Spalding United 1
Leek Town 3
Two landmark goals from Tim Grice helped sentence Spalding United to a 3-1 defeat against Leek Town in their final home game of the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South season on Saturday.
All looked to be going to plan for the in-form Tulips when an own goal put them ahead on 18 minutes, but prolific Leek hitman Tim Grice levelled just before the break.
He then chipped home a sensational second on 48 minutes, making the striker Leek’s all-time leading scorer, before Dan Trickett-Smith capitalised on a rare Michael Duggan error in stoppage time to round off the rout.
Tulips chief Chris Rawlinson admitted that injuries and tiredness – this was their seventh game in 14 days – took their toll on his side, but he was disappointed to suffer another home defeat.
Spalding haven’t won at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field in 2018 and the boss was left frustrated by what he called a “flat” performance.
“I think you could see that our busy run cost us,” said Rawlinson. “We’ve got a lot of injuries to key players.
“We’ve had a lovely run of results lately, but I’m just frustrated because I wanted us to put in a decent performance at home – because we haven’t won here this year.
“That’s only our sixth defeat in 19 games, but we haven’t won enough at home. Our form has flipped round to be honest, we couldn’t win away previously.
“I thought we were fine in the first 25 minutes and then, well the pitch is rock hard. It’s awful. And, in all fairness, they dealt with it better than us.
“A lot of people think that they’re the best team we’ve faced here and they’ve still got a chance of making the play-offs. I thought they played some nice football, but we made it easy for them.
“It was brilliant for some of the young lads to get their chance, but if they want to be part of the squad next year they’ll need to learn very quickly; one about the league and two how to get the best out of themselves in this league. Because Leek were big and strong – and won everything.
“I think 2-1 was fine, but ‘Duggy’ – who pulls off lots of good saves – made a disappointing mistake to make it 3-1, which is probably worse than it was.
“We looked flat and didn’t really get going. But the lads have done great to get us in the position that we are. But I’m not going to accept us going out with a whimper in the final games.”
On what was a very warm day in South Holland, Leek’s Trickett-Smith lashed the first chance over at the near post on ten minutes.
Neither side really settled into the clash, but Spalding did go ahead on 18 minutes when a long throw from Conor Marshall was glanced into the net by a Leek defender under pressure from Ellis Humble.
The lead was almost wiped out instantly when the dangerous Trickett-Smith found some space just inside the box, but his half-volley whistled inches wide of the target.
Spalding’s lead was again under threat when Scott Lycett was afforded a free header from a corner, but Duggan pulled off a top stop to keep his effort out.
The visitors kept knocking on the door and went close again when Sam Hall’s effort was deflected just past the post, with Duggan wrong-footed.
Leek then spurned a gilt-edged chance when skipper Darren Chadwick – who was inside the six-yard box – somehow headed over at the back post.
The leveller did eventually arrive in the final minute of the opening period, with a slick move slicing the Tulips open. In the end, Rob Stevenson’s cross was gobbled up by master marksman Grice, who made no mistake from close in.
There was almost time for Leek to edge ahead in first-half added time, but Humble made a big block to prevent Trickett Smith’s strike going towards Duggan’s goal.
Leek carried their momentum into the second period and took the lead within three minutes. It was Grice again, this time beating Duggan with a sensational chipped effort from close the edge of the box to help him eclipse the club record.
It was a little more even after the away side hit the front, but the Tulips did go close when Luke White curled a long-ranger just wide of the far corner.
Things took a turn for the worse soon after, with youngster Jonny Lockie stretchered off with what looked like a nasty ankle injury.
That ensured that there was a lengthy period of injury time at the end of the game, with the lively Trickett-Smith capitalising on an uncharacteristic error from Duggan to round off the victory for Leek in the sixth additional minute.
Spalding visit Sheffield FC on Tuesday (7.45pm), then conclude their campaign at Lincoln United next Saturday (3pm).
Tulips: Duggan, Marshall, Hugo, Fixter, Humble, Spafford, Lockie (Havard 75), Brooks (G Stainfield 64), King, Davison (Chipamaunga 64), White. Not used: Acar, Smith.
Attendance: 107.
MOTM: Luke White.
