CAPTAIN Sam Kellogg has hit back at the critics who claim the wheels have come off Spondon's Derbyshire Premier League title defence.

Spondon have been unable to totally re-capture the kind of form that won them the league last season.

However, going into tomorrow's home clash with Ilkeston Rutland, they are second in the table and within 19 points of leaders Ockbrook & Borrowash.

Last Saturday's narrow win at Dunstall was followed 24 hours later by a thumping 147-run demolition of Alfreton in the Premier Cup, leaving Kellogg (pictured left) in buoyant mood.

“We couldn't have asked for a better weekend,” he said. “Everything went to plan.

“Saturday was a great result for us, because it is quite a difficult place to go and get a result, especially bowling second.

“There has been quite a bit of talk saying that things have gone wrong for us but if you look at the table, we are second and only 20 points off the leaders, so it could be a lot worse.

“We have crept up quite quietly and we are happy to keep thing ticking along.

“People have been saying that the wheels have come off but we are still there or thereabouts, so it's not like there is any crisis or anything.

“There has also been some muttering about our batting but I think Sunday answered a lot of the critics.

“It was a fantastic performance and against a side who had beaten us in the league a couple of weeks before, so that result tasted pretty sweet.”

Kellogg believes expectations may have been unrealistically high after last year's achievements.

“When you win the league, I suppose you are expected to carry on and dominate week in, week out,” he said.

“That hasn't really happened but we can't complain.

“To emulate last year was always going to be extremely difficult but I think we are doing as well as we can do.

“The lads are sticking together, there is a good team spirit and things are beginning to come together now.”

Spondon will be unchanged from the side that beat Dunstall but will have Darren Yeomans available for the remainder of the campaign after re-signing him from Rolleston.

“Darren went back to Rolleston this season but wasn't enjoying it,” said Kellogg.

“It is a bit of a boost at this stage of the season because we had been looking around the leagues for someone to bring in and he is a quality player.

“He will play for us at Ockbrook next weekend.”

Ilkeston are still looking for their first league win of the season but were boosted by an emphatic 109-run Premier Cup success against Quarndon on Sunday.

Kellogg said:“You can't under-estimate anyone in this league and they had a decent result in the cup, so they will have taken heart from that.

“They are a dangerous team as they have three or four players who can win a match, and have also had the services of Wayne White from Derbyshire, who is capable of taking wickets.

“We are going to have to be very wary but, on paper, it is a game we should win.

“So we will be very positive and confident but not over-confident.”

Ilkeston captain David Smit (pictured below) will be hoping his side can build on their cup win, in which they made 263 before bowling out Quarndon for 154.

While opener Smit hit 44, George Moulds was the star, scoring 55 with the bat before taking 3-12 from seven overs.

Ilkeston are second from bottom but have a game in hand due to the fact they were not in action last Saturday.

Instead they have a double-header this weekend, hosting Quarndon on Sunday.

Tomorrow, Quarndon host leaders Ockbrook & Borrowash, while third-placed Alfreton travel to Ticknall.

Lullington Park, who occupy fourth spot, are at home to Chesterfield, Sandiacre Town visit Alvaston & Boulton, with bottom club Elvaston entertaining Dunstall.