Spalding United 1
Leek Town 2
Flat Spalding United were read the riot act by angry boss Pat Rayment after going out of the FA Trophy with something of a whimper on Tuesday night.
All looked to be going to plan for the Tulips in their first round replay with Evo-Stik League First Division South rivals Leek when Chris Hall (8) fired a sensational early opener into the top corner.
But Tim Grice (16) soon levelled – and things got worse 17 minutes from time when Matt Bell slotted home a deserved winner for the visitors.
Rayment blasted the performance as “inept” – and questioned the desire of some of his players.
“We were totally inept,” blasted the Tulips chief. “They wanted it more than us.
“It was very poor. They’ve travelled all this way and still wanted it more.
“It’s not about just losing games, it’s the manner we’ve lost. There’s a couple of players here that haven’t performed lately and I’m not allowing it to go on.
“It’s not that they are a bad side that we should be getting results against. But we’ve got something there and made them travel here on a Tuesday night.
“But to a man, barring young Jordan Nuttell, we weren’t good enough.
“If you look at the rest of them, what would you give them out of ten? Not much.
“Nobody was prepared to take any responsibility – and considering all the experience I have in this team, it was disappointing.
“After they went ahead, I don’t think we even got a hold of the ball. That’s not like my team at all.
“The pitch was bad for both teams, but we couldn’t get the ball over our heads. I asked some of them if the ball was too heavy for them!
“It wasn’t a pretty game of football, but the bottom line is that we deserve to be out.
“What’s very disappointing is that, since I’ve been here, all of our major cup exits have been quite inept performances, which is really hard to take.”
If truth be told, Tuesday’s game wasn’t one for the purist. That being said, Hall provided a ray of light on an otherwise morbid night with a truly stunning opener.
On his weaker foot, the midfielder picked out the top corner from fully 25-yards to put the Tulips on-course for a £2,700 prize money payday.
At the other end, keeper Michael Duggan was forced into an excellent fingertip stop to deny Jordan Johnson a seemingly certain goal from close range.
But it was soon 1-1 when Grice slid home into an empty net after Bell’s drive deflected nicely into his path.
That man Grice almost put Leek ahead when he raced clear following a rapid Town break, but again found Duggan in fine form with a top save with his legs.
The visiting number one Ben Chapman was also called into action just before the half-time interval, as he acrobatically denied Andrew Tidswell. The stopper was way out of his goal as Spalding’s top scorer tried to bend the ball around him, but the save was spectacular.
Having gone in level at half time, the Tulips then enjoyed their best spell of the game in the opening exchanges of the second period.
Mitch Griffiths, switched from right back to left wing at the break, was instrumental in their success.
He curled a super 22-yard effort inches wide of the far post, before firing a dangerous free kick just wide of the near top corner.
That was as good as it got for Rayment’s men, though, as Leek slowly seized control.
It was no real surprise when Bell waltzed through on 73 minutes to slot a low winner past Duggan, having capitalised on a defensive mistake from half-time substitute Kern Miller.
The Tulips showed little sign of finding a leveller in a rather subdued final 15 minutes, as Town booked a clash at Spennymoor Town in the next stage.
Spalding, at the very least, do have the chance to exact revenge on Leek on Saturday.
The sides clash for the third time in seven days in an Evo-Stik League First Division South clash at the Sir Halley (3pm).
Striker Tidswell is a big doubt having limped off with a hamstring problem during Tuesday’s defeat.
But Rayment is remaining positive – and expects a response from his side.
He added: “We’ll go again and prepare for Saturday. Hopefully we’ll come to the party this time – we have to play better than that.”
Tulips: Duggan, Griffiths, Jackson, Leary, N Stainfield, Hall, Kennedy (Miller 46), McGovern, TIdswell (Waumsley 67), Nuttell (Oliver 78), J Thurlbourne. Not used: Webb, G Stainfield.
Attendance: 125.
