Spalding United 2
Carlton Town 0
Two Shane Clarke strikes fired Spalding United to a 2-0 win over Carlton Town on Saturday as they moved to the top of the early Pitching In NPL South East Division table.
Influential midfielder Clarke netted on three and 60 minutes at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field as the Tulips made it two wins from as many league games.
Lewis Thorogood’s side may not have been as dominant as they were in their opening fixture, but they were still good value for the points against a side that were pushing for a play-off place last season.
The Tulips chief, whose new-look side is expected challenge at the top end of the table, admitted that he couldn’t have dreamed up a better start to the season.
But he refused to get too carried away with the performance, admitting that the first half in particular wasn’t up to scratch.
“I didn’t feel the first half was good enough,” said Thorogood. “It was laboured, it was lumpy and, to be honest, we looked knackered.
“That isn’t really the tempo that we should be setting.
“But we came out with a game plan in the second half. It wasn’t perfect and we gave too many free-kicks away, but we put a shift in and the second goal – pardon the cliché – was vital.
“I don’t think that I would have wanted to be clinging on at 1-0 in the closing stages.
“They gained momentum in the last 15 minutes and I was really worried they’d come back into it.
“But two wins and two clean sheets is a foundation for us to build on. We battled well and I was pleased that we kept going.
“I think if you’d asked me what the first week of the season would hold before the first game, I don’t think I could have dreamt it would be this kind of start.
“But we’re only going to celebrate for a few minutes, then we’re on to the next one.”
Spalding, fresh off their impressive 3-0 win over Sutton Coldfield Town the previous week, started superbly are raced into a second-minute lead.
Good play between Joel Brownhill and Clarke saw the latter find space on the left. He drove into the box and fired a low effort under Carlton keeper Jack Steggles.
At the other end, Eli Bako saw a close-range strike deflected over – with Michael Duggan wrong-footed – as the visitors looked to get back on terms.
A scrappy period followed, but Spalding were back on the attack in the 22nd-minute when Joel Brownhill curled a fine free-kick just past the post from the edge of the box.
Spencer Weir-Daley also had a half-chance from the left-hand side of the box, but his goal-bound strike across the goal was blocked.
Carlton improved as the half went on and a slick move culminated in an offside Thomas Dayle hitting the inside of the near post.
Clarke also worked Duggan with a tricky effort that bounced just before he could gather it, while Joel Brownhill found an inviting cross from Tyrell Shannon-Lewis at the other end just too tall for him and his header was easily saved.
After the break, the lively Shannon-Lewis found himself in space on the left following a great pass from Lewis Brownhill, but the striker sliced his effort high and wide.
Carlton made a triple substitution in the 55th minute as they looked to turn the game on its head, but it was the Tulips who doubled their lead on the hour.
Joel Brownhill made good progress down the right before the ball finally fell to his brother Lewis, who smashed a low drive towards the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Steggles kept the effort out, but Clarke was on hand to bury the rebound for his second of the day.
It was then the turn of Tulips keeper Duggan to perform heroics, as he produced a string of fine saves to prevent Carlton from coming back into the game.
He somehow kept out a first-time half-volley from Kamani Wilson from close in, then got down well to turn a free-kick from away skipper Martin Ball away from his far corner.
That was as good as it got for the visitors, though, and it was Spalding who almost grabbed a third goal in added time when sub Jacob Fenton rounded Steggles near the corner flag and ran towards the open goal – only for his strike to be blocked on the line.
The Tulips now turn their attention to a trip to Loughborough Dynamo on Tuesday night (7.45pm).
Tulips: Duggan, Floyd, Flitton, Clarke (Liversedge 77), Greenwood, Yeomans, Shannon-Lewis, Goddard, J Brownhill (Fenton 77), L Brownhil, Weir-Daley (Zuerner 90). Not used: Richards, Smith.
Attendance: 136.
