Spalding United host St Neots Town in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division
Brett Whaley is optimistic Spalding United can string a positive run of results together going into Saturday’s home game against St Neots at the Sir Halley Stewart Field.
The Tulips bounced straight back from their weekend horror display at home to Hinckley LR with a much-improved performance in a 2-0 win at Shepshed Dynamo on Tuesday night.
The victory saw Whaley’s side, who sit three points behind Stamford in second, close the gap on league leaders Halesowen to six points with a game in hand.
Whaley hopes the midweek win at The Dovecote Stadium will serve as a “catalyst” going forward as his side strive for some consistency.
“It’s about finding that consistency, week-in and week-out,” he admitted.
“I think we’d become a victim of our own success so to speak.
“We started to feel that we couldn’t lose and sometimes when that happens you spend more time playing the opposition’s game rather than your own.
“Because we went 21 games unbeaten at the start of the season and then lost three games since the start of the year, I think it’s easy for a little bit of panic to set in.
“It’s about looking at what we did well in the first half of the season and trying to replicate that.”
Spalding’s opening goal in Leicestershire arrived three minutes before the break with Nat Ansu playing a big part in the build up.
Archie Jones netted on the follow-up after Lewis Hilliard’s shot had been saved.
A crucial three points were secured on the stroke of full-time as Stefan Broccoli stabbed the ball home after out-muscling a home defender.
“We did the basic things right,” admitted Whaley, who made five changes to the Spalding starting line-up.
“We worked a lot harder and won a lot more second balls.
“Before the game we tried to take the pressure off the players and we played with a lot more freedom and confidence.
“The attitude and application we’ve put in for the last two midweek games has been magnificent.
“We were really good against Dereham, but we were even better at Shepshed and it was one of our best performances of the season.
“Saturday really hurt the group and I hope we’ve learned from that.
“It doesn’t matter who you are playing in this league, you have to earn the right to win.
“We won 3-0 at St Neots earlier in the season but they will come to us fighting for their lives and believing that they can get something from the game.”
The Tulips are offering half price admission to Saturday's home match.
Entry for adults is £5 with concessions at just £2.50. There is also a half-price match sponsor offer at £110.
Spalding’s promotion rivals Halesowen travel to Corby Town this Saturday while Stamford are at fourth-placed Boldmere St Michaels.
