Town have four games in hand.
A dominant display saw off Alvechurch with the first goal coming after 35 minutes when neat play released Bart Cybulski and he cleverly flicked the ball into the path of Manny Sani to score.
It was 2-0 five minutes into the second half when Alfie Bendle’s quick free-kick sent Yusifu Ceesay clear to round the goalkeeper.
The points were sewn up after 55 minutes when man of the match Liam Moore delivered an inch-perfect cross for Cybulski to steer home a superb header for his 18th goal of the season.
Dean said: “There was development in our performance, there was improvement; which is something we wanted.
“Part of the reason we brought in some fresh players was to add some fresh impetus and I thought we did that. We had good control.”
Spalding travel to bottom-placed Royston Town on Saturday, while Harborough Town, who appointed former King’s Lynn Town, Bedford and Corby manager Gary Setchell as director of football this week, are at mid-table Stratford Town.
Tulips: Wilks, White, Olopade (Taroni), Moore, Johnson, Thompson (Pugh), Roberts (Sembie-Ferris), Bendle, Cybulski (Akinba), Sani, Ceesay. Sub (not used): McCammon.
Attendance: 525.
