Rob Ambrose admits that Spalding Town must take maximum points from their top-of-the-table clash at Market Deeping 2nd on Saturday (1.30pm).
Through no fault of their own, Town slipped a point behind the defending South Lincs and Border League Premier Division champions – having played a game more than them – on Saturday after the weather went against them.
While Spalding’s clash with Woodhall Spa 2nd was being rained off, Deeping 2nd somehow beat the rain to wrap-up a ten-wicket win over rivals Bourne 2nd.
Town need a 20-point haul to redress the balance at the top – and Ambrose knows nothing but that will be good enough if they want to win the title.
He said: “We always try our best to get games on at Spalding. But the weather was too much on Saturday.
“Fair play to Deeping, they were the only side to win on Saturday and they’ve stolen a march on us – albeit through no fault of our own.
“Yes they were fortunate to be able to play, but they took their chance.
“We simply have to beat them and collect 20 points now. It’s no good us relying on favours from other sides.
“We’ll look to go there, bat first and win big.”
Deeping 2nd handed Town their only defeat so far this season when they edged past them by three runs back on April 30.
Spalding have won seven on the spin (not including abandoned games) since then – and Ambrose reckons Deeping are facing a different side this time around.
He added: “The last time we met Deeping we were finding our feet. We’d been a team used to losing for a couple of years.
“Now we’re confident and used to winning – it makes a massive difference.
“Saying that, we should really have won that day.
“I’m confident that this side can beat anyone in this division and we’ll go to Deeping to win.
“We’ll be pretty much at full strength too, so there will be no excuses.”
The only absentee for Spalding is youngster David Thomas, while Tim Norris is expected to return to the first team fold after scoring a century in his last appearance for the 2nd side.
Like Town, Deeping 2nd have only lost once all season (v Sleaford 2nd).
