AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1
Spalding United 2
Ten-man Spalding United produced a remarkable comeback to beat promotion rivals AFC Rushden and Diamonds 2-1 on Tuesday night.
The Tulips looked doomed early in the second half when Liam Dolman (46) lashed the hosts ahead and then Neal Spafford was sent off (48) in the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South clash at the Dog and Duck.
However, Cenk Acar jumped off the bench to bury a penalty on 66 minutes to haul Spalding level, before on-loan hitman Leon Mettam smashed home a stunning free kick (73) to give Chris Rawlinson his first win as boss.
With leaders Shaw Lane AFC beaten 3-2 at third-placed Witton Albion, the Tulips go into Saturday’s home clash with Sheffield FC second in the table – three points off top spot having played five games more.
A delighted Rawlinson said: “It was a bit of a roller-coaster if I’m honest!
“But I have to go back to the reverse game. We were 1-0 up and they had ten men, yet won 2-1. These things have a way of evening themselves out.
“I must say, the boys were absolutely wonderful and I couldn’t ask for any more of them on the night.
“For me personally, it’s great to get that first win. After all of the good work done under (former boss) Dave Frecklington, getting a win after him leaving was something we all needed.
“We want a place in the play-offs, so to beat one of our rivals for that is really big.
“There are no easy games in this league and we’ll take nothing for granted, but this win is a big one for us.
“But I’ve told the lads that I won’t accept anything less than this kind of performance for the rest of the season.
“They’ve set the bar pretty high, but we need to keep it going. Sheffield FC are next and it’ll be a different game.
“We said before the game that we need two points per game, so if we look at it like that – we’re ahead of the game at present.”
Spalding had a great early chance to go ahead, but the returning Mettam slotted wide after being played in by Bradley Wells.
At the other end, Diamonds frontman Tom Lorraine saw his header from a corner come back off the bar.
The hosts applied plenty of pressure from then on, but it was the Tulips who went closest to breaking the deadlock when skipper Nathan Stainfield sent an acrobatic effort onto the frame of the goal.
Rawlinson’s charges went close again on the stroke of half time, but Wells saw his header tipped over the bar by Matt Finlay.
Disaster struck in the opening few minutes of the second period, though.
First, Diamonds took the lead when Dolman rifled a low free kick past the despairing dive of Duggan on 46 minutes.
Moments later Spafford was given his marching orders for the third team this season – leaving Spalding a goal and a man down.
Lewis Leslie then saw a goal ruled out for offside and Adam Jackson lashed a long-ranger over before the Tulips were awarded a penalty following a foul on Paul Walker.
Second-half substitute Acar made no mistake, slotting his spot-kick above the dive of Finlay.
That boosted the ten men, who began to boss the contest – and went close to going ahead when Mettam sent an effort just wide.
He made no such mistake 17 minutes from time, however, sending a classy free kick into the top corner of the net from just outside the box to give Spalding the lead for the first time.
From then on the Tulips showed their mettle, with their biggest scare seeing Ollie Brown-Hill booked for diving when appealing for an injury-time penalty.
Tulips: Duggan, Walker, Jackson, Spafford, Stainfield, Downey (Higginson 62), Whitehead, Beeson (Acar 53), Lemon, Mettam (Lockie 89), Wells.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Evo-Stik NPL
First Division South: AFC Rushden and Diamonds 1 Spalding United 2; Lincoln United 0 Basford United 0; Witton Albion 3 Shaw Lane AFC 2.
