Spalding United beat Redditch United in the Southern League Premier Division Central

Spalding shrugged off an early setback to return to winning ways with victory over Redditch United in the Southern League Premier Division Central on Saturday.

The Tulips had found themselves trailing after just four minutes of the match at the Sir Halley Stewart ground when Ryan Boothe gave the visiting Reds an early advantage.

However, Jason Law levelled for the Tulips within five minutes before James Clifton struck in first half injury time to score what proved to be Spalding's winning goal.

The Tulips made two changes to their starting line-up from the midweek defeat at Bishop's Stortford with Lamine Sherif and Jason Law replacing Maniche Sani and Glenn Walker.

Spalding had gone into the game after losing three of their last four matches and they found themselves trailing after just four minutes.

Sherif could only clear a low cross into the path of Ryan Boothe who blasted the opening goal into the roof of the home net.

However, it took the Tulips only five minutes to level the contest as Clifton and Freeman worked well down the right before the former's cross was turned home by Law's first time finish.

Both sides then cancelled each other for the majority of the rest of the half with Anthony Dwyer shooting over for the visitors after the ball had deflected into his path.

Dion Sembie-Ferris saw a low shot well saved by Oliver Taylor in the Redditch goal before Dwyer had another decent opening for Redditch but dragged his shot wide.

Just as it looked like the opening period would finish all square, Spalding struck their second half in first half stoppage time.

Darnell Johnson turned a set piece goalwards and Clifton's overhead flick saw the ball loop into the Redditch net.

Spalding strung some decent phases of play together in the second half as they looked to extend their advantage but Redditch repelled most of the attacking forays.

Sembie-Ferris fired in a low shot which was blocked by George Burroughs who then went close at the other end as his close range header rattled the Spalding crossbar.

Substitute Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton then saw a late shot deflected narrowly wide for the visitors as Spalding held out for a vital victory.

The win moves Spalding up into ninth place, six points adrift of the play-off spots.

Spalding: Chapman, Clifton (Chettle), Fox, Moore, Johnson, Lawlor, Sembie-Ferris, Freeman, Cybulski, Sherif, Law (Walker). Subs not used: Sani, Ngandu.

Attendance: 470.