Spalding United 2
Basford United 3
Assistant boss Danny Hussey was left fuming with the officials after a controversial winner sentenced Spalding United to a 3-2 home loss against Basford United on Saturday.
The Tulips had twice led at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field thanks to strikes from Jamie Graham (22) and Nathan Stainfield (52), but a Ruben Wiggins-Thomas treble (pen 44, 70 and 74) earned the visitors all three points.
Basford’s winner – a back-post header from Wiggins-Thomas following a corner – was adjudged to have crossed the line by the referee’s assistant, but Hussey is adamant that it shouldn’t have stood.
The Tulips’ number two also feels the opener was “never a penalty” and labelled the officials “the worst set he’s seen at Spalding in years”.
“I’ve got to be careful what I say here,” said the assistant manager. “But I don’t see how a linesman can make a decision when he’s 50 yards away from the ball, especially when our keeper was facing the ball.
“The players, Dan Lawlor and (keeper) Michael Duggan, have both said that the ball didn’t go over the line.
“But the linesman decided to give the goal – and it’s killed us really.
“They were also given a penalty which, if we’re honest, is never a penalty. I’ve been in football 30 years and know that’s not a penalty. For me, the lad has just hit the floor.
“Did we do enough to win the game? Maybe not. But we certainly did enough not to lose it.
“But I’ve got to say, and I’m quite happy to put this on record, the officials are the worst that I’ve seen at the Sir Halley Stewart in years.
“It’s disappointing. The lads put a shift in, but when you pay officials a lot to come and referee the game, you expect better. Luckily it doesn’t happen every week.”
With strikers Jake Newman and Josh Moreman banned and midfielder Dan Banister unavailable, Spalding handed a start to new Peterborough United loanee Kweku Lucan on the right wing.
But it was the away side who started the better, with Duggan forced to tip a long-range Ashley Grayson drive away and then gather a long-range Blair Anderson free kick.
The Tulips then went ahead from their first clear-cut opening of the game, as Tom Waumsley expertly clipped a pass through to strike partner Graham. He collected the ball well and finished deftly past Saul Deeney.
Graham than had a half-chance to double the home lead after a great run from Griffiths on the left, but dragged his effort wide from the edge of the box.
Ex-Nottingham Forest ace Eugen Bopp rifled a long-range drive over at the other end, but Spalding were unlucky not to make it 2-0 when Lucan’s fine cross narrowly evaded a free Graham.
A soft penalty then allowed Basford to level on the stroke of half time, with Spafford deemed to have pushed over Wiggins-Thomas in the box. The striker picked himself up and slotted the spot-kick past Duggan, who guessed the right way.
The away side almost went ahead when Anderson robbed Spafford in the box early in the second period, but his square pass fell behind his team-mates. It proved key, as the Tulips went up the other end and grabbed a goal of their own.
Lawlor’s corner from the right was perfect for skipper Stainfield to attack – and he buried a trademark header from eight yards to put the hosts 2-1 to the good.
Stainfield’s next major act was as good as a goal, with the defender producing a timely goalline clearance to deny sub Kyle Dixon, who had nodded past the on-rushing Duggan.
With another Posh loanee, Ethan Lee, on for his debut Spalding were unlucky not to go 3-1 ahead 20 minutes from time when right back Paul Walker forced Deeney into a sprawling to beat away his angled drive.
But seconds later the hosts were pegged back by a bolt from the blue from Wiggins-Thomas, who found the corner with a low drive from just outside the box. He took his chance so early, perhaps catching Duggan by surprise.
Then came the big flashpoint, with Wiggins-Thomas completing his hat-trick with a back-post header from a corner. It was almost impossible to tell if the whole ball had crossed the line, with Duggan seemingly well-positioned to keep it out. But the officials had other ideas, sentencing the Tulips to back-to-back defeats in the process.
The loss was also Marcus Ebdon’s first home reverse in the league and, although they stay fourth, sees them lose ground on top two Stafford Rangers (18 points behind) and Coalville Town (nine points behind) ahead of the Christmas fixtures.
They are Lincoln United away (Boxing Day, 2pm) and Gresley at home (December 28, 3pm).
Tulips: Duggan, Walker, Jackson, Spafford, Stainfield, Murphy, Lucan (Lee 53), Waumsley (Sanders 85), Griffiths. Not used: Lockle, Humble.
Vic Couzens’ MOTM: Stainfield
Attendance: 121
