Spalding United beat Bedford Town in the Southern League Premier Division Central

Spalding secured their biggest Southern League win of the season with a terrific away success on Saturday.

The Tulips triumphed 5-1 in their Premier Division Central trip to in-form high-flyers Bedford Town.

Kieron Freeman, Joe Nyahwema, Maniche Sani, Dion Semble-Ferris and James Clifton all netted as Spalding stretched their unbeaten league run to eight games.

It also ended the five-game winning streak of their third-placed hosts and moved Spalding up into ninth - just five points away from the play-off spots.

Manager Jimmy Dean had kept faith with the same starting line-up from the New Year's Day home win over St Ives.

Former Peterborough United, Accrington Stanley and Gillingham goalkeeper Aaron Chapman was named on the substitutes' bench.

Bedford included former Spalding defender Kieron Dawes in their starting line-up while ex-Tulips striker Tyler Winters was on the substitutes' bench.

Spalding made the early running with Bart Cybulski forcing a save from home goalkeeper Adam Harrison and Nathan Fox firing over from the rebound.

Nyahwema saw another effort saved by Harrison and also shot wide while Spalding goalkeeper Tony Breeden was equal to Ryan Blake's attempt at the other end.

Leon Lobjoit headed another effort wide for the Eagles before Spalding scored their opening goal on the half-hour mark.

Sani and Nyahwema linked well to set up Freeman who fired home into the top corner for the opener which was followed by a second Spalding goal eight minutes later.

The hosts half-cleared a Spalding corner to the edge of the box where Nyahwema's drive took a deflection to beat Harrison.

Bedford could have reduced the arrears before the break but Breeden saved a Lobjoit header while the Eagles attacker was just unable to convert an Eddie Panter cross.

Panter saw a second half header saved by Breeden before a third Spalding goal arrived just past the hour mark.

A corner sparked a scramble in the Bedford penalty area and, with Harrison flying to clear, Sani turned home from close range.

A fourth goal followed four minutes later as Nyahwema picked out Sembie-Ferris who held off a challenge from Jack Davies to convert.

Bedford did pull a goal back two minutes later when Lewis Green fired home a low finish after Spalding had blocked the initial attack.

However, the Tulips had the final say deep into injury-time when Clifton headed home the fifth goal against the club where he had spent time on loan last month.