It was another game and another goal for Bart Cybulski as he helped secure a valuable 3 points at home to Southport. A comfortable team performance from the Tulips ensured our third win of the season, shooting us up to 8th in the league table.

Aside from a teasing ball from Roberts that couldn’t be capitalised upon, Southport controlled the first 15 minutes of play. The visitors found early joy down the right flank through McKenzie who proved to be a nuisance for Kelly.

A defensive substitution for Spalding followed with Sembie-Ferris replacing Olopade after he went down injured holding his hamstring.

Southport remained composed in possession with Jameson putting up a physical battle with Cybulski to keep him at bay.

However, on 26 minutes, Cybulski got the better of Jameson in the 6-yard area to give the Tulips a well-worked 1-0 lead. The goal was assisted by Jack Roberts who delivered a wonderful ball into the centre that was steered home by the striker.

Spalding then had a couple of chances to double the lead as Cybulski stole the ball from the keeper’s grasp before scoring which was deemed illegal by the referee. Fowkes also proved a threat as he danced past his man with the ball being turned behind for a corner.

A strong first-half performance from the Tulips meant they had the advantage heading into the break.

Shortly after the match restarted, Roberts bursted down the right flank and rolled the ball across the face of goal to an outstretched Tom Pugh who missed an almost certain chance to go 2-0 up!

The visitors almost found an equaliser through Moseley who steamed into the area with Johnson being called into action to produce a superb block.

Sam Straughan-Brown replaced Byrne on the hour mark, and he instantly proved his class, being rewarded with a free kick after his dazzling run was halted by the visitors.

Then, with 15 minutes to go, Straughan-Brown netted his first goal for the club subsequent to a parried effort from Roberts, with the young midfielder comfortably heading home for 2-0.

Southport’s best chance of the game fell to Perritt whose strike hit the woodwork which prompted a handful of substitutions to help see out the game.

Betteka and Xavier-Jones entered the field, and both young talents impressed the crowd, with the former producing fancy footwork to almost make it 3-0.

An exciting game of football ended in victory, with Spalding picking up their third clean sheet of the season.

FT: Spalding United 2-0 Southport FC

Attendance: 725

Written by Zakk Symonds