Spalding United 1
Romulus 0
An early debut goal from Kieran Davies fired Spalding United to a much-needed 1-0 win over Evo-Stik League First Division South play-off rivals Romulus on Saturday.
Davies, signed from East Midlands Counties League side Radcliffe Olympic, finished off a top team move on six minutes at a soggy Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
The goal was enough for all three points in what was a war of attrition – and helped Spalding end their run of five successive league defeats.
Pleased Tulips chief Marcus Ebdon admits that he’d have taken any kind of win, but felt his side did more than enough to ensure they “stopped the rot”.
Ebdon said: “Any kind of win would have done – but I think we went about getting it in the right way.
“The pitch was awful and dictated the way we had to play, but I think we handled the conditions a little better than them.
“The early goal was key. It was the first time in a long time that we’ve actually gone ahead in a game, which was obviously nice.
“And the goal was great, a really well-worked piece of football. To produce that kind of quality on our pitch was very pleasing to see.
“I do think we could probably have scored three or four goals by the end, if I’m honest.
“They pushed forward late on and we caught them numerous times with Charley Sanders getting in behind. I though he (Sanders) did very well, just like he did in the final 20 minutes of the previous game.
“I was seriously considering starting him, but once again he came on and made a big difference for us.
“We were also pleased to get Kieran in. He’s been playing at step six but has played much higher over the years. He’s struggling for fitness, but he came in, scored a goal and did very well.
“The most important thing is that we’ve stopped the rot. Yes, we’ve beaten a play-off rival – but you can say that about ten or 11 sides this season. This league is that close.
“We’re in the situation now that if we win a couple of games we stay in the play-offs, but if we lose a few more we could drop ten places.”
With the Sir Halley surface looking sodden after passing an early pitch inspection, it never looked like being a day for quality football between two of the league’s top five.
However, the Tulips produced the stand-out moment of the match from their first proper attack on six minutes – and what a move it was.
Josh Moreman, as ever, was heavily involved as he exchanged passes with Dan Banister before unselfishly squaring for new man Davies – formerly of St Neots Town – to tap home from close range.
It was slick from the hosts, but sadly neither side could match that kind of quality later in the game as the pitch further deteriorated.
Both sides had decent penalty shouts, with Moreman bundled over at one end and Davies clumsily challenging his man in the other box.
The visitors then went within a whisker of levelling when Barry Fitzgerald’s half-volley from just inside the box rattled Michael Duggan’s bar and came out.
Romulus continued to create chances early in the second period, with the best of them falling to Luke Keen – the league’s leading marksman.
His first effort was all of his own doing, as he showed great footwork on the edge of the box before curling his strike wide of the near post.
Then came a huge moment in the match, as Keen battled past Spalding skipper Nathan Stainfield and got in one-on-one with Duggan. The striker’s low drive was heading for the corner, but Duggan somehow got a fingertip on the ball and helped it around the post.
It was as close of Romulus would come, with Spalding ending the game much the stronger.
Sub Sanders forced Stuart Parsons to turn his low shot from distance around the post, before producing a point-blank stop to keep out the Spalding striker after he had beaten two players and cut in from the left.
Sanders got in behind once again in the closing stages, but Parsons was again on hand to block his effort. Fellow sub Jonny Lockie was unlucky not to turn in the rebound after something of a scramble, but it mattered little.
The victory keeps the Tulips fourth – and they are now just a point behind third-placed Shaw Lane Aquaforce, although they’ve played six games more.
There were also plenty of positives for Ebdon, with the returning Sam Murphy hugely impressive in central midfield and young defender Ellis Humble a stand-out performer alongside skipper Stainfield in the absence of Neal Spafford.
Tulips: Duggan, Walker, Jackson, Humble, Stainfield, Murphy, Banister, Lawlor, Graham (Sanders 62), Davies (Lockie 69), Moreman (Lee 82). Not used: Waumsley, Talbot.
Attendance: 95
MOTM: Jackson
RESULTS
Evo-Stik League
First Division South: Basford United 2 Gresley 0; Sheffield FC 2 Daventry Town 1; Coalville Town 0 Lincoln United 1; Goole 3 Kidsgrove Athletic 3; Newcastle Town 0 Belper Town 2; Rugby Town 4 Loughborough Dynamo 1; Spalding United 1 Romulus 0; Stafford Rangers 1 Leek Town 0.
