If Spalding United do go on to lift the Southern League Central trophy, this comeback from 3-1 down with four minutes left to win will live long in the memory of the many away fans who were there.
A week after beating second placed Harborough, the Tulips beat previously third-placed Quorn 4-3 on Saturday.
“In ten years of football I can’t remember a come back like that,” said manager Jimmy Dean. “It was a crazy game.
“You don’t always get what you deserve and Quorn are probably feeling that.
“They were better than us for long periods but we’ve been there a few times ourselves and not got the result we deserved.
“We changed shape, went against our principals a bit, but we had to do something.”
Spalding started well and almost went ahead in the opening minutes, but Yusifu Ceesay blazed wide at the back post after a good move.
Quorn began to take control of the game though with their player manager Ryan Beswick having an influence.
It was his spot kick that gave the home side a 1-0 lead after a foul on Finn O’Boyle in the 28th minute.
Spalding thought they’d got a goal back when Bart Cybulksi finished only for the linesman’s flag to go up, the
Tulips hotly contesting the offside call.
The striker also hit the post before the break.
Two minutes after half time Spalding were level when Oluwatosin Olopade diverted home a ball in from the left.
Three minutes later though Quorn’s Jacob Fenton capitalised on a mistake in Spalding’s backline before firing home for 2-1.
The same player then finished off a fine counter to make it 3-1 in the 69th minute.
For the second week in a row the substitutes played a huge part in turning the game, particularly Abduramane Sani.
With just four minutes of normal time left it was he who caused panic in the home side’s box and was on hand to score and make it 3-2.
He showed his striking instincts in the fifth minute of injury time, reacting quickest after a smart save denied a shot on the turn for 3-3.
Sani was denied a hat-trick off the bench by another good stop from close range in the 97th minute, but the ball broke kindly for Jack Roberts who smashed home for the win.
“We got away with one, but all good sides have to do that,” said Dean. “It’s a fantastic feeling in that dressing room.
“There’s a real togetherness and camaraderie.
“We’re well funded like a few sides at this level, but that togetherness is something you can’t buy.
“We’ve beat second home and gone away and beat third place back-to-back, that says a lot about where we are.
“The substitutes have made a big difference again.
“They were really disappointed to be not playing and they’ve turned the game on its head, just like last week.
“It’s a credit to all 16 players.”
Dean also praised the visiting fans.
“There were probably as many away fans there as there were at our home games when I started here,” he said. “Their cheering didn’t stop, there was no negativity at any point, just positivity all the way through.
“We couldn’t have done it without them.
“My message is keep getting behind us.”
The Tulips host Banbury United at the Sir Halley in a 3pm kick off on Saturday.
Tulips: Wilkes, Sembie-Ferris, Olopade, Moore, Fryatt, Thompson, Roberts, Bendle, McCammon, Cybulski, Ceesay. Subs: White, Hart, Lawlor, Sani, Clifton. Attendance: 501.
Pictures by Adrian Smith.
