Spalding United manager Brett Whaley is hoping that a strong finish to the season will propel his side to a top eight finish in the Pitching In NPL Midlands Division.
The Tulips, who saw last weekend’s home game with leaders Ilkeston Town postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, have just ten games left to play – starting with a trip to Belper Town this Saturday (3pm).
Whaley, who has a full squad to pick from for the first time since his arrival as Spalding boss, is concerned that Saturday’s trip to The Raygar Stadium will also be called off due to heavy rain engulfing the ground.
He said: “We had a few niggling injuries within the squad, so having the Ilkeston game off wasn’t the worst thing in the world for us.
“With just ten games left, it’s perhaps a good time to take stock of how things have been going and what we want to achieve this season.
“I know the club had ambitions of reaching the play-offs at the start of the season. Sadly that is out of reach now, but we can certainly target getting ahead of the teams just above us.
“Getting into that top eight or nine will represent a reasonable return for us given that we were 13th when I took over the role.”
Whaley is hopeful that Spalding’s game at Belper goes ahead, but admits that it’s “fairly likely” his side will be without a game again this weekend.
He admits Spalding would look to arrange a friendly fixture if Belper’s pitch isn’t ready, feeling that a two-week break from action wouldn’t be ideal for his side.
“One week off worked for us,” he added. “But missing another game wouldn’t be great.
“We do have midweek options if we have to rearrange, given the mad rush at the start of the season to get fixtures in and avoid not having a complete season for the third year in a row.
“For our part, we’re at full strength and now have a squad with competition for places.
“That’s something I wanted when I came here and the lads now know that, if they’re not performing, somebody else will take their shirt.”
Both Nathan Stainfield and Gregg Smith are back to full fitness for the game at Belper, who are 20 points ahead of 11th-placed Spalding in fourth.
