A recent spate of red and yellow cards left Spalding United with a depleted squad for Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Leiston.
However, manager Jimmy Dean blames over-keen refereeing for the seemingly poor disciplinary record and a lack of common sense.
Lamine Sherif was sent off for two yellow cards in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Banbury United, less than four weeks after being dismissed against Lowestoft Town.
Connor Brown and Kyle Barker were dismissed at Royston Town the previous week, along with a home player and Dean is keen for the footballing authorities to revisit their directive about clamping down on dissent and time-wasting.
He told the club’s YouTube channel: “In the last two games there’s not been a bad tackle but there’s been four sendings-off and there hasn’t been a bad tackle in either match. Connor Brown was sent off for asking if the ball was flat!”
The referee had interpreted that as time-wasting.
“I understand that there has to be discipline on the pitch but there’s also got to be common sense” added Dean. “The referees are doing what they’ve been asked to do because it’s happening across the board but I do feel that they’ve got to slow it down a bit.
“It’s not just my team but others as well, it’s killing them, they’ve not got the resources to cope and it’s difficult to contend with. I think the hierarchy really needs to have a look at it.”
Bart Cybulski’s first-half strike on Saturday put the Tulips ahead against Banbury, who were relegated from National League North last season. It was the tall Pole’s fifth goal in four games since joining from King’s Lynn Town and saw Spalding chalk up their fourth win in five league games to continue their climb up the Southern League Premier Division Central table.
Sherif was sent off but his teammates produced a solid display and wrapped up the points in stoppage time through substitute Maniche Sani.
Dean, who replaced Elliot Sandy in the Sir Halley Stewart hot seat in the opening weeks of the season said the change of manager had been awkward but the team was slowly starting to turn things around
“It’s been a difficult transition for them. It’s been a difficult transition for me and we’re still doing it, still working, still getting to know each other.
“We’re fitter and we’re trying. We’re giving everything but at times it’s not good enough but we keep crawling up the league.
“We made it difficult for them today and we’re looking like a proper outfit. It was a good day at the office.”
South African u20 international midfielder Khanya Leshabela made his debut on Tuesday, after joining from Enfield Town.
The former Leicester u21 player was a teammate of Sherif and has also played for Crewe Alexandra and Shrewsbury Town. He was with South African Premier League side Cape Town City last season.
Cybulski continued his remarkable record of scoring in every game he has played for the Tulips with his sixth goal but it was not enough for victory. Leiston scored either side of half-time to take the spoils and climb above their hosts in the table.
An outstanding save by Leiston goalkeeper Billy Johnson denied Cybulski after 38 minute and seconds later a Spalding strike was ruled out for handball
The Suffolk side went ahead a minute before the break when Jamar Loza’s shot was deflected into the path of Ben Fowkes who slotted home the loose ball.
Loza doubled the visitors’ advantage with a 51st-minute volley and they came close to a third but Fowkes and Loza’s efforts were blocked on the line.
Cybulski turned well to pull one back after 72 minutes but the hosts were unable to find an equaliser and slipped back in the table to within one place of the drop zone.
Tulips v Banbury: Breeden, Brown, Walker, Dawes, Cartwright, Warburton, Sherif, Barker, Cybulski (Winters), Tomlinson (Sani), Hilliard (Chettle). Subs: West, Nyahwema.
Attendance: 440.
Tulips v Leiston: Breeden, Freeman, Walker, Dawes, Cartwright, Warburton (Nyahwema), Sherif (Winters), Leshabela, Cybulski, Tomlinson (Sani), Hilliard. Subs: Chettle, Stainfield.
Attendance: 282.
