Spalding United 0
Pickering Town 0
Keeper Michael Duggan was the star of the day with a penalty save that ensured Spalding United a share of the Evo-Stik East League points against first-time visitors Pickering Town at the Sir Halley Stewart Field on Saturday.
Duggan’s heroics came on the half-hour when he was at full stretch to save Ryan Blott’s spot-kick, awarded following a shirt tugging offence by Kern Miller, writes RAY TUCKER.
The drawn encounter was the Tulips’ fifth of the season so far from six outings, their one defeat being the 2-0 at the hands of Marske United two weeks earlier.
They remain without a victory – and are now the only side in the division not to register one.
The evergreen phrase ‘a game of two halves’ was apt for the day, with Pickering playing pretty passing football, but without posing too many problems for the home defence before the interval.
Spalding, meanwhile, edged the second period and created openings, but failing to turn them into goals. Victory would have seen the team climb into a mid-table position.
There was an early scare for the Tulips when Conor Marshall was deemed to have handled the ball just outside the area, but Billy Logan’s free kick was deflected away for a corner.
In the goalmouth melee that followed, James Hugo headed clear from the line.
After the penalty scare, the Tulips put together their best move with Ben Davison flicking the ball forward for Jordan Lemon to make ground down the right side, jink past a couple of defenders before unleashing a great shot from 20 yards that whistled inches over the bar.
Just before the break Danny Brooks threaded a good pass through to find Luke White. The young striker made tracks for goal but was halted moments before pulling the trigger.
Then, five minutes into the second period Miller headed a Brooks corner over the bar with keeper Charlie Andrew rooted to the ground.
Play continued to be competitive with Pickering’s forays down the wings posing some problems, but the better scoring situations came from the Tulips.
Hugo’ slow cross into the area eluded both White and Davison, while a well judged lob-shot by Lemon dipped just over the visitors’ bar.
As the game edged closer to a finish, Duggan again came to the rescue with an excellent block fired in from close range.
The draw leaves the Tulips down in 17th place in the early standings.
Tulips: Duggan, Marshall, Hugo, Humble, Miller (Zuerner 90), Fixter, Lemon, Brooks (King 80), White, Neil (Lockie 73).
MOTM: Duggan.
Attendance: 110
