Spalding Utd 1 Chasetown 1
by Ray Tucker
The Tulips dampened Chasetown’s hopes of moving into a play-off position with a much improved performance and a deserved share of the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South points at the Sir Halley Stewart Field on Saturday.(April 9)
After the pummelling by title-chasing Shaw Lane Aquaforce the previous week the Tulips , from the outset, showed they were determined to erase those memories and turned in a display which soon had their faithful followers in full voice with encouragement.
Points were at a premium for both teams but for entirely different reasons. The Scholars had their eye on a maximum haul which would elevate them into a play-off spot, while the Tulips were looking to haul themselves into the top half of the table.
It was a hotly contested and at times heated encounter – six bookings (Adam Jackson and Dan Banister for the Tulips) reflecting this, but as referee Christopher Hunter said afterwards were mainly for “mouthing off”.
The Tulips made the best possible start with a goal after five minutes. A left side movement involving Stuart Eason (returning after a lengthy injury) and Banister set Charley Sanders on a cutting run and with a crisply hit shot that was deflected for a corner. Dan Lawlor’s following kick to the far post was headed firmly into the net by Neal Spafford.
Minutes later another flowing movement, starting from the impressive Michael Duggan in goal, and continued through man-of-the-match Sam Murphy and Lawlor to Tom Waumsley, only for Chasetown’s Michael Williams to intervene at the vital moment with a timely challenge.
When the visitors responded, it was Duggan who came to the Tulips rescue with a solid punched clearance within a packed area following a free kick.
Chasetown pressed hard in search of the equalising goal and it came two minutes from the interval when, from another free kick just outside the area, the ball deflected from the legs of Daniel Edwards past a wrong-footed Duggan in the home goal.
The second half, littered with a volume of free kicks, continued to be played from end to end.
Duggan raced from his area to clear from Kevin Hemagou who had found a passage through the back line of defence, and from a corner kick Henry Eze headed tamely wide.
At the other end a back header by Sanders was cleared from the line before a superbly executed volley by Joe Curtis curled inches wide of a top angle of the woodwork.
Chasetown’s Williams was a little nearer when his goal area header clipped the top of the Tulips bar in the fifth minute of added time.
Tulips: Duggan, Walker, Jackson, Spafford, Murphy, Lawlor, Banister, Curtis, Eason, Waumsley, Sanders. Subs (not used): Butland, Kadar, Hussey, Talbot.
Att: 114
Vic Couzens man-of-the-match: Sam Murphy
