Two wins in two games have secured a play-off spot for Spalding United in the Midlands Division of the Northern Premier League.
A late winner from Dylan Edge secured derby bragging rights at newly crowned champions Stamford last Thursday, while Saturday saw the Tulips hit scoring form with a 4-0 win against Gresley Rovers.
However, Elliot Sandy’s team are now hoping Stamford can do them a favour. If the Daniels avoid defeat against Halesowen on Saturday, a win for Spalding at Sporting Khalsa will secure runners-up place in the table and the possibility of home matches in both the play-off semi final and final.
Stand-in boss Sandy said his team had hit form at just the right time.
“It’s amazing how a last-minute goal can change the mood of the whole club, especially against your local rivals. Everyone is buzzing and we took that into Saturday’s match.”
An own goal from Sean Wright put the Tulips ahead on the hour-mark but James Blunden’s 84th-minute effort looked to have saved a point for Stamford, only for Edge to net the last-gasp winner.
On Saturday, Stefan Broccoli put Spalding ahead on the stroke of half-time with a quick-fire double from Bradley Holt and Lewis Hilliard extending the lead before Nathan Stainfield completed the tally.
It leaves Spalding two points adrift of Halesowen going into Saturday’s last regular matches of the campaign.
Whoever finishes second in the final table will be at home to the fifth-place finishers in the play-off semi finals, with third taking on fourth and the two winners meeting at the home of the highest-placed team in the final.
While Spalding and Halesowen are guaranteed to finish in the top two of those places and Sporting Khalsa are all but mathematically in the play-offs, the final place is still up for grabs with five teams still in the hunt.
Spalding have first-hand knowledge of their likely opponents, after a tough run-in saw Sandy’s team play most of them.
“We always do our homework ahead of every match and it makes no difference if we’ve only just played a team,” he said. “They’ll also know as much about us as we know about them. We’ve got to be positive and focus on our strengths.
“It’s a big advantage to be at home and if we win our semi-final, a home final would be lovely.
“However, we’re taking nothing for granted because I’ve played in lots of play-offs and lost at home but won away, so it can be a bit of a lottery. It’s all about who performs best on the day.
“It’s great for the club and by finishing second we’ll have two more big home games. Anyone can beat anyone at the top of this league, as has been proved over recent weeks.”
The play-off push has put Sandy’s future in the hot seat on the backburner, after he was appointed in a temporary role following the axing of Brett Whaley last month.
“Nothing has been settled about my job going forward but we’ve had positive talks and I’d love to carry on in the Premier Division,” said Sandy. “I’ve loved doing the job and think I’ve done well, considering all the games have been against other top teams and I’ve been trying out a few different things.”
The play-off semi final will be at the Sir Halley Stewart Field on Tuesday, 7.45pm, with the final due to take place on Saturday, April 29.
Tulips at Stamford: Duggan, Peters, Warburton, Barker, Stainfield, Cartwright, Hilliard, Broccoli (Edge 80), Clifton, Rolt, Draper. Subs: Ansu, Bucciero.
Attendance: 735.
Tulips v Gresley: Duggan, Bucciero, Warburton, Barker, Stainfield, Peters, Broccoli, Draper, Clifton (Edge 65), Hilliard (Ngwa 69), Rolt (Ansu 65). Subs: Cartwright, Sandy.
Attendance: 320.
