Boss Jimmy Dean admitted that Spalding United’s hopes of winning the Southern League Premier Central title are fading after a 1-1 draw at struggling St Ives Town on Saturday.
The Tulips are now six points behind leaders Harborough Town with games running out following the Westwood Road stalemate, with the table-toppers having earned a 2-2 draw at third-placed Real Bedford on Tuesday night.
A disappointing first half showing saw Dean’s side go in 1-0 down following a 38th-minute penalty from Michael Richens.
The Tulips were much-improved after the break and levelled through Jack Roberts on 56 minutes.
There was to be no repeat of the previous week’s heroics, however, with St Ives holding on to secure a point that moved them out of the drop zone at the expense of Spalding’s local rivals Stamford, who fell into the bottom four as a result.
Manager Dean felt his side left themselves too much to do after a sloppy first half, but did praise a much-improved second-half showing.
“I’m bitterly disappointed with the result,” said Dean, who was speaking to the Tulips’ official X account. “I’m really disappointed with the first half as well.
“St Ives were much the better side and a big part of that was the basics of the game – first contacts and second balls.
“You could see they were a side who weren’t giving up despite losing a few games on the bounce.
“I’m really disappointed with how we conducted ourselves in the first half, if I’m honest.
“That’s professionally, it’s mentally, and also tactically – as we played right into their hands, with quite a few of the boys letting themselves down in the first half.
“It’s going to be difficult for us in terms of winning the title, but we needed to keep the pressure on. We haven’t done that.
“They (St Ives) seemed to want it more and it shouldn’t be happening. Their goal was a poor one to concede and we left ourselves with a bit too much to do.
“The second half was obviously much better, but you can’t go into every second half having to score two or three goals.”
Next up for the Tulips is a Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field showdown with lowly Bromsgrove Sporting on Saturday (3pm).
Title rivals Harborough host mid-table Bury Town at the same time, but Dean is now more focused on securing second place – which would guarantee home draws in the play-offs.
The Tulips chief added: “Barring a major collapse from Harborough – and I think they’ve lost three all season – we’ve got to get ourselves mentally right for what comes next.
“We need to secure second place and make sure we get the home games in the play-offs. We’ve only lost twice in 21 games, so our form is there and we’ve got match-winners in the side.
“What we haven’t done enough is play for 90 minutes. We’re training really well and, for at least a half of every game, we’re playing really well. We look forward to the next game and will prepare properly – and try to get some of our big players back in form.”
Tulips: Wilks, White, Sembie-Ferris, Moore, Fox, Thompson (Bendle 83), Roberts, Pugh (Sani 61), McCammon, Cybulski (Akinba 74), Fowkes (Olopade 87). Not used: Taroni.
Attendance: 411.
