Shaw Lane Aquaforce 5
Spalding United 0
Spalding United stumbled to their heaviest Evo-Stik NPL Division One South defeat of the season on Saturday as title-chasing Shaw Lane Aquaforce handed them a 5-0 beating.
Goals from James Walshaw (14), Gavin Allott (57), Lee Bennett (66) and Adam Priestley (77 and 84) accounted for the Tulips, although they did at least produce a battling display in Barnsley.
The victory extended Shaw Lane’s unbeaten streak to 16 games, a run which suggests they have every chance of overhauling long-term leaders Stafford Rangers at the top.
Spalding’s director of football Bob Don-Duncan, who was in charge with boss Marcus Ebdon and number two Danny Hussey both unavailable, admits that Aquaforce are the best side he’s seen this season.
“New boys to the league this season, they (Shaw Lane) have adapted well,” said Don-Duncan. “And, from what we have experienced, they are the strongest team we have faced.
“It was an opportunity for us to blood Hayden Talbot in goal with Michael Duggan unavailable. Young Jonny Lockie also had another opportunity to show his pace, and hopefully it will stand them in good stead for the future.
“We had chances in the game, and certainly could have taken them in the first two minutes.
“Both fell to Tom Waumsley, with the first one saved and the second finding the side netting. At 1-0 down we started the second half well, and looked like getting back in the game, only to concede a dubious headed goal from a corner when Nathan Stainfield was used as a step ladder at the back post.
“After that, Shaw Lane grew in confidence and we made some basic mistakes when defending, and the scoreline looked like we felt, deflating.”
After Waumsley missed two early chances, Walshaw gave Aquaforce the lead after 14 minutes after rounding on a loose ball to fire past Talbot.
Further chances fell for the home team, but the Tulips dug in deep. Dan Banister did have the ball in the net within three minutes after taking a neat ball from Waumsley in full stride, but his effort was disallowed for offside.
Early in the second half Joe Curtis forced a good save from keeper Tom Morgan at the foot of a post and for ten minutes, with Paul Walker turning in a man-of-the-match display down the right side with some great runs into ‘enemy’ territory, the Tulips played their best football of the game.
But the pattern changed dramatically following Aquaforce’s second goal, against the run of play, on 57 minutes. Allott climbed all over Stainfield’s back to gain height and head in at the back post, with Spalding’s appeals for a foul falling on deaf ears.
Bennett then put the result beyond doubt in the 66th minute with a narrow angle shot that zipped along the goalline. The ball was hooked away but a linesman’s flag was smartly raised, indicating the ball had indeed crossed the line.
The free-scoring Priestley then came off the bench to boost the home tally with further goals on 72 and 84 minutes.
The loss drops the Tulips down to 12th with four games left to play.
Tulips: Talbot, Spafford, Jackson, Murphy, Stainfield, Lawlor, Walker, Banister, Waumsley (Tricks 80), Sanders (Humble (68), Curtis Lockie 65). Not used: Eason, Butland.
MOTM: Paul Walker.
Attendance: 148.
