Rainworth Miners Welfare 1
Spalding United 4
Tom Waumsley was the toast of the Tulips again as his hat-trick inspired Spalding to their third Evo-Stik League First Division One South success on the trot.
Jamie Thurlbourne fired Pat Rayment’s side into a third-minute lead in Nottinghamshire on Tuesday night, only for Craig Mitchell to hit back immediately for hosts Rainworth.
From then on it was the Waumsley show. The match-winner against Coalville on Saturday made it 2-1 on 44 minutes, before notching on 78 and 90 minutes to secure the points for Spalding.
He also rattled a penalty off the crossbar, but that didn’t stop the striker receiving high praise from his manager Rayment – who now believes the Tulips are breaking new ground at step four of the non-league ladder.
“I’ve got to give massive credit to Tom,” said the Spalding supremo, who now sees his side rise up to seventh in the table. “He’s been patient waiting for his opportunity here.
“All of his goals were absolute crackers and and I’m absolutely made up for him. It was funny at the end, he was basically on one leg – but still managed to get that hat-trick goal.
“It’s too early for us to start talking about getting into the play-offs or promotion. But everyone is fighting to be in that top five and we’re really starting to break new ground as a club.
“I can’t ask much more of the lads than to win three games in a row. To go to places like this and get results midweek is something the club isn’t used to.
“I’m just really pleased for the lads. They got what they deserved from the game.
“The goal they scored was sloppy, though. Defensive mistakes are creeping into our game and we do need to eradicate them if we are to keep this run going.”
The Tulips made the perfect start when Thurlbourne came in from the left and side-footed home a beautiful opener on three minutes.
But they were pegged back by Mitchell’s leveller less than 60 seconds later. Rayment described the goal as “shambolic” on his side’s behalf.
Spalding had to dig in and keep the hosts at bay after that, before Waumsley superbly curled home his first of the evening just before the break.
It was pretty much one-way traffic in the second period, but the Tulips had to wait until the final 12 minutes to seal the points.
Waumsley blasted number three into the roof of the net to effectively put the game to bed, before lashing an 89th minute penalty off the woodwork.
But he had the last word, nodding home his third deep into added time.
Having picked up nine points in seven days, Rayment’s side are now just seven points off leaders Sutton Coldfield Town and three points off a provisional play-off place.
Tulips: Duggan, Leary, Jackson, Miller, N Stainfield, Griffiths (G Stainfield), Hall, Webb, Nuttell (Oliver), Waumsley, J Thurlbourne (McKue).
Tuesday’s Evo-Stik League First Division South results
Chasetown 4 Coalville Town 1; Kidsgrove Athletic 1 Stocksbridge Park Steels 2; Lincoln United 2 Carlton Town 2; Market Drayton Town 3 Romulus Att 1; Mickleover Sports 1 Goole AFC 0; Norton United 1 Loughborough Dynamo 0; Rainworth Miners Welfare 1 Spalding United 4.
