Spalding United 1
Newcastle Town 2
Pat Rayment bemoaned a “joke decision” as a hugely controversial penalty helped Newcastle Town end Spalding United’s five-game unbeaten run on Saturday.
All looked to be going to plan in the Evo-Stik League First Division South clash when Andrew Tidswell fired in a superb 15th-minute opener.
Town hit back on 32 minutes with a cracking 25-yard drive from young Port Vale recruit Elliott Osborne – and that’s how it stayed up until the hour mark.
Spalding skipper Michael Leary and Newcastle’s Tim Sanders were tugging at each other’s shirts as they wrestled for possession some 15 yards outside and then inside the home penalty area, before Leary managed to make clean contact with the ball at the expense of a corner.
As the visitors prepared to take the flag kick, referee Jason Turner stopped play, cautioned Leary and awarded the penalty – which Sanders converted.
The decision riled Tulips chief Rayment, who felt his side had done more than enough to bag three points.
He said: “I’m massively disappointed, they only had two shots all game.
“It was never a penalty in a million years. It was a joke decision if ever I saw one.
“It was very much smash and grab from them. But I’m not concerned, we’re starting to reach the peak of our powers and I’m convinced somebody is going to get a hiding soon, I really am.
“I was pleased with the impact Ryan Oliver made and it was great to see Mark Jones back. Andrew Tidswell is also looking back to his best, so I’ll take the positives.”
Not for the first time this season, Spalding found themselves up against an inspired keeper in Adam Alcock.
In the opening minute a high bouncing ball whipped into the goal area by Jamie Thurlbourne was finger-tipped over the bar by the keeper, who then clawed another close-range effort from the line as the Tulips piled on the pressure
New striker Ryan Oliver – who limped out of the action after just 18 minutes with an ankle injury – took a Mitch Griffiths pass confidently but his shot lacked power and was comfortably held.
When it arrived the Tulips’ lead was fully deserved. A long clearance by man-of-the-match Lewis Webb landed at the feet of Tidswell, who worked some space before firing the ball past a static keeper.
Within minutes Chris Hall had forced a near post save from the keeper and then Jones’ crisp header from a Peter Bore centre was somehow kept out.
Newcastle worked hard throughout, but were denied easy access to home keeper Michael Duggan. However, a moment of real class by Osbourne hauled them level.
The visitors then took the game by the scruff of the neck with some dominant play, but still without providing too many problems.
As the interval approached the Tulips were near to regaining the advantage but not for the first time were denied by Alcock, who saved a Jones effort at full stretch.
The 60th minute penalty incident opened a period of domination by Newcastle, but efforts on the home goal were still restricted. But the Tulips weathered the storm and the closing stages saw them lay siege to the Town goal.
Shots rained in from all quarters, but the heroics of Alcock denied them of the equalising goal they richly deserved.
Spalding will hope to get back to winning ways at Loughborough Dynamo tonight (Tuesday, 7.45pm).
Only Luke Thurlbourne is missing for Rayment’s side.
Tulips: Duggan, Bore, Jackson, Leary, N Stainfield, Webb, Griffiths, Hall, Tidswell, Oliver (Jones 18), J Thurlbourne (Waumsley 89). Not used: McKue. Att: 165
