Four first half goals helped Spalding United go four points clear at the top of the Pitching In Central Premier table on Saturday.
The Tulips made it five wins in a row comfortably enough against Leiston on Saturday, winning 4-1.
Goals from Curtis Thompson, Josh McCammon, Bart Cybulski and Dion Sembie-Ferris saw Spalding bounce back from conceding first to being comfortably in control for the second period.
“I’m not sure we would have reacted to conceding a goal early like that a month ago,” manager Jimmy Dean said of Joao Soares Rangel’s opener for Leiston after finding space to turn and finish in the area. “From their perspective it would have been a good goal, but from our perspective its poor.
“It’s a big kick from the keeper and I think Ben needs to do more to stop the young lad from getting the header and Liam’s got to do better.
“I think we started the game well and that flow just continued throughout the half.
“It was very dominant, created lots of chances and we were very decisive in the clinical moments.”
The Tulips were only behind for six minutes as Curtis Thompson netted his first goal for the club, firing a half volley home from the edge of the box after an attempted clearance.
It was 2-1 on 16 minutes when McCammon reacted quickest when a corner dropped in the area and 3-1 on 28 when Cybulski turned in a Jack Roberts ball in from the right
Cybulski played his part in the fourth just a minute before the break as Sembie-Ferris instinctively volleyed home after the defenders followed the in-form striker.
Dean said Cybulski was ‘60 per cent fit at most’ and still struggling with flu but had no doubts in playing him.
“I wouldn’t have anyone else in our team,” he said. “What he’s doing for us in both boxes is phenomenal.
“He’s scoring goals every week with that being four in four, so scoring every week.
“He’s brilliant with his back to goal and has a turn of pace like a giraffe.
“He’s a really good all rounder that makes us tick, and you saw that when he went off.”
Dean said he was disappointed with aspects of the second half showing and thought his side should have scored more.
“I thought it was very poor from both sides.
“Our distribution was wasteful and we’re better than that.
“But we did show good defensive qualities and energy in midfield.
“Leiston beat us twice last season but the boys were at it this time and won the match well.”
Next up in the league is a trip to Worcester City on Saturday: “It’ll be a difficult game. They’re very direct now and will try and put it on you.
“We’ve just got to keep trying to win games. I know it’s boring and clichéd, but we can only look after ourselves.”
*There won’t be a trip to the Lincolnshire County Cup final this year as a much changed Spalding United were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Cleethorpes Town in Tuesday night’s quarter final at the Sir Halley Stewart.
The Tulips, who have lost in the final in the past two years, made 10 changes for the match against the Northern League Premier side including having under 18s Jack Saggers and Domantas Pauluskas on the bench for the first time.
Northern Premier side Cleethorpes though proved too strong running out comfortable 3-0 winners, two of the goals coming in the first half.
Tulips v Leiston: Wilks, Hart, Olopade, Moore, Johnson, Thompson, Roberts, McCammon, Cybulski, Sembie-Ferris, Ceesay. Subs: Dadge, White, Freeman, Lawlor, Sani.
Attendance: 504.
Tulips v Cleethorpes: Dadge, Freeman, Bondswell, Blyth, White, Lawlor, A Roberts, Bendle, Sani, Sembie-Ferris, Nicholson. Subs: West Pauluskas, McCammon, Johnson, Olopade, Saggers, Roberts.
Pictures by Adrian Smith.
