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Spalding United beat AFC Sudbury in the Southern League Premier Central Division




Spalding United ended a run of 10 successive away league games with a victorious home-coming to the Sir Halley Stewart ground on Saturday.

The Tulips defeated AFC Sudbury 5-1 to maintain their title push in the Southern League Premier Division Central.

Despite going behind, Spalding struck back with goals from Ben Hart, Jack Roberts, Bart Cybulski, Yusifu Ceesay and James Clifton securing a third successive league win for Jimmy Dean's side.

Jack Roberts. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Jack Roberts. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Jack Roberts. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Jack Roberts. Photo: Chris Lowndes

The Tulips were unchanged from their midweek win over Bishop's Stortford as they hosted a Sudbury side who were looking for their first away points of the campaign.

They started brightly with Connor Johnson twice going close with headers from set pieces inside the opening 15 minutes.

However, they fell behind in the 16th minute as a set piece into the Spalding penalty area wasn't dealt with by the home defence and Kai Fletcher bundled the ball home from close range.

Spalding pile on the pressure. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Spalding pile on the pressure. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Spalding celebrate a goal. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Spalding celebrate a goal. Photo: Chris Lowndes

The Tulips came close to equalising almost immediately only for Sudbury goalkeeper Marcus Garnham to deny Bart Cybulski from point blank range with a magnificent stop.

Spalding continued to push for a leveller and a slick move brought their equaliser just before the half-hour mark as Hart and Dion Sembie-Ferris exchanged passes quickly before the full-back slammed home an emphatic finish.

Garnham kept the visitors on level terms moments later with another top drawer stop to thwart Yusifu Ceesay from Roberts' cross.

Jack Roberts. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Jack Roberts. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Yusifu Ceesay. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Yusifu Ceesay. Photo: Chris Lowndes

Spalding then took the lead as Alfie Bendle's through ball released Roberts who raced clear before rounding Garnham and slotting home.

Sudbury looked to respond with Callum Page seeing one effort comfortably saved by James Dadge before clipping another shot just over the home crossbar as Spalding went in at the break a goal ahead.

Dadge was called into action after the break to get down smartly to smother a header from Kaidon Tower-King as Sudbury looked for a way back into the contest.

Goalkeeper James Dadge. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Goalkeeper James Dadge. Photo: Chris Lowndes
James Clifton scores for Spalding. Photo: Chris Lowndes
James Clifton scores for Spalding. Photo: Chris Lowndes

However, that task was made harder for the visitors just past the hour mark as Cybulski swept home a Sembie-Ferris cross with a first time finish for Spalding's third goal.

With the game now opened up, Spalding were a strong attacking threat and Dan Lawlor's through ball released Ceesay who was denied by a fine save from Garnham.

However, there was no stopping Ceesay moments later as he slotted home the fourth goal following good work between Cybulski and Sembie-Ferris.

Alfie Bendle goes for goal. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Alfie Bendle goes for goal. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Dion Sembie-Ferris. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Dion Sembie-Ferris. Photo: Chris Lowndes

Bendle went close to adding a fifth with a shot that hit the post before seeing another goalbound effort blocked by a last-ditch challenge.

The chances continued to come for Spalding as Sembie-Ferris played in substitute Maniche Sano-Sani who beat his marker before curling his shot inches wide.

Fellow replacement James Clifton then spurned a gilt-edged chance as he shot over from Roberts' cross before the duo combined again late on with Clifton this time converting for Spalding's fifth goal to round off an emphatic win..

Tulips: Dadge, Hart (Sano-Sani), Blythe, Moore (White), Johnson, Lawlor, Roberts, Bendle (Sherif), Sembie-Ferris, Cybulski (Clifton), Ceesay (Nicholson). Attendance: 457.



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