Spalding United 1 Kettering Town 1
Nathan Stainfield’s dramatic 95th-minute leveller earned Spalding United an eye-catching 1-1 draw against higher-graded Kettering Town in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.
The central defender, who was captain on the day at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, rose highest to power a header into the net from a corner to book the Tulips an away replay on Tuesday night (7.45pm) and rescue a draw.
It had looked like Spalding’s run in the national competition was coming to a close when Yaw Nantwi-Ofusu put the National League North side ahead 15 minutes from time.
But the Poppies, who play two levels higher than the Tulips in the non-league ladder, were reduced to ten men soon after taking the lead when Connor Johnson received a second yellow card.
Gaby Zakuani’s side duly benefited from their numerical advantage and kept themselves alive in the competition through Stainfield’s heroics.
Spalding went into the clash with suspended striker and captain Gregg Smith, while star man Marcus Maddison and goal-getter Jordan Macleod were among plenty of other absentees.
A first half that Kettering just about shaded saw Decarrey Sheriff waste the best chance when he fired a one-on-one wide of Michael Duggan’s goal.
Spalding, who defended superbly throughout, did go close when Ollie Price nodded over from a James Hugo long throw.
He also saw a copycat effort saved moments before sub Ofusu gave the Poppies the lead with a long ranger that squirmed past Duggan.
However, Johnson’s red card gave the Tulips hope and they duly clinched a replay with Stainfield’s towering late header.
With the replay taking place on Tuesday night, the scheduled Pitching In NPL Midlands Division date with Soham Town Rangers has been postponed until a later date.
Tulips: Duggan, Baker, Hugo, Price (Clarke), Stainfield, Ward, Yala, Bucciero, Assombalonga, Broccoli (Robinson), Flitton (Floyd). Not used: Goff.
Attendance: 562.
