An entertaining Southern League encounter at the Sir Halley Stewart Field saw Spalding United wrap up the points early.
Facing play-off hopefuls Redditch United, Jimmy Dean’s side made a flying start on Saturday, going 2-0 up inside nine minutes and leading 3-0 at the break before losing Connor Johnson to a red card.
However, despite the clinical first half show from his strikers, Dean said the turning point had been at the other end of the field.
“I thought both sides started well and it was an entertaining game. We were really clinical in our attacking moments,” he said.
“They came into it and there was a real pivotal moment. Just before our third goal, they expected to score but it wasn’t a case of them missing, it was more our defenders putting their bodies on the line.
“We made two or three great last-ditch blocks and went straight to the other end and got the penalty, which Robbo tucked away.”
The Tulips took a second-minute lead when Bart Cybulksi’s shot was blocked and from the rebound, Yusifu Ceesay squared for Tom Pugh to score his second goal since joining on loan from FC Halifax Town.
Seven minutes later Cybulski swivelled to shoot past two defenders and into the net to make it 2-0.
Jack Roberts completed the afternoon’s scoring when his penalty just evaded goalkeeper Tyrese Warmington’s dive.
Redditch had more of the second half play but were unable to find their way past a solid home rearguard, who have now gone 410 minutes without conceding a goal.
Dean said: “I don’t think anyone can argue that over the 90 minutes the better side won.
“It’s up to us to defend our box and keep a clean sheet, which we’ve not always been good at this season, but that’s four clean sheets on the trot and three 3-0s on the trot. That was against the fourth-placed team in the league, who had won the last four games coming here.”
Focus now switches to Suffolk on Saturday, with Dean’s men travelling to former National League North side Needham Market who are also on the fringes of the promotion race.
“It’s going to be another difficult one on the road,” said Dean. “It’s as tough as it comes. They’re a good side and it’s a really difficult place to go. We’re going to have to be at our best to get anything from there.”
Tulips (v Redditch): Wilks, White, Olopade, Moore, Johnson, Pugh, Roberts (Taroni), Bendle (Sembie-Ferris), Cybulski (Akinba), Sani (McCammon), Ceesay (Fowkes). Attendance: 596.
Pictures by Adrian Smith
