Chasetown 2
Spalding United 2
By RAY TUCKER
Injury-plagued Spalding United dug deep into their reserves to earn a very respectable share of the BetVictor NPL South East Division points at the Scholars Ground on Saturday.
With seven potential first team squad members missing, mainly through injuries, the Tulips twice held the lead in a pulsating cut and thrust encounter before being forced to settle for a respectable 2-2 draw with hosts Chasetown.
It extends the Tulips’ unbeaten run to four league games, three away from home, gaining eight from a possible 12 points, leaving them in a highly creditable fifth position in the league.
They got away to a breathtaking third-minute lead on Saturday with a neatly taken goal by Joel Brownhill (his fourth in as many outings).
Chasetown skipper Ryan Wynter levelled the scores on 21 minutes, only for George Zuerner to restore the Tulips’ advantage in the 74th minute.
But Spalding were out manoeuvred by substitute Danny Cocks, who saw his effort turned into the net by the unfortunate Taron Hare moments later.
The Tulips, as has been the norm in the early weeks of the season, were smartly out of the blocks.
Breaking fluently down the right side, Zuerner’s final pass into the middle of the park was inch perfect for Brownhill – who side-stepped a couple of defenders before sliding the ball past the helpless Curtis Pond.
Good work, starting from the back and midfield by the outstanding Hare, Kegan Everington and Ben Greenwood, created two more promising openings before Chasetown threatened for the first time with skipper Wynter inches off target with a blockbuster shot from 30 yards.
It was the same player who got his side back on level terms with a brilliant headed goal just inside the top angle.
Shortly before the interval Zuerner was inches off target with a well-placed header from Hare’s deep throw-in.
Then, from another of Hare’s lengthy throws, Brownhill tested home keeper Pond.
The Tulips then faced a period of intense pressure, but excellent defending held the Scholars at bay.
It was marginally against the run of play when the Spalding lead was restored on 74 minutes with the in-form Zuerner turning in a low driven cross by Everington at the near post.
Celebrations, however, were short lived with Cocks somehow managing to squeeze the ball past keeper Duggan from the acutest of angles with the aid of a deflection from Hare to once again put the game at stalemate.
Referee Mark Pearson indicated a four-minute period of added time and Chasetown took advantage to pepper the Tulips goal.
Five fierce shots were reigned in in quick succession, but all were beaten away with Duggan pulling off a number of super saves.
Tulips: Duggan, Floyd, Hugo, Greenwood, Richards, Hare, Ramsden (Holliday 89), J Brownhill, Zuerner, Acar (Mason 70). Not used: Spencer, Smith.
Man of the match: Taron Hare.
Attendance: 187.
