National League North top scorer Bart Cybulski bagged himself another brace as well as a new contract as Spalding United went fourth in the league.
The 23-year-old striker made it nine goals in his last five games as his double earned a 2-1 home win for the Tulips over Bedford Town.
Now joint top of the scoring charts, Spalding say the club has turned down ‘significant interest’ in signing him so have tied him down to a new contract that runs until the end of the 2027/28 season.
“The new agreement rewards his performances and underlines Spalding United’s ambition to retain our best players as we continue to build both on and off the pitch,” a club statement said.
Bedford came into the game having won four in a row and they took a 14th-minute lead when Castiglione rounded keeper Crook.
The Tulips remained a threat throughout and it was goals either side of the break that sealed the win.
First Cybulski turned in a Dion Sembie-Ferris cross just before the break.
Four minutes after the restart Ben Fowkes was the provider for Cybulski.
“We’ve gifted them a goal with an uncharacteristic error, but the squad showed real endeavour to get us out of trouble,” said manager Jimmy Dean, who was pleased the goals came from either side.
Cybulski was among those rested on Tuesday night as Spalding beat Stamford in the first round of the Lincolnshire County Cup.
After a bright start the Tulips took a 12th-minute lead when Ashton Fox put Cameron Barton through for the striker to finish.
Stamford were soon level though as Alfie Fiskern headed home from a corner.
Sembie-Ferris was bright throughout and after going close, he restored the Tulips’ lead with 14 minutes remaining.
The Tulips’ passage into the next round was sealed when Jack Roberts was fouled in the area in injury time and he converted the penalty.
Tulips v Bedford: Crook, Kelly, Moore, Johnson, Bendle, Roberts, Pugh, Cybulski, Fowkes, Byrne, Sembie-Ferris. Subs: Wilkes, Sani, Betteka, Jarvis, Straughan-Brown.
Attendance: 902.
Tulips v Stamford: Wilks, Critchlow-Woyo, Grant, Fox, Johnson, Jarvis, Barton, Straughan-Brown Sembie-Ferris, Sani, Betteka. Subs: Pugh, Crook, Bendle, Kelly, Roberts, Fowkes, Akanbi.
Attendance: 596.
Pictures by Adrian Smith.
