Spalding United 0
Stamford 0
Boss Chris Rawlinson declared Spalding United safe from the drop after a battling derby draw with play-off chasing Stamford on Saturday.
The Tulips (-11 goal difference) moved onto 40 points in Evo-Stik NPL First Division South after the stalemate, meaning basement side Romulus (-40) could only move level with them if they win all four of their remaining games and Spalding lose all of theirs.
In truth, neither side did enough to win the South Lincs derby at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field. James Hugo rattled the woodwork for Spalding in the first period, while Delory Gordon nodded the Daniels’ best effort over the bar after the break.
Tulips chief Rawlinson was happy with his side and praised their “magnificent” desire not to lose, while also calling the goalless draw a “decent spectacle”.
“I’m really pleased, it’s a good point for us,” said the Spalding supremo. “Stamford are a very good side with a good array of different options up front, which made it difficult for us.
“I think we had the better chances in the first half and still put them under pressure in the second half.
“With Romulus losing, getting to 40 points means that we’re safe. Which, after all of the budget cuts earlier in the season and everyone outside of the club thinking we were bound for the UCL, is really pleasing.
“Other than Cleethorpes battering us earlier in the season, we’ve proven that we’re hard to beat – especially at home – against the better sides.
“The boys work hard and got what they deserved, but fair play to Stamford too. I think it was a decent spectacle without showing off too much wonderful football.
“I thought Ben Davison caused them all sorts of problems and Cenk Acar was impressive too.
“Yes, there are things we still need to work on. But the desire not to get beat, players putting in blocks and other things, was magnificent.”
It was a close game from the off, with neither side able to open the other up. The closest either side came was an early strike from Stamford’s Jake Duffy, which deflected wide of the near post.
After the half-hour mark the Tulips fashion two half-chances, with an offside Kern Miller seeing his header from Gary King’s free-kick well saved and Cenk Acar lashing over from a Matt Varley long throw.
They went even closer five minutes before the break when Acar slipped in Hugo on the left. His strike from an angle clipped the woodwork and stayed in play, but the Daniels cleared.
After the break, Stamford began to fashion a number of chances.
The first saw Gordon head a Duffy corner over when a goal looked certain. Indeed, many of the 242 inside the Sir Halley thought the ball had gone in.
Then, ex-Tulip Bradley Wells got free in the box and saw his strike blocked. Rob Morgan took the ball on with the goal gaping, but slotted wide of the far post.
It was the visitors who continued to look the more likely and a slick move down the left resulted in a half-chance for Bradley Fortnam-Thompson – but his close-range effort was blocked.
Both sides had their moments in the closing stages, but neither could find a winner on the day to ensure the spoils were shared.
Spalding are next in action at home to Frickley Athletic on Tuesday night (7.45pm).
Tulips: Duggan, Miller, Hugo, Varley, Humble, Spafford, Marshall, Brooks, King (White 76), Davison (Acar 86), Acar. Not used: G Stainfield, Smith.
Sponsors’ MOTM: Cenk Acar.
Attendance: 242.
