Spartans striker Andy Jennings is determined to make the most of the opportunity handed to him and ensure that his career at Croft Park extends beyond the end of the season. Since signing from Northern League side Billingham Synthonia in December the powerful frontman has impressed the Spartans faithful with his physical presence and ability to hold up the play. He scored his first goal in the green and white to inspire a dramatic comeback in the Boxing Day clash with Whitby Town and then added to that with a late equaliser to send last Tuesday’s Doodson Sports Cup tie against Stocksbridge Park Steels into extra time, a tie Spartans eventually won 5-3 thanks to goals in the additional half an hour from Robbie Dale and Dan Maguire. Jennings is hopeful that more goals in a Spartans shirt will see management team Paddy Atkinson and Tom Wade hand him the chance to carry on next season.
He said “Paddy is always talking about next season to the lads so it’s down to me to use the rest of this season as a shop window to prove to him that I am good enough to play at this level and that I can be part of the team then. I’ve settled in well with the lads and I dont feel too uncomfortable with the standard of the league, obviously results haven’t went our way but we are starting to improve as the lads get used to each other.”
Atkinson and Wade have used the Northern League to good effect with the likes of Richie Slaughter, Craig Hubbard and Jack Stanger moving to Croft Park to try their chances at a higher level. That is a standard that Jennings knows only too well having spent time at not only Billingham Synthonia but also Sunderland RCA, so how does he feel about the step up just under a month into his Spartans career. He revealed “It’s a lot more physical in the Evo-Stik and as we have seen in the last month the standard from top to bottom is a lot better. There’s not really too much difference between the sides at the top and those at the bottom and all you need is that consistency to get yourself higher up the league and that’s the challenge for us now.”
If there has been a highlight of the last three weeks for Spartans fans it has been the promising partnership forming between Jennings and former Newcastle United academy striker Ryan McGorrigan. Since the pair ignited the comeback in the Whitby Town game with a goal each they have gone on to hit six goals in five games between them and Jennings is full of admiration for his strike partner. He said “Ryan is quality isn’t he and he has shown that in the last few games with not just the goals he has scored but everything else he brings to the side. He is still only young and obviously he has come from a standard a lot higher than what I have and I really think the more time he gets on the pitch the more he will improve. He’s got pace and plenty of skill and as we have seen recently he isn’t afraid to have a shot from distance. I’m enjoying playing alongside him.”
With an inconsistent first half to the season and a nightmare December fixture list behind them Spartans will look to kick on and improve their current league position. Atkinson and Wade have brought in several new faces and are still working to add to their growing squad as they put in place the foundations for an improved campaign next season but Jennings believes there is still time to make this term a reasonably successful one. He said “Speaking to the other lads and Paddy I would like to think we could finish in the top ten and set the ball rolling for next season. With the new lads settling in and plans being put in place for next season we can put ourselves in a good position to attack the league next year”
Spartans fans will hope that will begin this coming Saturday as Jennings and Spartans face Kendal Town at Croft Park.