Bart Cybulski scored twice as Spalding United moved up to fourth in the National League North with a 2-1 home victory over Bedford Town — then committed his future to the Tulips with a new contract.
The 23-year-old striker has now scored nine goals in his last five games. His latest double also moved him joint top of the league’s scoring charts, while Spalding United said it had rejected “significant interest” in signing him from elsewhere.
Cybulski’s new agreement runs until the end of the 2027/28 season. The deal gives Spalding a major boost as the club continues its National League North campaign and seeks to hold on to one of its most productive players.
Two goals turn game around
Bedford arrived at the Sir Halley Stewart Field having won four matches in a row and made the stronger start. Castiglione rounded Spalding goalkeeper Crook to put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute.
The Tulips continued to threaten, however, and levelled shortly before half-time. Dion Sembie-Ferris supplied the cross and Cybulski turned it in to make it 1-1.
Spalding completed the comeback four minutes after the restart. Ben Fowkes provided the delivery for Cybulski, who scored again to give the home side a 2-1 lead.
Manager Jimmy Dean said the team had made an “uncharacteristic error” for Bedford’s goal but praised the squad’s response. He was also pleased that the winning goals arrived on either side of the interval.
“We’ve gifted them a goal with an uncharacteristic error, but the squad showed real endeavour to get us out of trouble,”
Dean’s comments followed a result that extended Cybulski’s exceptional scoring run and lifted the Tulips to fourth place.
Club ties down leading scorer
Spalding United said the new contract reflected Cybulski’s performances and the club’s determination to retain its key players. The agreement was announced after the forward’s two-goal contribution against Bedford.
“The new agreement rewards his performances and underlines Spalding United’s ambition to retain our best players as we continue to build both on and off the pitch,”
Cybulski had been rested on Tuesday night, when Spalding began its Lincolnshire County Cup campaign with a first-round victory over Stamford. The decision gave him a break before he returned to the starting line-up against Bedford.
County Cup win adds to busy week
Spalding took the lead against Stamford after 12 minutes. Ashton Fox played Cameron Barton through and the striker finished the move.
Stamford levelled soon afterwards when Alfie Fiskern headed in from a corner. Sembie-Ferris then restored Spalding’s advantage with 14 minutes remaining after an influential performance in which he had already gone close.
The Tulips sealed their place in the next round during injury time. Jack Roberts was fouled in the penalty area and converted the resulting spot-kick.
Against Bedford, Spalding’s starting line-up was Crook, Kelly, Moore, Johnson, Bendle, Roberts, Pugh, Cybulski, Fowkes, Byrne and Sembie-Ferris. Wilkes, Sani, Betteka, Jarvis and Straughan-Brown were named among the substitutes. The attendance was 902.
The Stamford team included Wilks, Critchlow-Woyo, Grant, Fox, Johnson, Jarvis, Barton, Straughan-Brown, Sembie-Ferris, Sani and Betteka. Pugh, Crook, Bendle, Kelly, Roberts, Fowkes and Akanbi were substitutes, with 596 attending.