For the second week running, Spalding United surged into a big lead against a bottom-two team, only to be pegged back and be left hanging on for maximum points in the Southern League.
A 3-2 victory over Hitchin Town at the Sir Halley Stewart Field leaves the Tulips four points outside the Premier Central Division play-off zone with six games to go.
A week earlier at Biggleswade Town, Spalding romped four goals clear before half-time, only to concede three times in the second half in a 4-3 success.
This week, goals from Jack Roberts, James Clifton and Sam Cartwright put Jimmy Dean’s team three goals to the good inside 33 minutes. However, within five minutes the visitors hit back with two quick goals.
This time there were no second-half goals and Spalding hung on for an important 3-2 win to keep alive their play-off hopes.
Manager Dean said: “All I ever want is three points. We’ve played well quite a few times this season and haven’t got the points so we know what that feels like.
“We needed to come away with three points today but it’s two weeks running where we’ve had a substantial lead and then conceded so there’s a bit of a problem there.
“I’ll have to accept that. Half-time helped us and we came out and did a good job tactically. Hitchin played some good football, and their young energetic players played some great stuff. They’re giving their manager everything.”
Dean is happy with the way his team is attacking but wary of how their defensive frailties could be costly against other teams.
“We look really threatening going forward at the moment,” he said.
“We’re scoring some good goals and creating some good chances but we have to sort out the other side of the game.
“I’m not being negative but we need a nearly perfect run-in and, if we give goals away like that against some teams, it will hurt us.
“We’ve got to keep focus on getting things right and keep trying to win games. That’s four wins in five and I still think we’ve got gears (to go through) and I keep telling the players that.
“We’re just doing enough at the minute but need to do more.
“If I’d been told when we lost six of the first seven games that we’d still be in touch with the play-offs with six weeks to go I’d have snapped your hand off.
“We’ll keep giving it everything. A lot of the top sides have to play each other and will drop points. But there’s no point worrying about them if we don’t do our job and it’ll be backs to the walls.”
On Saturday, Spalding made a perfect start with Nathan Fox crossing and Clifton’s flick setting up Roberts to fire in his second goal in two starts since joining from Bishop’s Stortford.
Left-back Fox then picked out Clifton with another cross to double the advantage after 22 minutes and the game looked to be settled when Cartwright headed in from Keiron Freeman’s corner.
However, Hitchin refused to give in and hit back with quick-fire goals from Rio Deall after 35 and 38 minutes.
Dean will be hoping his team can remove their generous streak on Saturday when they travel to third-bottom Lowestoft Town.
Tulips: Chapman, Walker, Fox, Moore, Cartwright, Lawlor, Sembie-Ferris, Freeman, Clifton (Cybulski), Roberts (Brown), Nyahwema (Law). Subs: Chettle, Sano-Sani.
Attendance: 440.
