Match Preview | Spalding United (A)
Halesowen travel to the former league leaders with eyes on an impressive victory to keep up with the play-off race
Head to Head
The Yeltz have lost three of the nine contests against Spalding this century, and beforehand had not lost in any of the four games from 1980-1990. Many will remember this fixture for their play-off final at The Grove where the Yeltz beat Spalding in extra time after levelling the contest very late on in normal time in front of 3,250 fans.
The most recent contest came back in November, where we came away with a hard fought 2-2 draw. The visitors against the run of play took the lead just after the hour mark. 32 year old former EFL defender Liam Moore’s header looped over Dan Platt, onto the underside of the bar and into the net. The Yeltz managed to equalise just before the 80th minute, after Fin Holmes came off the bench to win the ball just past the halfway line. The teenager found the run of Jason Cowley on the right of the area, who drilled a powerful effort at the near post into the top right.
The clock stuck 86 minutes when Jack Roberts scored a 30 yard free-kick, but that was not the end of the drama. A penalty was awarded our way in the sixth minute of added time, which Cowley dispatched, before him and Moore were sent off at the end of the game.
Opposition Preview
Dan Wilks – Goalkeeper
The 29 year old signed in November from step 2 Bedford Town. The former Watford academy man featured in every league game for St Ives last season, before making the move in the summer to Bedford where he made seven National League North appearances. He has played in 17 of Spalding’s 19 league games since his arrival.
Matt Bondswell – Left Back
The 23 year old signed in the summer from step 2 Peterborough Sports. The full back, former RB Leipzig, Nottingham Forest & Newcastle United academy man featured in once in the National League for Hartlepool United & 11 times in the National League North for Peterborough Sports last season. This season, he has made 12 league appearances for Spalding, all but two of which starts.
Josh Taroni – Left Back
The 19 year old joined last month on loan from League One Burton Albion. The full back has made six League One appearances for Burton since the start of last season & four cup appearances. Since arriving at Spalding, he has made three league appearances, one of which in the XI.
Connor Johnson – Centre Back
The 28 year old signed in the summer from Kettering Town. The centre half scored four goals in 36 league appearances for the Poppies last season. The former Wolves academy man has made 26 league appearances this season for Spalding, all of which starts.
Liam Moore – Centre Back
The 33 year old joined in the summer of 24 after a break from football after leaving Northampton Town in February of that year. The centre half with over 300 Football League appearances and 11 Premier League appearances featured in 24 league games for Spalding last season. This season, Moore scored against the Yeltz in one of his three league goals in 26 league appearances, all of which starts.
Lewis White – Centre Back
The 25 year old signed in the summer from Kettering Town. The centre half made four league appearances for Spalding at the start of last season, before leaving for the Poppies where he scored three goals in 23 league appearances. Since arriving back at Spalding, White has made 21 league appearances, 15 of which in the starting XI.
Ben Hart – Right Back
The 25 year old signed in the summer from Kettering Town. The right back made 39 league appearances for the Poppies last season, and 20 this season for Spalding, 16 of which in the starting XI.
Tosin Olopade – Right Back
The 21 year old joined in November on loan from League Two Salford City. The right back and former Burnley academy man featured once for Salford last season. Since his arrival in Lincolnshire, Olopade has made 19 league appearances, all of which starts.
Alfie Bendle – Central Midfielder
The 21 year old signed in the summer from League Two Colchester United. Bendle’s short career already has a top CV, with 14 Football League and 58 National League South appearances to his name, 32 of the latter of which came last season across Chelmsford & St Albans City. The midfielder has scored twice in 31 league appearances for the Tulips this season, 27 of which starts.
Josh McCammon – Central Midfielder
The 26 year old signed in the summer from step 2 King’s Lynn Town. The former Northampton academy man featured in 39 National League North games for King’s Lynn last season. The midfielder has scored four goals in 26 league appearances this season for Spalding, 20 of which in the starting XI.
Tom Pugh – Central Midfielder
The 25 year old joined last month on loan from National League side Halifax Town. The midfielder scored twice in 39 National League appearances in Yorkshire last season. This season, he made 16 National League North appearances on loan for Spennymoor Town, before moving to Spalding where he has scored twice in four league games, half of which in the XI.
Curtis Thompson – Central Midfielder
The 32 year old signed in the summer from League Two Grimsby Town. The man who has over 250 Football League appearances, made 19 League Two appearances for Grimsby last season. This season, Thompson has scored three goals in 24 league appearances, 17 of which in the starting XI.
Dion Sembie-Ferris – Attacking Midfielder
The 29 year old signed in the summer from Peterborough Sports. The former Colchester academy man scored four goals in 14 National League appearances last season. The forward thinking midfielder has scored three league goals, and featured in all but two of their league games this season, 25 of which in the starting XI.
Yusifu Ceesay – Left Winger
The 30 year old signed in the summer from step 2 Hereford. The man with almost 200 step 1 & 2 appearances scored 10 goals in 43 National League appearances for the Bulls last season. The winger has scored 12 goals in 29 league games for Spalding this season, all of which starts.
Bartosz Cybulski – Striker
The 23 year old signed in the summer of 24 from King’s Lynn Town. The former Derby County academy man scored 12 goals in 33 league appearances for Spalding last season. The striker has scored 19 so far this season, and featured in all 34 of their league games, all but two of which in the XI.
Ben Fowkes – Striker
The 27 year old signed last month from Leiston. The striker scored 8 goals in 39 league appearances for Leiston last season. This season, Fowkes scored 11 goals in 28 league appearances, and since arriving in Lincolnshire has made three league appearances, all off the bench.
Jack Roberts – Striker
The 21 year old signed in March of last year from Bishop’s Stortford. The former Rangers academy man scored 14 goals in 29 league appearances across Stortford & Spalding last season. This season, Roberts has scored 20 league goals, and started all 34 of their Tulips league games last season.
Abduramane Sani – Striker
The 26 year old signed in the summer of 24. The former Benfica academy man scored six goals in 20 league appearances for the Tulips last season. This season, Sani has scored seven goals, six of which as a substitute, in 31 league games, 10 of which in the starting XI.
Saleem Akabi – Right Winger
The 21 year old signed last month from Bishop’s Stortford. The winger who can play on the right and left scored four goals in 23 National League South appearances across Hemel Hempstead & Chelmsford last season. Akanbi joined Stortford in the summer, where he scored eight goals in 24 league appearances. Since arriving at Spalding, he has scored once in four league appearances, all of which off the bench.
Statistical Insight
Spalding
- Only Harborough Town with 31% (10/32) & Real Bedford with 32% (10/31) have a lower conceded first percentage this season in the Southern Premier Central than Spalding’s 35% (12/34)
- No other side in the Southern Premier Central this season have scored more second half goals than Spalding’s 52.
- No other side in the Southern Premier Central this season have scored more goals in the 15 minute plus stoppage time period before half-time than Spalding’s 18.
- No other side in the Southern Premier Central this season have conceded fewer goals in the 15 minute period after half-time than Spalding’s 4.
Halesowen
- Only Spalding United (52) have scored more second half goals this season in the Southern Premier Central than our 41.
- Only Spalding United (25) have scored more goals in the Southern Premier Central this season after the 76th minute than our 18.
- No other side in the Southern Premier Central this season have conceded more goals in the first 15 minutes than our 13.
- Only Stourbridge & Alvechurch (22), Stamford & Sudbury (21) & Barwell (20) have had more games this season in the Southern Premier Central without a first half goal than our 18.