Man-of-the-moment Tom Waumsley is hoping to fire Spalding United to promotion from Evo-Stik League First Division South this season.
The young striker, signed from South Holland rivals Holbeach United in the summer, has been an absolute revelation for the Tulips in recent weeks.
His eight goals have clinched vital points for Pat Rayment’s side, including notable winners both home and away against a strong Coalville Town outfit.
The 21-year-old admits that he wasn’t expecting to get too much game time when he made the switch to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field in the summer, with the Tulips boasting the likes of double UCL golden boot winner Andrew Tidswell among their ranks.
But now he’s aiming to make it impossible for his boss to drop him ahead of Saturday’s trip to a Chasetown side that beat Spalding 2-0 at the Sir Halley (3pm).
“I think I struggled to adapt in the first few weeks of the season,” said Waumsley, who was Holbeach’s leading scorer last term. “But I’ve got used to the club now and I’m enjoying my football.
“At the start of the season I was nervous and wasn’t really taking my chances, if I’m honest.
“But we’ve become a really attacking team and I feel that the side really play to my strengths. Now I’m starting to improve and I’m taking more of my chances.
“I’d never played in the league before, it’s a big step up. All of the games are tough, but we seem to have done better against the stronger sides.
“Coalville, for example, are the best team we’ve played but we’ve beaten them twice.
“We have to be aiming for promotion. If we can’t get in the automatic places, I do think that we can look to get in the play-offs.”
Many eyebrows were raised when Waumsley crossed the South Holland divide to join Spalding in the summer, with the forward only really completing one season as a UCL regular.
But boss Rayment identified him as a player with a lot of potential – and eight goals later it’s looking like a managerial masterstroke.
Waumsley is keen to repay Rayment’s faith in him, while also hoping to right a few wrongs at Chasetown this weekend.
He added: “I’ve learnt a lot from Pat, he’s really helped me adapt. This is the best team I’ve played for and I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve had.
“I remember missing a few good chances against Chasetown and it cost us. Hopefully I’ve done enough to keep my place in the team.”
The respect is certainly mutual, with former professional Rayment more than happy with Waumsley’s progress this year. And the ex-Peterborough United defender also reckons the hitman has earned the respect of his team-mates.
Rayment said: “Tom has really grasped his opportunity. The lads gave him a hard time at the start of the season, but he’s certainly won them over.
“His work rate and attitude are spot-on and he’s played his way into the side.”
Waumsley’s fellow frontman Tidswell should be fit to return at Chasetown on Saturday, while Jordan Nuttell and skipper Michael Leary are both expected to return after missing last weekend’s emphatic 6-1 FA Trophy win at Soham Town Rangers.
But right back Luke Thurlbourne has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury and looks set for at least another month out.
Chasetown thrashed Norton United – the last team to beat the Tulips – 5-0 in the FA Trophy on Saturday, but have been inconsistent so far this season.
They go into the game in tenth spot, three points behind seventh-placed Spalding having played a game more.
