A five-star first-half performance maintained Spalding United’s unbeaten pre-season campaign on Saturday.
The Tulips were in stunning form with Ben Fowkes netting four times as they beat Bishop’s Stortford 5-0.
Manager Jimmy Dean was delighted with his team’s display but admitted he was yet to finalise his starting XI for next week’s National League north opener at Radcliffe.
“There are still three or four places to play for,” said Dean, who added: “We’re getting close to where we want to be but there’s still time for the starting XI to change.”
The manager said he had been impressed with his team’s play but felt they had eased off at half-time.
“The first half we were scintillating, really impressive to watch,” he said. “A lot of the stuff we’ve been working on came off. We started fast and that was really pleasing.
“The reaction to losing the ball was really positive.
“In the second half we had two or three good chances – sitters – and we should have had a few more but credit to Stortford, they were more organised and harder to play against after the break.
“Defensively we looked better and that’s two clean sheets on the bounce.”
Fowkes netted twice in the opening eight minutes and it was 3-0 after 20 when Dan Jarvis’ 20-yarder crashed off the bar and bounced down, with Jack Roberts making sure it was over the line.
Jarvis played Fowkes through for his hat-trick and five minutes before the interval Roberts crossed for Jarvis to set up Fowkes for his fourth to complete Spalding’s nap-hand.
Spalding lost 3-2 against Coventry City u21s on Tuesday. Dion Sembie-Ferris and Jacobs got the home goals.
Goalscoring midfielder Sean Byrne is the latest Tulips signing. The former Kidderminster Harriers and Boston United player joins from Brackley Town.
