Spalding United 1
Sutton Coldfield Town 0
Spalding United returned to winning ways ahead of a showdown of the top two in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division.
After recent postponements, the Tulips were back in action on Saturday with a Stefan Broccoli goal enough to beat Sutton Coldfield Town.
It moved Spalding up to second in the table, three points behind leaders Halesowen Town but with two games in hand.
The teams meet in the West Midlands this Saturday.
And the Tulips go into it on the back of a win over Sutton after bouncing back from their first defeat of the season against Cambridge City just before the cold snap.
“It was as comfortable a 1-0 win as we’ve had this season,” said manager Brett Whaley, of the Sutton result. “We started well and even though we didn’t get the goal I thought we were on top.
“They had a little spell just before half time but when we got the goal in the second half I always thought it was more likely we’d score a second.
“Michael Duggan only had to make one save and that was in the 90th minute.
“I did feel we could’ve been a bit better in the final third, but after not having a game for three weeks and it’s usually in that part of the field it takes a bit longer to get back.
“But to go into it on the back of weeks without a game and without your captain (Nathan Stainfield was out suspended), just to get back to winning ways and the confidence back is all you can ask for ahead of a big game at the weekend.”
The fight for the league title looks set to be a three-way fight between Spalding, Halesowen and Stamford.
The Tulips have beaten both at home including a 3-0 victory over Halesowen in October.
But Whaley says it will be a much tougher test away from home where The Yeltz are unbeaten having won ten of their 11 home games.
“They get over 1,000 supporters every week, haven’t lost a home game all season and are top of the league for a reason,” he said. “But we’ve got games in hand so the pressure is on them to get the points on the board.
“Every game in this league is tough, but we knew from the start Stamford and Halesowen were going to be the teams to beat.
“You have to take each game as it comes.
“We’ve done well in the games we’ve faced them in so far and it’s about looking to do it again as we look to continue to be up there right to the end of the season.
Tulips: Duggan, Hart, Bucciero, Barker, Peters, Cartwright, Jones (L Hilliard), Clifton, Sandy (T Hilliard), Broccoli, Edge (Rolt). Subs not used: Draper.
Attendance: 253.
