A valiant effort ended in FA Cup heartbreak for Spalding United at Alfreton Town on Tuesday.
Having held the National League North front-runners to a goalless draw at home on Saturday, the Tulips looked to have booked a trip to Biggleswade Town when Sam Bennett put them ahead eight minutes before the end of extra time in the replay.
However, Billy Whitehouse grabbed an equaliser soon after and the hosts then made the most of their let-off by winning on penalties. Jordan Graham, Bennett and Callum Chettle struck from the spot for Spalding but Sam Warburton sent his kick over the bar and Lewis Hilliard’s effort was saved, while the hosts scored all four of theirs.
That late equaliser had ended the Tulips’ gritty 207-minute shut-out and left them with just the consolation of £3,375 in prize money from their two-tie cup run.
A battling performance on Saturday had given Spalding a second chance to pull off a giant-killing against the National League North heavyweights Alfreton.
It was a role reversal for Spalding, who had been on the end of a cup upset in the previous FA Cup meeting between the teams in 2000 when then-Northern Counties East League Alfreton had beaten their Southern League visitors 3-2. This time, however, Billy Heath’s Alfreton side were red-hot favourites. Their muscular, high-pressure tactics had seen them steam-roller themselves into play-off action for the past two seasons but they came up against an immovable object at the Sir Halley Stewart Stadium.
A hard-fought encounter saw Spalding withstand Alfreton’s aerial bombardment and emerge unscathed. Jake Day went close with two early headers for Alfreton but Layton Ndukwu, Hilliard and Jordan Nicholson all kept visiting goalkeeper George Willis on his toes.
Spalding manager Jimmy Dean was delighted with his team’s performance and said: “After the last two games I was worried which way it could go but the players to a man took on board what was said.
“I was asking questions of the players but they have answered them superbly.
“They put their bodies on the line and it was a performance to be proud of from the boys. I thought we were absolutely superb, particularly the three centre halves. We looked the more dangerous side through the inside left and inside right channels. They offered set-pieces and throw-ins but after the first 10 minutes we dealt with it superbly.
“It was all about confidence and belief. I’m not happy where we are fitness wise and we’re still working towards where we need to be. Sat-Tues-Sat matches make it tough, just playing to get fitter.”
Tulips v Alfreton, home: Breeden, Dawes (Draper), Ngandu, Cartwright, Stainfield, Walker, Hilliard, Sherif, Winters (Bennett), Nicholson (Chettle), Nyahwema (Warburton). Subs: Graham, West..
Attendance: 370.
Tulips v Alfreton, replay:
Attendance: 275.
l Spalding have signed wide attacker Connor Tomlinson from Southern League rivals Bedford Town. He made his debut for the Tulips last Tuesday at Harborough Town. Manager Dean said: “Connor is a player I’ve admired for a long time, and his energy and commitment is exactly what we need. I’m really pleased he’s joined us.”
