Marcus Ebdon has vowed that Spalding United’s Evo-Stik NPL Division One South season won’t end with a whimper.
The Tulips’ hopes of reaching the play-offs are getting thinner by the day – and a 0-0 draw at Carlton Town on Wednesday only just kept their faint promotion hopes alive.
Saturday’s 2-0 reverse at Kidsgrove Athletic saw Spalding drop down to 11th place in the table and highlighted two of the biggest gripes Ebdon has with his side.
They once again failed to take their chances as they crashed to a seventh away loss of the campaign.
Ebdon’s bugbears are backed up by statistics too, with the Tulips’ tally of 48 goals making them the lowest scorers in the top 14, while their total of three away wins is the joint worst in the league.
The former Peterborough United professional remains hopeful that the tables will turn, however.
He’s hoping that away wins at Carlton and Belper Town (Saturday, 3pm) will set up a crunch Sir Halley date with Lincoln United on Easter Monday (3pm).
The Whites are currently favourites to take the last play-off place, but Ebdon hasn’t given up the ghost yet.
“Last Saturday summed us up,” said the Spalding supremo. “We can’t seem to find any form on the road.
“We also missed a lot of presentable chances, before gift-wrapping them a goal.
“The second goal doesn’t concern me, as we were pushing for a goal.
“You’d have to say that we now need to win against Carlton, Belper and Lincoln to have any chance.
“We’re not that far away from the play-offs points-wise, but a lot of teams can say that – and we’re also running out of games to play.
“People will say that our season is over, but I refuse to accept that. I’ll not let the season fizzle out, I’m just not built that way.
“I want us to roll our sleeves up and try and finish as high as possible. The lads need to dig in and turn our form around.
“If we can win the two away matches, the Lincoln match becomes a huge one for us.”
Ebdon must do without defender Neal Spafford (knee) and striker Stuart Eason (ankle) for the Easter fixtures, while young talent Jonny Lockie is also struggling with a knock.
With that in mind, he’s drafted Jamie Thurlbourne back into the squad.
The left winger, who was a key part of the Spalding side that won the UCL Premier Division under Pat Rayment, has featured sporadically this season.
Saturday’s opponents Belper have been inconsistent at home, winning just six of their 17 home games.
In contrast, Monday’s opponents Lincoln have picked up nine wins from 17 away trips this term. They have ex-Tulips Jack McGovern, Mitch Griffiths and Chris Hall on their books.
Spalding go into the Easter fixtures eight points off the top five.
