Spalding United 3
Rugby Town 1
Buzzing boss Dave Frecklington refused to play down talk of an Evo-Stik NPL Division One South title charge after seeing his Spalding United side move four points clear at the top of the table on Tuesday night.
The Tulips made it seven wins from nine league matches by putting basement boys Rugby Town to the sword 3-1 at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field – but they needed two late goals to get the job done.
After a goalless first period, Cenk Acar prodded Spalding ahead on 57 minutes, only for Tom Woolley to level direct from a free kick 17 minutes from time.
However, top scorer Bradley Wells nodded the hosts ahead with six minutes remaining, before sub Rees Longville-Daley lashed home an emphatic third in added time to clinch the points.
Frecklington felt his side dominated the clash from start to finish and admitted that his side should dare to dream about winning the title.
He said: “It was another game that we dominated from start to finish really. It was a night when we had to be patient, they slowed the game right down.
“Credit to Rugby, they came here for a draw. But we missed a lot of easy chances and put ball after ball into the box.
“We made a change to 3-5-2 and the boys got the job done in the end.
“I thought from one to 14 we were good again – and I think we’re just starting to click in terms of knowhow and how to play the league.
“We’re trying to get the ball into good areas and are trying to play more in the final third. Teams are setting up to try and stop us, so we’ll have to be a little bit cuter.
“But it’s all about getting wins – and seven wins out of nine isn’t bad!
“We want to win the title, there’s no point in turning up if you don’t. We set out from the start to see how far we could get up the league. We’ve got a three-year plan to try and challenge. Hopefully we can do it in year one, but there’s a lot of teams in this league that’ll try and stop us.”
Only a stellar save from Louis Connor kept out an early Wells header as Spalding came flying out of the blocks.
The dangerous Wells then had a shot cleared off the line, while long range strikes from Jordan Lemon and Nathan Whitehead just missed their mark. The chances continued to flow, with Whitehead seeing his header from an Andrew Wright free kick tipped onto the woodwork, before Wells somehow headed the rebound over from a yard or so out.
At the other end, Michael Duggan had to be alive to turn David Kolodynski’s header around the near post just before the break.
Duggan was in action again early in the second period, denying Kolodynski again when one-on-one.
But Spalding always looked the more likely and, moments after Wright’s strike was superbly saved by Connor, Acar tapped home a high ball into the box at the back post to open the scoring just before the hour.
Acar also lashed a half-volley wide and forced Connor into a low save before Woolley levelled for the hosts from a dipping 22-yard free kick that went in at the near post.
Duggan then had to save at the feet of Kolodynski following a Neal Spafford error, before Spalding’s late show settled the clash.
Wells was first to score, heading Wright’s whipped cross home at the back post.
He was then replaced by Longville-Daley – who immediately raced clear and buried a great third in added time.
Meanwhile, Frecklington has confirmed that he wants to sign striker Sam Mulready from Stamford.
The Tulips’ seven-day approach has ruffled the feathers of Daniels boss Graham Drury, who told SRSN that the rivals had a “gentleman’s agreement” that Spalding wouldn’t try and sign any more Stamford players.
Frecklington added: “We can’t speak to him until Friday, but anyone can see we need somebody else in attack.
“I hope the deal gets over the line and I’m looking forward to speaking to him.
“I don’t really care what Graham or Stamford have said, my priority is Spalding United.”
Should a deal be struck on Friday, ex-Holbeach United hitman Mulready will be in the squad for the trip to Chasetown on Saturday (3pm).
Frecklington insists that any positive result there would be a good one.
He said: “They are a good side that boast half of the Stafford Rangers championship-winning team from last year.
“By winning again against Rugby, it’ll make us go there confident. I’d take a point at Chasetown any day of the week – but if we can get three then brilliant.”
Matt Varley returns after his ban, but Neal Spafford is now suspended.
Tulips: Duggan, Lemon, Walker, Cullingworth (Lockie 74), Stainfield, Acar, Whitehead, Wells (Longville-Daley 90), Downey, Wright. Not used: Field, Vince.
MOTM: Lemon
Attendance: 148
RESULTS
Evo-Stik NPL
Division One South: AFC Rushden and Diamonds 0 Romulus 0; Bedworth United 2 Stamford 3; Carlton Town 2 Gresley FC 3; Lincoln United 2 Sheffield FC 1; Loughborough Dynamo 0 Belper Town 2; Market Drayton Town 0 Chasetown 3; Newcastle Town 0 Witton Albion 2; Spalding United 3 Rugby Town 1; Stocksbridge Park Steels 1 Shaw Lane AFC 0.
