All roads lead to Halesowen on Saturday, after Spalding United secured a trip there in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division play-off final.
But the Tulips had to do it the hard way, hitting back from a goal down to beat Sporting Khalsa 2-1 on Tuesday, having lost by a similar score against the same opponents just three days earlier in their final regular league match of the campaign.
“It was a brilliant night and a fine performance,” manager Elliot Sandy said of Tuesday’s win courtesy of . “Saturday we were up for it but we went there with an eye on Tuesday night.
“I was still confident going into the semi-final as though Khalsa are a good strong team who score goals, we’re excellent defensively told the lads from minute one to try and be on the front foot and we really did that.
“We should have scored in the first half, missed a few chances and then one defensive mistake left us 1-0 down.
“But I thought we dominated throughout and once we got that equaliser there was only one team going to win it.
“It was in front of what is a bumper crowd for Spalding too so I was glad they were able to see a good performance and win.
A near-700 crowd saw the kick-off delayed by 15 minutes to allow the turnstile queues to clear
Spalding created chances throughout and a bobble just stopped Stefan Broccoli tapping home an early opener after being fed by lively 11th minute sub Dylan Edge who was brought on for Bradley Rolt who came off worst in a collison with visitors’ goalkeeper Sam Arnold.
Broccoli also fired wide after the ball fell to him when the keeper spilled a cross.
It was the Willenhall-based visitors who took the lead when a missed defensive interception allowed Miracle Okafor to run through and give Khalsa a 20th minute lead.
It took the Tulips until the 64th minute to find an equaliser. Edge was first to latch on to a rebound after a brilliant save from Danny Draper’s shot to score.
Home celebrations started in earnest 14 minutes before the end when Khalsa failed to clear on several occasions, Broccoli and Edge both having efforts charged down before James Clifton swept home the loose ball.
Six minutes of stoppage time ensured a nail-biting period for fans and players alike but Spalding held out to secure a place in the final.
They travel to Halesowen Town for Saturday’s big day after the second-placed team saw off Coleshill Town 3-1 in front of 2,334 fans at The Grove ground in the other semi-final.
A win at Khalsa on Saturday would have given Spalding home advantage in the final but the 2-1 defeat, coupled with Halesowen’s 0-0 draw against champions Stamford meant Elliot Sandy’s team finished third.
James McGrady capitalised on a mix-up in the Tulips defence to put the hosts ahead after 26 minutes but Lewis Hilliard levelled from the penalty spot nine minutes later.
The winner came after 66 minutes with McGrady again finding the Spalding net from close range.
The Tulips lost 3-0 at Halesowen earlier in the season, but won by the same scoreline at the Sir Halley.
“We know how tough a game it is going to be and they’re really good at home,” Sandy said. “We’ve got to play the team in front of us and get at them at the right momentds “We’ve beaten them 3-0 before and we need to remember how good a team we are.~”
Tulips at Khalsa: Duggan, Bucciero, Warburton, Barker, Peters, Cartwright, Broccoli, Hilliard, Clifton, Rolt (Edge 46), Draper. Subs: Sandy, Ansu, Ngwa, Jones.
Attendance: 414.
Tulips v Khalsa: Duggan, Peters, Warburton, Barker, Stainfield, Cartwright, Broccoli, Draper (Jones 75), Clifton, Rolt (Edge 11), Hilliard (Ngwa 62). Subs: Bucciero, Sandy.
Attendance: 690.
