Spalding United 2
Loughborough Dynamo 1
Mitch Griffiths’ late winner kept Spalding United’s remarkable winning run alive as they got the better of a game Loughborough side on Saturday.
The winger expertly finished off a clever Jordan Hempenstall pass 12 minutes from time at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field to give the Tulips a deserved three points – and make in nine wins from their last ten Evo-Stik League First Division South games.
Jack McGovern had earlier given in-form Spalding a 46th-minute lead with a close-range effort, only for Matt Langham to cancel out the home advantage two minutes later.
Pat Rayment’s side eventually emerged as worthy winners, though, with Griffiths keeping his cool to round visiting keeper Damien Clarke and slot into the net late on.
The victory moves Spalding to within 12 points of leaders Sutton Coldfield Town with a whopping five games in hand – and Rayment felt the victory was very much deserved.
“We had the majority of the game,” said the Spalding supremo. “Obviously we looked for an early breakthrough, but when it final did come we lost the lead before we could even blink.
“We had our chances in the first half, but just told the lads to get on top in the second. Once you get ahead, teams open up – because they have to.
“Obviously them hitting back wasn’t part of the plan.
“We must have had about 80 or 90 per cent of the play. But this is what’s going to happen to us. Teams will come here and play one up front against us and try and hit us on the counter.
“It’s really important moving forward that we score early against teams.
“But I can’t complain, we were again worthy of the three points.
“It’s the perfect start to a busy period for us. On paper, this should have been the easiest of the games for us.
“But football isn’t played on paper and this may end up being the hardest one for us.
“When I can bring the likes of Lee Clarke and Tom Waumsley off the bench, it really does make all the difference.”
The first ten minutes proved largely cagey at a nippy Sir Halley, with only a tame Griffiths effort from distance to write home about.
Visitors Dynamo fashioned the first genuine opportunity of the afternoon, but Langham was unable to get onto the end of an inviting ball at the back post.
From then on it was pretty much one-way traffic, with Hempenstall seeing a glorious chance from eight yards out deflected over and Chris Hall slicing an effort wide following a Jamie Thurlbourne corner.
Andrew Tidswell then uncharacteristically blazed a big chance over from just inside the box after pulling off some super skill to fashion himself the opportunity.
That man Tidswell then expertly rounded Clarke and fired in a cross from a very tight angle, only only for a wonderful sliding intervention from Ash Thorpe to clear the danger.
Then came the big talking point of the first half in its final minute as Loughborough’s Kieron Davies raced clear down the right. He slipped a shot past the advancing Michael Duggan, but the Spalding keeper bundled into the winger after he’d unleashed his effort.
The ball rolled wide, but the referee whistled for an infringement – and looked to point to the penalty spot. After a discussion with his assistant the referee gave a free kick on the edge of the box and dished out a yellow card to the Spalding number one, much to the relief of most of the 143-strong home crowd.
No sooner had the teams turned around for the second half than Spalding found themselves ahead. The goal owed much to the determination of Griffiths, who beat his man on the right and delivered for midfield ace McGovern to bravely slide home from a few yards out.
However, parity was almost instantly restored when Dynamo hitman Langham fired home a clinical drive from close range straight from the restart.
That prompted Rayment to throw Lee Clarke – signed from Yaxley last week – on for a debut, while the energetic Tom Waumsley replaced Tidswell.
The pair had a positive impact on the game – but neither had much to do with the winner.
A classy run and pass from Hempenstall released man-of-the-match Griffiths, who kept his cool to waltz around Clarke and sit a backtracking defender down before knocking the ball into the empty net.
The win sets Spalding up perfectly for festive fixtures against Lincoln United (away, Boxing Day, 3pm) and leaders Sutton Coldfield (home, December 28, 3pm) – and Rayment is adamant this his side are now the team to beat this season.
“Lincoln United will be fired up for us,” added Rayment. “But like I’ve said, we’re the top team in this division in terms of current form.
“We won’t change the way that we play. To be fair, some of our lads weren’t really at their best – but we still won when playing within ourselves.
“We march on to Friday. We’re training Tuesday – and I hope the players don’t each too much on Thursday! I’m joking, they can eat what they want.”
Jordan Nuttell missed the game through illness, but should return for Friday’s trip to Lincoln.
Tulips: Duggan, Leary, Jackson (Clarke 57), Stevens, N Stainfield, McGovern, Griffiths, Hall, Tidswell (Waumsley 61), Hempenstall, J Thurlbourne. Not used: L Thurlbourne, Oliver, Pycock.
Att: 143
MOTM: Griffiths
