Duo depart Spalding United but Olivant signs ahead of FA Trophy tie against Belper

Two players have left Spalding United and one has joined ahead of their Buildbase FA Trophy opener this weekend.

Midfielder Shane Clarke and striker Chris Assombalonga, who have both featured heavily for Gaby Zakuani’s Tulips this season, have moved on.

On social networking site Twitter, Clarke wished his former team-mates “all the best” for the rest of the season but added that the duo’s departure was “out of their control” on another thread.

Neither featured in Saturday’s 3-1 victory at Shepshed Dynamo, which ended a winless run of five games for Spalding in all competitions.

But the Tulips have moved to sign young Lincoln City youth product Harry Olivant from Harrowby.

The winger impressed Zakuani in a pre-season friendly between the two sides and admits he couldn’t turn Spalding down.

He said: “I’m a pacy winger who likes to run at players and create chances, as soon as Harrowby told me that Spalding were interested I knew I couldn’t turn down the opportunity.

“I would like to thank Harrowby for the part they played, I cant wait to start training and meet the rest of the lads properly”

Spalding’s opponents at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field this Saturday are Pitching In NPL MIdlands Division rivals Belper Town (3pm).

The Derbyshire side sit three points and two places clear of the Tulips in the table, but have played a game more.

That makes for a tight second qualifying round tussle, with the winners set to net a healthy £2,250 in FA prize money.

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