Tulips boss Dave Frecklington believes his side have the potential to be a real force in the EvoStik League Division One South this season.
Despite Saturday’s FA Cup defeat away at higher-level Mickleover Sports, the Tulips have yet to be beaten in their four league outings this term.
They play host to Loughborough Dynamo at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on Saturday (3pm) looking to maintain their 100 per cent home record.
Victory for third-placed Spalding would see them move closer to the top of the standings as early leaders Witton Albion travel to face Romulus who currently occupy second spot.
And Frecklington feels he has assembled a squad capable of challenging for honours despite not yet being able to field his full-strength side.
He said: “We are not at full strength yet – Brad Barraclough was our big summer signing and he hasn’t featured yet.
“We’ve also got the likes of Chris Hamilton and Rees Longville-Daley to come in as well.
“When we get everybody fit and raring to go, we’ll be a match for anyone in the division.
“I’m pleased with how we started and with the points we’ve got on the board.
“Hopefully we can kick on and build on our good start.”
Spalding host a Loughborough side on Saturday who have also made a solid start to the new season.
They are managed by experienced EvoStik campaigner Wayne Halcro and include ex-Spalding midfielder Chris Gray and former Holbeach frontman Jamie Clarke in their ranks.
Frecklington added: “They’ve had a decent start and will certainly be no mugs.
“Wayne has won the league with Grantham and it will be a really tough game.
“But a victory for us will hopefully move us somewhere near the top.”
Frecklington is eager for his side to make an immediate return to winning ways after Saturday’s 3-2 cup defeat against a Mickleover side who have going well in the Premier Division.
He added: “The league is our bread and butter. Everyone wants to do well in the cups, but it was probably a game too far for us.
“They were a very useful side who moved the ball really well.
“We play a certain way which works at our level, but we can’t do that against teams at a higher level.
“We did really well for the first 40 minutes. We nullified their threat which we had worked on in training during the week.
“But we made a mistake just before half-time which they punished.
“That’s the difference when you play teams from the league above – they don’t let you off the hook.
“We made some changes at half-time and got the response we were looking for.
“We drew the second half 2-2 which was really good.
“I was disappointed with the final result, but I was encouraged by the potential that we showed.”
Barraclough has an outside chance of being fit for Saturday’s clash, but Hamilton is the closer of the sidelined duo to returning to action.
Longville-Daley has joined Boston Town on loan after the Tulips received international clearance following the striker’s time in Croatia.
Frecklington commented: “He needs to be playing competitive football as he’s looked quality in training and he’s really got something about him.”
Fellow frontman Tom Waumsley has also been told he can find a new club after falling down the pecking order in recent weeks.
Frecklington added: “Tom missed the Bank Holiday period when we had two really good results.
“Bradley Wells is on fire while the likes of Jenk Acar, Andrew Wright and Jonny Lockie have all done really well.
“Tom has fallen behind the others and has been told he can find another club.”
Saturday’s opponents Loughborough have been linked with a move for Waumsley, but have yet to submit the seven-day notice of approach.
The Tulips have been forced to move their sportsman’s dinner with former Arsenal striker Ian Wright back to Thursday, October 6.
Wright is releasing a new book and is committed to a signing appointment on the day of his original pre-arranged visit to Spalding.
