Spalding United 0
Shaw Lane Aquaforce 3
Three goals in 15 first-half minutes handed Spalding United a sobering 3-0 defeat against Evo-Stik League First Division South promotion rivals Shaw Lane Aquaforce on Tuesday night.
Having looked the better side early on at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, the Tulips were left shell-shocked by strikes from Gavin Allott (22), Joe Thornton (24) and Lee Bennett (37).
Despite regrouping well after the break, Spalding failed to mount any sort of comeback as they slipped to a second league loss in four days.
The defeat leaves Pat Rayment’s charges tenth in the table, 15 points behind leaders Stafford Rangers.
They are, however, just six points off third place and still very much in the mix at the business end of the standings.
The Spalding squad contained two surprises ahead of kick off, with left winger Jamie Thurlbourne making his first start since recovering from a career-threatening ankle injury and new signing Jamie Graham on the bench.
Graham, signed on dual forms from Peterborough Sports, lists Yaxley, Deeping Rangers and Huntingdon Town among his former sides.
The Tulips forced two smart saves from Ian Deakin early on, with Josh Moreman’s left-footed strike and Neal Spafford’s towering header from a Dan Banister cross both tipped over.
Moreman than smashed a fierce drive wide from a tough angle after robbing Oscar Radford and racing clear down the right wing.
You felt it was only a matter of time before Spalding struck, but it was Shaw Lane who broke the deadlock on 22 minutes. A clever pass from Thornton carved the hosts open, allowing Allott to fire past an exposed Michael Emery when clean through.
Two minutes later the lead was doubled, as Thornton smashed home a cross from the right into an unguarded net after Emery and Nathan Stainfield were bamboozled by the delivery.
That man Thornton was involved in goal number three, too.
A lovely move down the left culminated in the left winger squaring for Bennett to tap home from close range – and effectively end the game as a contest.
It would have got worse for the Tulips but for an excellent Emery save to deny Priestly in a one-on-one situation.
The second period was much more low-key, but Spalding did at least match Shaw Lane’s insatiable desire.
They had chances to pull a goal back, with the best of them blazed over by Moreman following a cross from sub Paul Walker.
Barnsley-based visitors Aquaforce did have a great opportunity to extend their lead late on, but Emery pulled off a fine low stop to deny a clean-through Michael Towey.
Although more solid than spectacular, Spalding’s second-half showing offers hope of an upturn in form ahead of Saturday’s visit of 13th-placed Daventry Town to the Sir Halley (3pm).
But, on this evidence at least, Rayment’s charges must improve considerably if they are to muscle themselves into the title race.
Tulips: Emery, Griffiths, Jackson, Spafford, Stainfield, Murphy, Banister (Walker 51), Bell, Sanders (Graham 70), Thurlbourne (Lawlor 61), Moreman. Not used: Lockie, Earth.
MOTM: Stainfield
Attendance: 118
