A momentary breakdown in concentration proved costly for Spalding United on Saturday when they allowed two Southern League points to slip from their grasp.
The Premier Central Division leaders led Worcester City 2-1 deep into stoppage time at the Sir Halley Stewart Field to potentially open a seven-point lead over title rivals Harborough.
But, when they failed to clear a visitors’ attack and the ball fell to Connor Stanley between the penalty area and touchline, he cut in, ran along the 18-yard line and curled a superb shot into the top corner of the net to snatch an unlikely draw.
The 2-2 draw did extend the Tulips lead at the top to five points, but Harborough had four games in hand going into Wednesday’s trip to Stourbridge.
Manager Jimmy Dean was devastated at the loss of points and said: “It was more than disappointing. To have it taken away from us in the last 20-30 seconds is horrible to take. They were down to 10 men and we had to see the game out.
“We had to clear it and someone had to get out to press him (Stanley). It was cruel; so tough to take.”
Spalding had started at a lightning pace as they went in search of a sixth consecutive win with Jack Roberts and Yusifu Ceesay coming close and Tosin Olopade seeing an effort deflected on to the crossbar in the opening stages.
Worcester had a goal disallowed after 25 minutes in a rare counter-attack before Spalding took the lead 11 minutes later when Yusifu Ceesay had a free header at the back post to convert Roberts’ cross.
Spalding had a goal of their own ruled out a minute before the break but Dean said he was generally happy with the first half.
“In the first 20 minutes we could have had four or five and you always worry when you don’t get one but we got a goal at a good time to go in one up,” he said.
Spalding had to work hard to defend that lead but were undone in the 72nd minute when Charlie Lutz was tripped by Roberts and Dan Sweeney levelled from the penalty spot.
It took the Tulips only 11 minutes to regain the lead when Mane Sani battled well on the halfway line to release Roberts. He ran half the length of the pitch unchallenged before seeing his effort blocked but he was quickly on to the rebound to slot the ball into the net for his 16th goal of the campaign.
The hosts’ were given a boost two minutes later when former Tulip Charlie Wise was sent off when a clumsy challenge earned the towering centre back a second yellow card.
With six of the seven minutes of stoppage time gone, it looked as if Spalding had done enough to earn all the points but they were undone by Stanley.
“When they went down to 10 it was a big deadball threat gone off and it felt comfortable from there,” said Dean.
“We had to commit everything to defending in that moment. It wasn’t an individual error it was an ‘I-want-to-win-it-more-than-him’ moment and we didn’t.
“We’ve thrown away two points and that’s painful. Football has ebbs and flows and no-one plays well for 90 minutes but it is decided on actions in moments.
“The players put everything on the line to win but in just one moment, it’s been taken away from us.”
Tulips: Wilks, Hart, Olopade, Moore, Johnson, Thompson, Roberts, McCammon (Sani), Cybulski, Sembie-Ferris (Bendle), Ceesay. Subs: Dadge, White, Lawlor.
Attendance: 410.
