Pat Rayment wants Ryan Oliver to prove he’s worthy of a regular place in his star-studded Spalding United side.
The ex-Deeping Rangers striker, who hasn’t been given too many chances by Rayment since making the switch to the Tulips earlier this season, will start Saturday’s home Evo-Stik League First Division South clash against Tividale on Saturday (3pm).
He could be joined in attack by new signing Nathan Adams, who signed forms at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field this week.
The ex-Stamford and Lincoln City striker has been out of the game for a while due to work commitments, but Rayment is expecting big things from him having worked with him at Stamford a few years ago.
The Spalding supremo is unhappy with the form of strikers Andrew Tidswell, Jordan Hempenstall and Tom Waumsley, who he claims have been “misfiring” in recent weeks. That culminated in a 1-0 Lincs FA Senior Shield loss at Stamford last Tuesday night – and Rayment feels the time is right to tinker with his attacking options.
“The Stamford loss had been coming,” bemoaned the Tulips chief. “We’ve been missing an awful lot of chances and the strikers can have no excuses.
“I’ve said it time after time, I hold my strikers accountable. For them to miss chances is just the same as any other player making a mistake that costs us a goal.
“What we need to do is get that cutting edge back – and I’ll be giving Ryan Oliver the chance to prove he’s the answer on Saturday. I’ll say it now, he’ll start in attack.
“We’ve not seen the best of Ryan at Spalding – I know that he’s got all the ability in the world.
“He just needs a bit more confidence in himself. The only problem for him is himself.
“It’s time he stepped up and showed us all what I know he’s capable of.
“Nathan will be a good addition, too. He’s small, pacey and diminutive and I know he’s looked after himself while he’s not been playing.”
Spalding – who saw last Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash at Newcastle Town snowed off, go into the Sir Halley clash unbeaten in 15 league games. They are fifth in the table, some 18 points better off than 14th-placed Tividale.
Other than Hempenstall, who will miss a month with a knee problem, the title hopefuls will be at full strength.
But Rayment has warned his Tulips not to underestimate Tividale.
He added: “In my opinion, they are a side on the rise. They are one of those sides that started slowly, but are now improving.
“Nobody likes playing us at our place, we barely concede any goals.
“We’ve got exciting games against Mickleover, Sutton Coldfield and Ilkeston coming up, so I’d like to see the lads kick on.”
- The Tulips finished top of the Evo-Stik League First Division South’s Fair Play table in January and will be presented with a certificate and bottle of champagne before Saturday’s game.
