A five-star performance at Lowestoft Town on Saturday pushed Spalding United right back into the thick of the play-off battle.
The 5-0 win saw the Tulips move to within just two points of the top five, with five games left to play.
After seeing recent big leads evaporate, Spalding made no mistake this time to leave manager Jimmy Dean delighted. The Tulips had seen a 4-0 advantage turn into a 4-3 win at Biggleswade and then let slip a 3-0 lead to beat Hitchin 3-2 in their previous two games. However, despite a few nervous moments at 3-0 up when they were grateful to goalkeeper Aaron Chapman for some super saves, they hung on and were able to relax as they coasted clear.
Dean said: “We were looking for a performance as well as a result. To start the way we did and play the way we did for a real 90-minute performance feels really good. I thought we played well early doors without getting the goal we deserved but the strikes from Jack (Roberts) and Dan (Lawlor) really helped us on our way. You don’t often get one of those in a game but to get two…
“They had to chase the game after that and we could choose our moments to pick them off.
“I thought our pressure on the ball was superb. No negatives at all. The last few games we’ve had the potential to go on and do that.”
Roberts opened the scoring with a stunning strike after 19 minutes. The recent signing from Bishop’s Stortford made it three goals in three games when he cut in from the right wing and unleashed a tremendous shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
It was 2-0 after 36 minutes when Kieron Freeman’s corner kick bounced off the bar and created havoc in the Trawlerboys’ defence. The ball was eventually cleared but fell to Dan Lawlor 30 yards out and he sent a shot thundering into the home net.
Strong appeals for a penalty 11 minutes into the second half were turned down when Dion Sembie-Ferris was sent tumbling after closing in on goal. However, from the resulting corner, the ball was cleared to Freeman and his wayward effort was turned home at the far post at the second attempt by centre back Sam Cartwright.
Lowestoft then had a solid spell and came close to mounting a comeback but were denied by a string of fine saves by Chapman.
The points were secured after 75 minutes when Freeman spotted home goalkeeper Warren Burwood off his line and sent his free-kick from near the touchline into the net to put the Tulips four goals clear.
Substitute Jason Law stumbled in the area in the third-minute of stoppage time and, to bring justice for the earlier rejected claim, a penalty was awarded and Lawlor sent Burwood the wrong way to complete the nap-hand.
Joseph Nyahwema was injured in the pre-match warm-up meaning a late reshuffle that saw Connor Brown coming in at right-back and substitute goalkeeper Jake West making a late appearance on the wing.
Spalding face a tough test on Saturday when they travel to title-chasing AFC Telford.
Tulips: Chapman, Walker, Fox, Moore, Cartwright, Lawlor, Sembie-Ferris (Law), Freeman (Sherif), Clifton (Cybulski), Roberts (West), Brown.
Attendance: 404.
