Saturday preview: Tulips eye vital Steels win as Tigers brace themselves for tough test

Spalding United are hoping to end their run of three Evo-Stik NPL First Divison South games without a win on Saturday when they welcome Stocksbridge Park Steels to the Sir Halley (3pm).

The Tulips, who picked up a morale-boosted 5-2 victory at Carlton Town in the Integro League Cup on Tuesday, go into the clash in third place.

Steels, meanwhile, are 12th in the standings – but are going well in the FA Trophy.
Spalding boss Dave Frecklington said: “Stocksbridge is a must-win game for us now.

“I accept that we can’t win every game, but we’ve now gone three league matches without a win.

“This is a team packed full of talent and experience – you only have to look at the likes of Nathan Stainfield and Jordan Lemon, who were in the team of the year last season.

“But we need to stand up and be counted as a team and really kick on again. It’s a massive game for this group of players.”

Spalding are still without Brad Barraclough, Neal Spafford and Nathan Whitehead.

  • Holbeach United welcome Harborough Town to Carter’s Park on Saturday (3pm) as they bid to make it back-to-back ChromaSport UCL Premier Division wins.

Player/boss Roberts has told his side to start enjoying their football again, but has warned them of showing any complacency against a Harborough side that are now mixing it with the big boys in the top six.

He said: “Harborough are now a well-established UCL side. They used to struggle a bit, but they’ve got a great set-up and are a progressive club.

“But it’s all about us. We need to start taking our chances and enjoying our football again.

“It’s fair to say we’ve not been clinical enough in recent weeks and that has to change if we want to turn draws into wins.”

Midfielder Tyler Wright won’t feature after leaving the club to join former side Pinchbeck United.

Holbeach (fifth) go into the game just three points ahead of Harborough (sixth), who have two games in hand.

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